Octavian Comes to Rome Flashcards
When was Julius Caesar born?
100 BCE
Who did the Julian Clan claim to be descended from?
Aeneas and Venus
What two groups of people was Julius Caesar popular with?
The plebeians and army veterans
What two positions did Julius Caesar hold?
Pontifex Maximus
Consul
What is the Pontifex Maximus?
chief priest of Roman religion
What were two initiatives used by Julius Caesar to improve the Roman’s living conditions?
the grain dole
land distribution bill
When was the first triumvirate formed?
60 BCE
Who was in the first triumvirate?
Julius Caesar
Marcus Crassus
Pompey the Great
When did tensions reach a climax between Caesar and Pompey? What did this result in?
49 BCE
civil war after Caesar failed to disband his army.
Caesar won and Pompey had to flee.
When did Julius Caesar proclaim himself to be Dictator in Perpetuity?
44 BCE
When was Julius Caesar assassinated?
15th of March 44 BCE
Who led the assassination plot against Caesar?
Brutus and Cassius
Who was Octavian to Caesar?
his great-nephew
What age was Octavian at the time of Caesar’s assassination?
18
What family was Octavian born into? What was their standing in society?
Octavii
wealthy but politically insignificant
What did Caesar’s will request about Octavian?
requested Octavian take his name
this was interpreted as a sign of his legal adoption
What did Octavian call himself after Caesar’s death?
Gaius Julius Caesar
How much did Octavian give to each of the plebeians after Caesar’s death? What did this do for his image?
75 denarii
this won him popularity and solidified his image as Caesar’s heir.
Describe the funeral games held by Octavian. What happened at them?
the games were held in honour of Venus but were also Caesar’s funeral games.
a comet appeared in the sky at the games and Octavian claimed that this was Caesar rising to the heavens to be made a god.
Who was positioning himself as Caesar’s legal heir besides Octavian?
Mark Antony
What was Mark Antony to Caesar?
his former lieutenant
What forced Brutus and Cassius to flee Rome?
Antony’s powerful speech at Caesar’s funeral, turning popular opinion against Brutus and Cassius.
What the Senate worried about Antony doing after Caesar’s death? What did this make them do?
they were afraid Antony would follow Caesar and seize power too.
they chose to support Octavian as he was the lesser of two evils.
Why was it surprising that Octavian was inducted to the Senate?
he was only 18, the minimum age was usually 30