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
When was the Battle of Mutina?
43 BCE
What happened at the Battle of Mutina?
Octavian led an army against Antony.
Antony was defeated and forced to retreat.
Who was killed at the Battle of Mutina? What did this lead to?
Hirtius and Pansa, the two consuls.
left Octavianh in sole command of the Senate’s army.
What happened when the Senate refused to grant Octavian honours for the victory at Mutina?
Octavian marched on Rome, demanding the consulship.
he was the leader of the Senate’s army so they couldn’t defend themselves.
When was Octavian made consul?
August 43 BCE
When did the second triumvirate form?
43 BCE
Who made up the second triumvirate?
Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus
How did the the second triumvirate differ from the first triumvirate?
it was ratified into law, giving the men extraordinary power.
What happens when one is proscribed?
they can be killed or have their property confiscated
Who did the second triumvirate set out proscriptions against? Why?
individual senators.
allowed them to kill 100-300 senators.
When was Julius Caesar declared a god? What did this allow Octavian to do?
42 BCE
call himself ‘Divi Filius’
Who declared Julius Caesar a god?
the Senate
What does Divi Filius mean?
son of a god
How did the title of Divi Filius affect Octavian’s image?
it was used as part of his propaganda to communicate his semi-divine status to the people of Rome.
no one else could claim to be directly descended from the gods which gave him an aura of importance and authority.
What does Mos Maiorum mean?
the ways of our ancestors
What is the Mos Maiorum?
an unwritten code of behaviour and values looking to the ancestors as role models
Why did Octavian and Antony have to avenge Caesar’s death?
it was seen as their duty and they didn’t want to be seen as neglecting their duty.
Describe the Battle of Philippi
42 BCE
triumvirs launched a military campaign against Caesar’s assassins and won
What did Octavian promise in thanks for the victory at the Battle of Philippi?
a temple to Mars Ultor
How long did someone hold the position of Pontifex Maximus for?
for life / until death
Outline how dictators were chosen in Rome and what powers this position conferred
the Senate named an individual as dictator in times of crisis
they held military and judicial authority
