Augustus , 63 BC-AD 14, first Roman emperor, a grandson of the sister of Julius Caesar . Named at first Caius Octavius, he became on adoption by the Julian gens (44 BC) Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Octavian); Augustus was a title of honor granted (27 BC) by the senate. The Second Triumvirate When Octavius was a youth, Caesar took a great interest in his education and made him his heir without the boy's knowledge. Octavius was in Illyricum when Caesar was killed, and he promptly set out for Rome to avenge the dictator's death. Before he reached the city, he heard that he was Caesar's heir. At Rome, Antony was in control, and Octavian was recognized by Cicero and the senate as a leader against him. Antony went north to take Gaul and was defeated (43 BC) at Mutina (modern Modena). Octavian, now dominant in Rome, secured the consulship and made an alliance with Antony and Lepidus (d. 13 BC) as the Second Triumvirate. Having proscribed the enemies of the triumvirate, Octavian and Antony went east and defeated (42 BC) the army of Marcus Junius Brutus and Caius Cassius Longinus at Philippi. Octavian's forces then attacked Sextus Pompeius , who controlled Sicily and Sardinia, and Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa defeated (36 BC) Pompeius at Mylae. Emperor Consolidation of Power While his enemies were being defeated abroad, Octavian also had been consolidating his power in Rome. He was helped by the growing impatience of Rome with Antony's intrigue with Cleopatra, and he...
Augustus , 63 BC-AD 14, first Roman emperor, a grandson of the sister of Julius Caesar . Named at first Caius Octavius, he became on adoption by the Julian gens (44 BC) Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Octavian); Augustus was a title of honor granted (27 BC) by the senate. The Second Triumvirate When Octavius was a youth, Caesar took a great interest in his education and made him his heir without the boy's knowledge. Octavius was in Illyricum when Caesar was killed, and he promptly set out for Rome to avenge the dictator's death. Before he reached the city, he heard that he was Caesar's heir. At Rome, Antony was in control, and Octavian was recognized by Cicero and the senate as a leader against him. Antony went north to take Gaul and was defeated (43 BC) at Mutina (modern Modena). Octavian, now dominant in Rome, secured the consulship and made an alliance with Antony and Lepidus (d. 13 BC) as the Second Triumvirate. Having proscribed the enemies of the triumvirate, Octavian and Antony went east and defeated (42 BC) the army of Marcus Junius Brutus and Caius Cassius Longinus at Philippi. Octavian's forces then attacked Sextus Pompeius , who controlled Sicily and Sardinia, and Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa defeated (36 BC) Pompeius at Mylae. Emperor Consolidation of Power While his enemies were being defeated abroad, Octavian also had been consolidating his power in Rome. He was helped by the growing impatience of Rome with Antony's intrigue with Cleopatra, and he...
Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) or Tully, 106 BC-43 BC, greatest Roman orator, famous also as a politician and a philosopher. Life Cicero studied law and philosophy at Rome, Athens, and Rhodes. His political posts included those of curule aedile (69 BC), praetor (66 BC), and consul (63 BC). He was always a member of the senatorial party, and as party leader he successfully prosecuted Catiline . Later he was unable to prove that he had legal sanction to execute five members of Catiline's group, and on the charge of illegality he was exiled (58 BC) by his personal enemy, Clodius . He was recalled by Pompey the following year and was hailed as a hero. Strongly opposed to Julius Caesar , Cicero was a leader of the party that caused him to convene (56 BC) the triumvirate at Lucca. In 51 BC he was governor of Cilicia, and on his return he joined Pompey against Caesar. After the civil war Caesar forgave Cicero, and he lived in honor at Rome under the dictatorship. He did not take part in the assassination of Caesar, but he applauded it. He and Marc Antony were bitter enemies, and Antony attacked Cicero in the senate. Cicero replied in the First Philippic and the Second Philippic, in which he sought to defend the republic. When Octavian (later Augustus ) took Rome, he allowed Antony to put Cicero's name among those condemned, and Cicero was put to death on Dec. 7, 43 BC Works To the modern reader probably the most interesting of Cicero's voluminous writings are...
Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) or Tully, 106 BC-43 BC, greatest Roman orator, famous also as a politician and a philosopher. Life Cicero studied law and philosophy at Rome, Athens, and Rhodes. His political posts included those of curule aedile (69 BC), praetor (66 BC), and consul (63 BC). He was always a member of the senatorial party, and as party leader he successfully prosecuted Catiline . Later he was unable to prove that he had legal sanction to execute five members of Catiline's group, and on the charge of illegality he was exiled (58 BC) by his personal enemy, Clodius . He was recalled by Pompey the following year and was hailed as a hero. Strongly opposed to Julius Caesar , Cicero was a leader of the party that caused him to convene (56 BC) the triumvirate at Lucca. In 51 BC he was governor of Cilicia, and on his return he joined Pompey against Caesar. After the civil war Caesar forgave Cicero, and he lived in honor at Rome under the dictatorship. He did not take part in the assassination of Caesar, but he applauded it. He and Marc Antony were bitter enemies, and Antony attacked Cicero in the senate. Cicero replied in the First Philippic and the Second Philippic, in which he sought to defend the republic. When Octavian (later Augustus ) took Rome, he allowed Antony to put Cicero's name among those condemned, and Cicero was put to death on Dec. 7, 43 BC Works To the modern reader probably the most interesting of Cicero's voluminous writings are...
