Octavian comes to Rome Flashcards
Who was Julius Caesar and when did he live?
- Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman politician and general.
- He lived from 100-44BC
- He was part of the ancient Julian clan, which traced their family back to the founders of Rome- Aeneas, and his Goddess mother Venus (Goddess of love) as well as Romulus and his father Mars (God of war)
Who was Julius Caesar popular with?
- Common people of Rome
- Legions of veterans who had served in his army
- Urban poor (many of whom were disenfranchised Italian farmers or discharged veterans)
How did Julius Caesar gain popularity with the urban poor?
- He sought to improve their living conditions through initiatives such as his land distribution bill
- This bill gave them a chance for homes and livelihoods in Italy
What skills did Julius Caesar have?
Gifted military general
Skilful public speaker
How did Julius Caesar progress up the political ladder of Rome?
- He was elected Pontifex Maximus in 63BC
- He was elected as consul for the first time in 59BC
What did Julius Caesar do around the time when he started to climb the political ladder?
- He made an informal alliance with two of Rome’s leading men which was known as the First Triumvirate
When was the First Triumvirate formed?
60BC
Who was in the First Triumvirate?
Pompey the Great (a great general)
Crassus (who was very wealthy)
What did the first triumvirate do?
They used their combined influence to manage Roman politics.
What did some people think of the first triumvirate?
- Many saw this as unconsitutional as they were bypassing the traditional, legal routes to political power.
- Some even went as far as to accuse them of treason against Rome
How did the first triumvirate fall apart?
- They eventually turned against each other, with each man vying for sole power
- Crassus died, leaving only Caesar and Pompey
- Private squabbling turned to outright civil war in 49BC
How and when did Crassus die?
- In 53BC
- He was on a military campaign in Parthia
Why did civil war occur in 49BC?
- Julius Caesar marched his army across the Rubicon river and into the city of Rome
What events led to Pompey’s death?
- The civil war in 49BC
- A year after Caesar marched on Rome, he won a decisive victory at Pharsalus in Greece
- Pompey was forced to flee to Egypt, where he was captured and beheaded by local rulers
What happened to Julius Caesar after his victory in the civil war?
- He was named Dictator of Rome for a year
- In 46BC, he was named dictator for 10 years
- In 44BC, he was named ‘Dictator in Perpetuity’
What did Julius Caesar do whilst dictator?
- He began several ambitions architectural projects to improve the city of Rome
- These projects included a new civic and religious space called the Forum Iulium
- He improved conditions for soldiers in the military, doubling their pay
What trait was Julius Caesar famous for whilst dictator?
- His clemency
- He preferred to pardon those who had fought on Pompey’s side rather than punish them
Why was clemency important in Rome?
- Clementia in Latin
- Deemed to be the ‘proper’ way to handle defeated enemies, so Julius Caesar was presenting himself as an upstanding Roman by doing this.
What happened on the 15th March 44BC?
- The Ides of March
- Julius Caesar was ambushed by a gang of senators at the Theatre of Pompey.
- Around sixty men were involved in this conspiracy, which was led by Brutus and Cassius
When did Octavian first enter Rome’s political scene?
- In 44BC, shortly after the assassination of his great-uncle Julius Caesar.
- He was only 18 years old.
What family was Octavian born into and why was this significant?
- His family was wealthy but politically insignificant: the Octavii
- This background meant that he was never likely to be a major player in Roman politics, as a great emphasis was put on the achievements of one’s ancestors
What did Julius Caesar’s will state?
- Octavian was his heir, and that he would take his name
- This meant Octavian suddenly had important and divine ancestors that would help him to get a good reputation in Rome.
What was Octavian’s first move in Rome?
- Fulfil a request made in Julius Caesar’s will- to give 75 denarii to each of Rome’s poor, the Plebeians
How did Octavian fulfil the request in Julius Caesar’s will, and how did it help him?
- He had to borrow money
- But, it won him popularity with the urban poor and solidified his image as Julius Caesar’s heir
- He also held games in honour of Venus that had been promised by Julius Caesar
What phrase is used to describe the tactic Octavian used of paying the poor to earn their support?
- Panem et circenses (bread and games)
- The poet Juvenal coined this phrase, as cash and entertainment had been used for years as a quick and easy way to win popularity with the poorer classes
What happened during Octavian’s games in honour of Venus?
- A comet appeared in the sky over Rome
- Octavian claimed (and a soothsayer confirmed) that this was his ‘father’, Caesar rising to the sky to be made a God.
Who else wanted to inherit Julius Caesar’s power, and how were they trying to do this?
- Mark Antony, one of Caesar’s former lieutenants.
- He had delivered a powerful speech at Caesar’s funeral attacking the assassins and turning the tide of popular opinion against them.
What did Mark Antony’s speech at Caesar’s funeral do?
- The assassins fled Rome
- Antony won popular support for himself
How did many senators view Antony, and how did this help Octavian?
- They were afraid that Antony would try to seize power for himself.
- This meant they viewed Octavian as the lesser of two evils, and thought they might be able to control him due to his young age
What did the majority of senators vote for when Octavian was eighteen?
- They vote to induct him into the Senate, despite the usual minimum age being 30
What was Octavian sent to do after being voted into the Senate?
- He was sent to lead an army against Antony’s personal army at Mutina
When was the Battle of Mutina?
43BC
What happened at the Battle of Mutina?
- In April 43, Antony’s army was defeated and he was forced to retreat
- The two consuls for 43BC had both been part of this campaign and were killed
Who were the two consuls of 43BC?
Hirtius
Pansa
What happened because the two consuls for 43 were killed?
Octavian had sole command of the Senate’s army
After the Battle of Mutina, how did the Senate try to curb Octavian’s power?
They refused to give him honours for the victory
How did Octavian respond to the Senate refusing to give him honours for his victory at Mutina?
- He refused to pursue Antony
- He marched his army on Rome and demanded to be given the consulship
How did the Senate respond to Octavian’s demands after he marched on Rome?
- They had no army left to defend themselves, so they had to give in to his demands
- A show-election was held and Octavian was declared Consul
When was Octavian made consul for the first time?
August, 43Bc
Who did Octavian form an alliance with?
- Mark Antony
- Another politician named Lepidus
- This became known as the Second Triumvirate
When was the second triumvirate formed?
43BC
How was the Second triumvirate different to the First?
- The First had been an informal alliance.
- The second was ratified by a law which gave the three men extraordinary powers for a five-year period
- It was a formal, legal arrangement, for the purpose of ‘Organising the Republic’
How did the Second Triumvirate soldify their power?
- By setting out proscriptions, which named individual senators as public enemies
What happened once someone was proscribed by the Second triumvirate?
- A person’s property was confiscated and they could legally be killed
What did the proscriptions allow the second triumvirate to do?
- Eliminate their political opponents
- Gain wealth through the proceeds of the sales of confiscated goods- these funds were used to pay their personal armues
How many senators may have been killed?
- At least 100, but perhaps as many as 300 out of a total of 900 senators.
What happened in 42BC regarding Julius Caesar?
- The Senate declared him a God
What did Julius Caesar being declared a God allow Octavian to do?
- Allowed him to call himself ‘Divi Filius’
- This title was used as part of his official name, and he began to incorporate it into hs coins as a way of communicating his semi-divine status to the people of Rome
What is the mos maiorum?
‘The ways of our ancestors’
- An unwritten code of behaviour and values, looking to the ancestors as role models.
According to the mos maiorum, what was it important that Antony and Octavian did if they both wanted to be heirs?
- As they were presenting themselves as heirs to Julius Caesar, it was important that they be seen to avenge his murder
- Otherwise, they could be accused of failing in their duty to the dead man (now a God)
What did the triumvirs do in 42BC?
- They launched a military campaign against Caesar’s assassins, who were led by Brutus and Cassius.
What happened after a military campaign was launched against the assassins?
- Later in 42BC, the triumvirs won a decisive victory at the Battle of Philiippi, forcing Brutus and Cassius to commit suicide
What did Octavian do after his victory at the Battle of Philippi?
- He promised to dedicate a temple to Mars Ultor in thanks for victory (the God of war- ‘ultor’ means the avenger)
Why did Octavian hold the games in honour of Venus Genetrix and JC?
- Fulfilled JC’s promise to hold games for Venus
- Underscored filial relationship between Octavian and JC
- Reinforced the idea that Octavian was now also descended from Venus
- Cheaper than holding two events
What were Octavian’s games like?
- Took place in the Forum Romanum
- Gladiatorial games, beast hunts, feasting, theatrical performances
- Lasted 8 days
- Games in honour of the gods and ancestors, put on by private individuals were a solid route to earn popularity with the urban poor
Who did Octavian first marry, and when?
Married Clodia Pulchra
- Stepdaughter of Mark Antony, almost certainly a political move meant to bond the triumvirs
- They married in 42BC
How long did Octavian’s first marriage last?
- They had divorced by 40BC
Who was the most notable victims of the proscriptions?
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Why was Cicero proscripted?
- He had opposed Antony for so long, through vicious attacks through his rhetoric and oratory skills
- Despite Cicero’s support for Octavian, he agreed he had to go
What happened to Cicero?
- On December 9th, 43BC, Cicero was captured as he tried to flee to Greece.
- Cicero’s head and hands were cut off and displayed in the forum
- As a symbolic gesture, Antony’s wife, Fulvia, pulled out Cicero’s tongue and jabbed it with a pin
What was the second civil war Octavian fought, and when was it?
The Perusine war
- 41BC
- Against Lucius Antony (MA’s brother) and Fulvia (MA’s wife)
Why did the Perusine war occur?
- Lucius took advantage of anti-Octavian sentiment after the Battle of Philippi (because of forcible land redistribution)
- Lucius Antony and Fulvia were fighting to try to support MA, despite the fact he was supposed to be allied with Octavian
What happened during the Perusine war?
- Octavian routed Lucius’ forces, who took refuge in Perusia (central Italy)
- After a short siege, his forces were forced to surrender
- Octavian spared Lucius but punished the town severely- around 300 magistrates and equites killed)
