Octavian
Octavian (a.k.a. Augustus) was born Gaius Octavius on September 23, 63 BC in Rome. His father of the same name had only just joined the Roman Senate. Octavian's mother was Atia, who was the daughter of Julia and, more importantly, the niece of Julius Caesar. This provided Octavian a family link to Caesar and was essential to his rise to power. The elder Gaius died shortly after reaching praetorship in the Senate and finishing serving as governor of Macedonia. It was during Octavian's fatherless years, Tacitus states in his Dialogues (Southern, Augustus, 3), that he was educated by his mother, Atia. Caesar returned to Rome in 46 BC after a series of victories abroad and Octavian became closely associated with Caesar from then on. When Julius Caesar was murdered in March 44 BC, Octavian went to Brundisium and learned of his adoption by Caesar. He changed his name to Julius Caesar Octavianus, but referred to himself as Caesar. He formed the Triumverate with Marcus......
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