The History of Octavian in Rome

Gaius Octavius was born in 63 BC to a rather aristocratic family. History knows him as Octavian first and he later is better known as Augustus Caesar. He is the great-nephew of Julius Caesar, who pushes him and gives him confidence while growing up. The rest of Octavian's life was spent living out the legacy for his great-uncle.

44 to 37 BC

When Octavian was 18 years old he received word that his uncle had been killed in Rome and that he had left Octavian the majority of his estate and also named him as his successor. Quickly, Octavian fled to Rome and gathered up a good number of his uncle's supporters. Among the supporters was an adversary named Marc Anthony. Both Octavian and Anthony split up and gather their own troops. In 43 BC they battle in Modena where Octavian claims a victory which levels the playing field for him with Anthony.

Octavian and Anthony Join Forces

The two form an agreement with each other and team up to look for Caesar's killers, according to History World. Later, in 42 BC they crossed the Adriatic to do just that. With both of their armies joining together and with the help of other followers, they confront the assassins, Brutus and Philippi who both eventually commit suicide. The pair separate and Octavian heads west where he meets and becomes lovers with Cleopatra. In 40 BC Anthony weds Octavian's sister. The two later divorced because of Anthony's passion for Cleopatra. Tensions mount again between Anthony and Octavian a few years later when Anthony marries the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, with whom Octavian had shared a bed.

31 to 27 BC

In 31 BC the Battle of Actium is fought in Greece near the Roman colony of Actium with the two opposing each other. The winner of the battle will also be the winner of whether or not Anthony's marriage to Cleopatra is legitimate since she is not a Roman. Octavian wins, causing Cleopatra and Anthony to take flight back to Egypt.

Octavian Claims Victory

Octavian follows them and, when he catches up with them in Egypt in 30 BC, both Anthony and Cleopatra take their own lives. This allows Octavian the opportunity to claim Egypt for his own with Cleopatra out of the way. Octavian also claims victory over the Roman Mediterranean and returns home to Rome. During this time Octavian is very aware of how his great-uncle died, so he never takes full dominating power as a ruler should. In 27 BC, Octavian surrenders all military power but is also given command for one decade over Spain, Gaul and Syria.

27 BC to AD 14

During his tenure Octavian is renamed Augustus, which followed him throughout the rest of history. The senate gave him the name of Augustus because of public traditions. This showed that Augustus was not part of a dictatorship. There was peace and prosperity throughout the land for more than 40 years after that; he died in 14 AD.