AUGUSTUS, Gaius Julius Caesar Octa vianus, originally called GAIUS OcrAvius, the celebrated Roman Emperor: b. 23 Sept. 63 ac.; d. Nola, 19 Aug. 14 A.D. He was the son of Gaius Octavius and Atia, a daughter of Julia, the sister of Julius Caesar. The Octavian f am ily originated at Velitrx, in the country of the Volscians. The father of Octavius had risen to the rank of senator, and had gone to Mace donia, after being chosen puetor, where he was a civil and military officer. Octavius lost his father when young, but was carefully brought up by his mother and L. Marcius Philippus, the second husband of Ada. His talents gained him the regard of his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, who declared himself willing to adopt him as his son in case he himself should remain with out children. Octavius was studying under the renowned orator Apollodorus when he received the news of the tragic death of his uncle and of his having adopted him as his son. Notwith standing the anxiety of his friends, he went to Italy, and on landing at Brundusium, deputies irom the veterans collected there came to him. Conducted in triumph to the city and saluted as the heir and avenger of C.:Tsar. he made his adoption publicly known and took the name of his uncle, adding to it that of Octavianus. He then advanced to Rome, where there were now two parties, that of the republicans, who had killed Caesar, and that of Antony and Lepidus, who, under the pretense of avenging him, strove to establish their own authority. Oc tavianus addressed himself first to Cicero, at Cumm, being desirous to gain over this great orator, and from thence he went to Rome, where the greater part of the magistrates, sol- diers and citizens came to meet him, Antony alone paying no attention to his return. After Octavianus had caused his adoption to be con firmed in the most solemn manner, he went to Antony and demanded of him the inheritance left him in order to pay the legacies mentioned in his uncle's will. Antony at first haughtily refused to acknowledge his claims, but changed his attitude when he found the influence of Oc tavianus continually increasing, and his own proportionably diminishing. There could be no real union, however, between two equally am bitious rivals. In their hearts they cherished
reciprocal hatred and jealousy; and their en mity was so little a secret that Octavianus was accused of having wished to get Antony mur dered. He afterward, when Antony, together with Lepidus, entered Italy at the head of a powerful army, united with him, and a trium virate was formed by the three generals, who defeated the republican army under Brutus and Cassius, at Philippi in Macedonia (42 a.c.). After his return to Rome he satisfied the de mands of his soldiers by dividing among them confiscated lands. This division caused great disturbances. In the midst of the stormy scenes which convulsed Italy, he was obliged to contend with Fulvia, whose daughter, Clodia, he had rejected, and with Lucius, the brother in-law of Antony. After several battles, Lucius threw himself into the city of Perusia, where he was soon after obliged to surrender. The city was given up to be plundered, and 300 sen ators were condemned to death. After the re turn of Antony an end was put to the proscrip tions. Octavianus allowed such of the pro scribed persons as had escaped death by flight, and whom he no longer feared, to return. There were still some disturbances in Gaul, and the naval war with Sextus Pompeius continued for several years. By a skilful course of conduct he brought about the defeat of Pompeius and reduced Lepidus to a nullity, thus leaving An tony alone as his rival. The empire was now divided between him and Antony; but while the former, in the east, gave himself up to a life of luxury, the young Octavius pursued his plan of making himself sole master of the world. He especially strove to obtain the love of the people. He displayed mildness and magnanimity, without the appearance of striv ing after the highest power, and declared him self ready to lay down his power when Antony should return from the war against the Par thians. He appeared rather to permit than to wish himself to be appointed perpetual tribune — an office which gave him supreme power.. The more he advanced in the affections of the people the more openly, did he declare himself against Antony.