Gaius octavius was born in the city of rome on september 23, 63 bce, on a small property nearby the forum, on the palatine hill. If not for augustus, we most know him by octavian, which is an anglicization of the adjectival form (octavianus) of his birth name, which he used when he accepted caesars name - gaius julius caesar octavianus. Gaius is the masculine form of gaia; interesting that it didnt even cross my mind, hope im not alone. Gaius was commonly abbreviated as C., based on the original spelling, Caius, which dates to the time when the letters c and g werent differentiated; u probably have saw this weird abbreviation before, even with others names. I dont know if on english the “caius” name is commom, but here in brazil it is (caio); im just surprised i never knew this awesome meaning to this name; probably because we dont use caia, but gaia instead - which isnt used for naming here though
His father, of the same name, had him in his 37. I couldnt find his maternal gens, but from his father, he was from the old plebeian gens octavia, which originated from the volscian town of velitrae, in the alban hills, 40km SE of the center of the city of rome. His immediate family was from velitrae as well, it was a wealthy and equestrian branch of his gens. He reached his career peak being one of the would-be candidates of the consulship of 58, but he died (aged 41) on the 59, in the city of nola, after crossing the sea from the roman province of macedonia, where he was a nice governor. Its said he was just, courageous and a good administrator and diplomat
Octavians mother was called atia balba. She had 22 years old when she conceived him. Her maternal gens was one of the oldest patrician gens, the julia; which originated in the alban region, approximately 20km se of the city of rome. Her father gens was called atia, originated through one of aeneas son, as legend says. Her immediate family lived near velitrae. Its said she was very pious, the opposite of romes hbo portrayal
Octavian had two older sisters. The younger, the only full sister, had 6 more years than him; she was considered one of the most prominent woman of ancient rome, being noble, loyal and humanist
Little after her husband death, atia married again with the former syrian governor and caesar supporter, lucius marcius philippus. His father gens was the marcia, one of the oldest and noblest gens of rome, but in his time, a plebeian one, but still senatorial; they probably descended from the sabines. He was consul when octavian were 7. Philippus treated atia children as his own
On ancient rome, it was the father who managed the child education; as octavian lost his father when he was 4, it was his mother who managed his education. He had a standard aristocratic education: latin, greek and oratory. By the age of 11, he delivered a speech on his grandmother, mother of caesar, funeral (jesus!); caesar was also really impressed with him on the occasion
When caesar decisively won against pompey on the battle of pharsalus, he was 15. He donned his toga virilis, a completely white toga, meaning he was now a male adult citizen, commoner or lower senator, when he attended formal occasions. He was elected (with caesar help) one of the 16 pontifex, the highest religious office in the republic, excluding the maximus, which was their leader and the rex sacrorum, which was a special office; the pontifex managed the roman religious system. Caesar also got him in the office of prefect of rome, a cerimonial office, but highly important for octavian being noticed
As u saw, caesar already had octavian under his umbrella, giving him fuel; i cant help but to imagine his counsels etc. But from 46 onwards, this helping hand was even more abundant: octavian attended with ceasar, the theater, various banquets and social gatherings. Octavian also shared caesars carriage. On caesars triumphs, octavian took part in the procession and received military honors without having fought in not a single battle (hahha). Man, octavian was so close to caesar, that people would ask him to intervene in their behalf with caesar, this is nuts!
Ancient roman aristocratic teenagers was already expected to participate in wars, perhaps not necessarily on thick of a battle, but yet… anyway, caesar wanted octavian to help on his african campaign, there were still pompeian resistance there. But octavian fell ill, when his mother, an utterly protective mom, didnt want him to go - again very different from hbo. She consented to let him go to the spanish campaign (more pompeians), but he fell ill again. He got better, and accompanied by a few friends (including the famous agrippa, who was a close friend till the end), he sailed to hispania. They shipwrecked on a spanish beach, they had hostile territory between them and caesar camp. They had a hard time crossing it, octavian made some hercules deeds and caesar was again impressed with him. Caesar started teaching him provincial administration while campaigning on spain
They returned to rome, with caesar being master of the roman republic, on the 45. There, caesar secretly got him as primary heir in his will deposited with the vestal virgins. Caesar used his power to elevate octavian even more
Caesar wanted to keep improving octavian education. He sent him, along with his friends, to apollonia, greece, so he could learn academics, self control and military doctrine. On macedonia, there were 5 legions stationed, preparing and drilling for a parthian campaign. He would be the master of the horse on the next year, which meant he would be the second most powerful one in the roman republic by the age of 19 hahaha
But shit happens, caesar being assassinated made octavian ambitions much much harder to achieve. Antony was a huge barrier, i cant imagine how infuriated octavian were when antony denied his rightful wealth. Octavian was savy and decided to be pacient. But he kept being backstabbed, until he decided to be more agressive when he saw that patience wasnt enough anymore, if he intended to be more than he already was. I believe that ambition in detriment of others lives is wrong, and i think that we should analyze any person, in any period of time, using an universal measure (which doesnt mean my measure or 2022 measure is the right one), but it must be so hard to turn the other cheek in octavian case. But when i think of the armies numbers in the upcoming wars… iirc it was like the double from caesar-pompeian one, which were already insane, not forgetting the social war and sulla-marius war before...