Octavian

Gaius Octavius Thurnius was born in Ox Heads, Rome in September in 63 BC. Ox Heads was a small property on the Palatine hill. Octavian was cruel when he was young but became more sincere as he grew older. Though, he did have some troubles in his life before more exciting events had occured. For example, he was unfaithful to his wife, exiled his daughter, and exiled his grand-daughter because they did not follow is rules. After the death of his father, his mother married Lucius Marcius Philippus, whom was a decendent of Alexander the Great. Augustus was later adopted by his great uncle, Julius Caesar, in 44 BC at the age of 18 in his will. Octavian’s life was not all that eventful until 44 B.C. when his great uncle, Julius, was muredered. In 44 BC, after the assassination of his great uncle, Julius Caesar, he took the name Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Octavian).. In 46 BC Octavian acompanied Julius Caesar to the Battle of Munda, also known as the Spanish expedition. This was the last battle of Julius Caesar's civil war against the republican armies of the Opitome leaders. . Julius Caesar said in his will that Octavius, known as Octavian, was to be named as his heir. Along with Octavian being the rightful heir, he learned of Julius's will and also gained two thirds of Julius Caesar's estate. At the time of Julius Caesar's death, Octavian was studying military in Apollionia. Octavian's father was the first in the family to become senator but sadly died when Octavian was below the age of five. In 43 BC, Antony was in war against the senate. Octavian sided with the senate and in the same year, Antony was defeated by Octavian and the senate. After Octavian defeated Antony, the senate would not give him the triumph he felt he deserved, in return he sided with Antony and Lepidus, the three forces were known as The Second Triumvirate. The result of the power that this group possessed the gained all the governing power by defeating their enemies in 42 BC. After so much power was gained, they divided into three, Octavian took the west while Antony took the East, and Lepidus, Egypt. Lepidus lost power leaving Octavian and Antony in another position of rivalry. In 39 BC Octavian married Scribonia, who he had a daughter named Julia with. Only one year later, he divorced Sribonia and married Livia. After years, in 32 BC Octavian declared war on Cleopatra. Antony, with a great political and romantic connection to Cleopatra, sided with her. After victory over the two, Octavian was left in charge of the entire Roman Empire. Octavian was put in charge after Rome declared war over Egypt in 32 BC. In 31 BC Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra at Actium with help from Agrippa. After this battle and after his forces took Alexandria, both Cleopatra and Antony committed suicide. January of 29 BC is when Octavian received the title of Augustus, and he received proconsular power in Spain, Gaul, Syria and Egypt. After three victorious battles in Rome, Octavian honored a temple near his home on Palatine Hill to Apollo. Octavian ruled from 27 BC to his death in 14 AD. During his rein, some of those who were against his government were killed. Especially those who wanted to keep the Roman Republic. He had promised to make Rome a Republic again, but instead proclaimed himself with more titles including Cheif Preist. Several temples created statues of Octavian "as one of their gods". This is where the month August comes from because Octavian's birth name is Augustus. He came into his inheritance after the assassination of Julius in 44 BC. One year later, Octavian joined forces with Mark Antony in the military dictaroship, known as the Second Triumbirate. Octavian ruled and had himself prepetually re-elected. However, he had a couple of conflicts with Antony. After Brutus had refused to give up Gaul, Antony beseiged him at Mutina. Unfortunately, the senate did not have an army good enough to comete with Antony to stop the violence. This gave Octavian an opportunity, whom had armed forces. IN 43 BC, Antony's forces were defeated at the battle of Forum Gallorum and Mutina. Sadly, both consuls were killed, which left Octavian in sole command of their armies. The Triumvirate was torn apart eventually because of the competing amitions of its rulers; Lepidus was driven into exile, and Antony committed suicide after his defeat at the Battle of Actium by the fleet Octavian sent in 31 BC. In 27 BC, the Roman Senate granted Octavian the name Augustus, meaning "the exalted." The also gave him the legal power to rule Rome's religious, civil and military affairs, with the Senate as an advisory body, effectively making him emperor. In 23 BC, after numerous battles that came out positively, especially with anton, he still[] had his right hand man, Marcus Agrippa. In 23 BC, when Octavian became seriously ill, the talk of stating an heir began to rise and it continued as his condition worsened. Octavian would not die from this illness but, the thought of promoting an heir was important. Before naming his heir, Octavian married his daughter to Agrippa which resulted in five children, [|Gaius Caesar], [|Lucius Caesar] , [|Vipsania Julia] , [|Agrippina the Elder] , and [|Postumus Agrippa]. Octavian named his heir, Tiberius, who was Octavian's step-son. After Octavian was named emperor he gained a lot of support from the people and in other ways. He was granted a lot of power from the senate, which he was a part of during a large period of his life (the consul.) "He established the principate, the form of government under which Rome ruled its empire for three hundred years. He had an extraordinary talent for statesmanship (the ability to take an active role in the shaping of a government) and sought to preserve the best traditions of republican Rome, the period in ancient Rome's history when governing power was in the hands of the Senate rather than the emperor." This is a great description of what Augustus accomplished throughout his successful career of being emperor. After such a grand career of power and triumph, Octavian appointed Tiberius, his third wife's son, as his successor before he died on August 19, 14 AD. Even though Octavian had several accomplishments, his main accomplishment is the creation of the Roman Empire