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For other people with similar names, see Gaius Octavius.
Gaius Octavius
Gaius Octavius, father of Augustus.jpg
Head of statue, thought to be Gaius Octavius
Born c. 100 BC
Velitrae, Italy, Roman Republic
Died 59 BC
Nola, Italy, Roman Republic
Occupation Politician
Spouse(s) Ancharia
Atia Balba Caesonia
Children Octavia the Elder
Octavia the Younger
Augustus
Gaius Octavius[1] (about 100 - 59 BC) was a Roman politician. He was an
ancestor to the Roman Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. He was the
father of the Emperor Augustus, step-grandfather of the Emperor Tiberius,
great-grandfather of the Emperor Claudius, and great-great grandfather of the
Emperors Caligula[2] and Nero.[3] Hailing from Velitrae, he was a descendant
of an old and wealthy equestrian branch of the gens Octavia. At Rome his
family was part of the wealthy plebeian caste, and not being of senatorial
rank, he was a novus homo ("new man"). His grandfather, Gaius Octavius, fought
as a military tribune in Sicily during the Second Punic War. His father, Gaius
Octavius, was a municipal magistrate who lived to an advanced age.
Contents
1 Personal life
2 Political career
3 Family tree of the Octavii Rufi
4 See also
5 Footnotes
6 Sources
Personal life
Octavius' first wife was named Ancharia. The two had a child named Octavia the
Elder. It is not known how the marriage ended, although it is possible that
Ancharia died during child birth. Octavius later married the niece of Julius
Caesar, Atia Balba Caesonia. How they met is not known, although Atia's family
on her father's side (the Atii Balbi) lived close to Velitrae, which was the
ancestral home of the Octavii. They had two children: Octavia the Younger (b.
69 BC) and Gaius Octavius (b. 63 BC), who became Roman Emperor Augustus.
Political career
Main article: Augustus
Head of statue, thought to be Gaius Octavius, father of Octavian, ca. 60 BC,
Munich Glyptothek
Atia Balba Caesonia from "Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum"
Around 70 BC, Octavius was elected quaestor. In 61 BC, he was elected praetor.
In 60 BC, after his term as praetor had ended, he was appointed propraetor,
and was to serve as governor (praefectus pro praetor) of Macedonia. However,
before he left for Macedonia, the senate sent him to put down a slave
rebellion in Thurii. These slaves had previously taken part in the rebellions
led by Spartacus and Catiline. Octavius' victory over the slaves in Thurii led
him to give his son, then a few years old, the cognomen of "Thurinus". He then
left for Macedonia and proved to be a capable administrator, governing
"courageously and justly". His deeds included leading the Roman forces to
victory in an unexpected battle against the Thracian Bessian tribe. Cicero had
high regard for Octavius' diplomatic dealings. Because of his successful term
as governor of Macedonia, Octavius won the support necessary to stand for
election as consul.
In 59 BC, Octavius sailed to Rome, to stand for election as consul for 58 BC.
However, he died in Nola, before arriving in Rome. His career is summarized in
an inscription erected by his son on the forum he built in Rome:[4]
C(aius) Octavius C(ai) f(ilius) C(ai) n(epos) C(ai) pr[on(epos)]
pater Augusti
tr(ibunus) mil(itum) bis q(uaestor) aed(ilis) pl(ebis) cum
C(aio) Toranio iudex quaestionum
pr(aetor) proco(n)s(ul) imperator appellatus
ex provincia Macedonia
“Gaius Octavius, son, grandson and great-grandson of Gaius,
father of Augustus,
twice military tribune, quaestor, aedile of the plebs together with
Gaius Toranius, judge,
praetor, proconsul, proclaimed imperator
in the province of Macedonia”