Octavian comes to Rome

Question 1

what family was Julius Caesar part of

Answer 1

Julian clan - claimed to be descended from Aeneas and Venus

Question 2

how was Julius Caesar popular with the people of Rome

Answer 2

-gifted military general who led a number of successful campagins
-favoured the causes of the urban poor and plebians - wnated to improve their living conditions
-doubled soldiers pay and improved conditions

Question 3

when did JC become consul

Answer 3

59BC

Question 4

when was the first triumvirate created and who was a part of it

Answer 4

60 BC
Julius Caesar , Pompey Magnus and Marcus Crassus
-only formed on each mans personal advantage not shared poltical ideas
-many senators belived this to be unconstitutional as it bypassed traditonal, legal routes into power

Question 5

when did Civil war break out between JC and what happened to Pompey

Answer 5

49 BC
-Pompey fled to Egypt and was beheaded

Question 6

when did JC announce himself as ‘dictator in perpetuity’

Answer 6

44 BC - roman ruler for life
- this was not liked by many as it alluded to the idea of him nbeing seen as a king and tyrant

Question 7

who plotted to muder Caesar

Answer 7

Brutus and Cassius and 60 other conspirators - remving him for the sake of the state

Question 8

when was Caesar assaisinated

Answer 8

15th March 44 BC - ides of march

Question 9

what family was octavian born into

Answer 9

Octavii - polictally insignificant thus octavian would never be succesful in his involment in politics

Question 10

how was Octavian able to gain some power in Rome

Answer 10

JC named him as his heir and thus he become his adopted son - requested that he take his name
-meant that he now had divine ancestors and could strengthen his public image - now Gaius Julius Caesar

Question 11

what was Octavians first act after JC death

Answer 11

-gave 75 denarii to each of the plebians
-held funeral games in honour of JC and Venus
-comet went overhead and this was seen as JC ascending to the heavens to become a god

Question 12

who also positioned themselves as Caesars heir

Answer 12

Marc Antony
-gave a powerful speech at JC funeral which caused the assasins to flee rome

Question 13

why did the senate choose to support octavian in being JC heir

Answer 13

-seen as the lesser of 2 eveils
-only 18 so politically inexperienced and so could be influenced and controlled

Question 14

when was Octavian conducted into the senate

Answer 14

at the age of 18 despite min being 30

Question 15

when did Octavian first defeat MA

Answer 15

battle of Mutina in 43 BC
-Antony forced to retreat but two conuls -Hiritus and Pansa- were killed leaving Octatavian in sole control of the senates army

Question 16

how did the senate try to control octavian after mutina

Answer 16

refused to grant him the honours of victory and so Octavian marched into Rome demanding the consulship and refusing to pursue MA

Question 17

when was Octavian given the consulship

Answer 17

43 BC

Question 18

Laurel wreath coin showing octavian and JC

Answer 18

-minted in 43 BC
- text - Gaius Caesar (Octavian) - consul - priest of the augurs, Gaius Caesar (JC) - dictator in perpetuity - pontifex maximus
- significance - links Octavian and Caesar, early form of propaganda, presents Octavian as the rightful heir to Caesar’s power

Question 19

Which similarities between Octavian and Caesar are highlighted by the Laurel Wreath Coin?

Answer 19

text takes the same form, rightful heir, same pose, on the same coin (co-marketing), taking the same name

Question 20

Which differences between Octavian and Caesar are highlighted by the Laurel Wreath Coin?

Answer 20

Octavian’s titles are temporary (distancing himself from Caesar’s issues), Caesar has a Laurel Wreath (military triumph)

Question 21

What is the significance of the differences in titles between Octavian and Caesar on the Laurel Wreath Coin?

Answer 21

Octavian is distancing himself from Caesar’s tyranny (the thing which led to his assassination) - not seen as de facto king

Question 22

Why were coins good for propaganda?

Answer 22

they were spread across the whole empire, everyone would see them, cross language barriers, don’t have to be able to read to understand the imagery - can protray a certain desired image on as not many will actually see Octavian in real life

Question 23

What is a limitation of using coins for propaganda?

Answer 23

there is very little space on a coin

Question 24

when was the second triumverate formed

Answer 24

43 BC
Octavian , Marc Antony and Lepidus

Question 25

what was the purpose of the 2nd triumvirate

Answer 25

-provide securtiy throughout the empire, through establishing peace
-avenge the death of Caesar
-eliminate senators and public enemies through proscriptions

Question 26

what were proscriptions

Answer 26

property could be confiscated or an individual could be legally killed - somewhere between 150-300/900 were killed

Question 27

when did the senate declare JC as a god

Answer 27

42 BC allowig octavian to call himself divi filius

Question 28

why was the divi filius name so key for octavian

Answer 28

-useful propagangda
-could claim that he as actually the descendent of a god giving him importance and authority

Question 29

what was mos maiorum

Answer 29

way of the ancestors, unwritten code of behaviour and values that uses the ancestors as role models
-puts empahsis on both O and MA as being JC heirs to avenge him

Question 30

when did the triumvirs launch a campaign against Brutus and Cassius

Answer 30

42 BC at the Battle of Phillipi - B and C commited sucide after a decisive vicitory for O

Question 31

how did Octavian promise to honour his father

Answer 31

dedicate the temple of mars ultor - completed in 2 BC