Augustus
Augustus was born plain Gaius Octavius at Rome on September 23rd. His father was the first in the family to become senator, but died when Octavian was only four years old. It was his mother who had the more distinguished connection. She was the daughter of Julia, sister to Julius Caesar. He was short in Stature, and well proportioned. His body however was covered in spots and he had many birthmarks scattered over his chest and belly. As for character it is said that he was cruel when he was young, but became better when he good older. He was tolerant of criticism and possessed a good sense of humor. Although unfaithful to his wife Livia Drusilla, he remained deeply devoted to her. His public moral attitudes were strict. Octavian served under Julius Caesar in the Spanish expedition of 46 BC. It was possible that he designated to take a senior military command in Caesar's projected Parthian expedition of 44 BC, although at the time he was only 18 years old. But Octavian was with his friends Marcus Agrippa and Marcus Salvidienus Rufus in Appollonia in Epirus completing his academic and military studies, when news reached him of Caesar's assassination. He at once returned to Rom
Augustus did have a daughter, Julia, from a previous marriage to Scribonia. The body was carried to Rome and given a grand funeral and his ashes were placed in his Mausoleum nearby. This left Agrippa the obvious candidate to be teh emperor's heir. Though to insure that the power should pass down to an heir of his proved difficult. Augustus obliged Tiberius, the elder of the two, to divorce his wife Vipsania and marry Julia, and become protector to the young princes. He died at Nola on August 19th 14 AD, only one month away from his 76th birthday. His plans focused on Julia's husband and children. Augustus considered his wife Livia's two adult sons from her previous marriage. Augustus was no great military leader, but had the good sense to recognize the fact. Mainly he relied on his faithful friend Agrippa to do the fighting for him. This no doubt raised his standing with the Roman's considerably. He lived long enough to make his family seem the natural rulers in the eyes of the Roman's. Agrippa died in 12 BC, leaving Julia widowed once again.
Common topics in this essay:
Octavian Caesar,
Lucius Marriage,
BC Spain,
Marc Antony,
Julius Caesar,
Appollonia Epirus,
Agrippa Marcellus,
Aemilius Lepidus,
Agrippa Julia,
Nola August,
julius caesar,
14 ad,
gaius lucius,
daughter julia,
marcellus agrippa,
wife vipsania,
previous marriage,
marc antony,
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Acceptance Essays
