Octavian
An outstanding politician in Rome and the founder of the Roman Empire. Born into a knight's family, his father is a veteran of the Senate. Octavian, Caesar's nephew, was adopted by Caesar and inherited most of his property. After Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, it was followed by a three-person alliance of archon Anthony, cavalry leader Rebida and Octavian, known as the "last three heads" in history. The three men kept fighting for power and profit, and soon the heat ratio lost power. By 30 BC, Octavian defeated Anthony and won the final victory, becoming the military dictator of Rome. Octavian retained the cloak of republicanism in the national system and did not restore the open military dictatorship. He calls himself "the first citizen", which means the head of state. The Fuehrer's politics began in 27 BC, 65438+ 10 and 65438+March. Considering Octavian's ability to suppress slaves and defend the interests of slave owners, the Senate awarded him the title of "Augustus", which means sacred, solemn and great. Under the head of state system, the Senate is actually controlled by the head of state. Octavian himself is the head of state, commander-in-chief, lifelong consul, chief elder and high priest, monopolizing military power, judicial power, administrative power and religious power, and is actually an emperor. Therefore, the head of state established by Octavian is essentially a hidden monarchy, and Octavian's rule over Rome is the beginning of the Roman Empire.
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In BC 1 century, bronze statues of many famous political figures appeared in ancient Rome. Among them, there is a full-length portrait of a tall and burly man, dressed in gorgeous armor, holding a scepter in his left hand, raising his right hand upward, and pointing his index finger forward, as if commanding thousands of troops to March forward bravely. The overall image is powerful, both in form and spirit, and lifelike. He is a statue of Octavian, the nephew and adopted son of the military dictator Caesar.
Octavian's grandmother is Caesar's sister. Caesar adopted Octavian as his adopted son shortly before his death, and made him his heir in his will. When Caesar was assassinated, he was training in the city of Apollonia on the Adriatic Sea. At that time, archon Anthony and cavalry leader Lei Bida had the strongest military strength. They are all Caesar's priests. At first Anthony didn't care about Octavian, who was 0/9 years old. He not only owns Octavian's legacy, but also opposes Octavian's election as tribune. These practices of Anthony have aroused many people's opposition. Even the Senate is skeptical and unwilling to support Anthony.
After Octavian returned to Rome, relying on his inheritance and the support of rich relatives and friends, and with the support of the Senate, he quickly set out and defeated Anthony in Mutina, Gaul. After the threat of the army was lifted, the Senate took a contemptuous and hostile attitude towards Octavian. At this time, Octavian and Anthony's soldiers didn't want to kill each other, because they were both Caesar's veterans, and they wanted to unite to avenge Caesar. In this situation, Octavian formed an open alliance with Anthony and Rebida, and jointly gained the power to rule the country for five years. In order to distinguish the "first three-headed alliance" between Caesar and crassus and Pompeii, this "three-headed alliance" is called the "last three-headed alliance".
Then, under the slogan of revenge for Caesar, Octavian and others issued a public enemy declaration and carried out a massacre. On the list of public enemies, there are killers of Caesar, as well as three personal vendettas and ordinary rich people. At that time, anyone who killed a public enemy could get a head reward, and slaves could also get freedom and citizenship. For a time, there was a terrible sight inside and outside Rome, 300 elders and 2000 knights were executed and their property was confiscated. Many enemies fled to Spain and Greece. Octavian and Anthony led the army in hot pursuit, defeated the Republican armed forces in Philippi, Greece, and Brutu and Cassio, the masterminds of Caesar's assassination, were forced to commit suicide in despair.
These three heads are not monolithic. At this time, Anthony's wife and brother launched an anti-Octavian movement in Italy, which was quickly quelled by Octavian. Octavian had 40 legions of superior troops at this time, but the situation at home and abroad was not completely stable. So we can't abandon the other "two heads" for the time being. In view of the new contradiction between them, they renegotiated in 40 BC and divided their respective spheres of influence. Anthony ruled eastern Italy, Octavian ruled western Italy, and Rabida ruled Africa in Africa. Temporarily repaired the rift between them.
Soon, Octavian defeated Pompeii's son, Little Pompeii, defeated Rebida's covet of Sicily within his sphere of influence, and restored the long-damaged peace in Italy and most parts of the Mediterranean. Octavian is full of wings. With Rebida deprived of military power, Octavian's opponent is only Anthony.
Anthony and Octavian originally defeated the public enemy of Greece and went to Asia Minor to criticize some cities there for supporting the public enemy, including Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. Unexpectedly, he was fascinated by the beauty of the queen and went to Egypt with her. Later, I simply abandoned the original match, married the queen, and promised to give the eastern provinces of Rome to the queen and her children. The news spread to Rome, causing widespread dissatisfaction among people from all walks of life. Octavian seized the opportunity to oppose Anthony and drove away nearly 300 senators who supported Anthony. Octavian declared Anthony "the enemy of the motherland" and declared war on the Queen of Egypt in the name of the Senate and the General Assembly.
On September 2, 3 1 BC, Octavian led the navy and army to wage war in Akexin, northwest Greece. At first, the battle was close. But at the height of the fighting, the queen suddenly retreated to Egypt. Anthony followed the queen when he saw her leave. The rest of the army was wiped out by Octavian. Later Octavian rushed to Egypt and defeated Anthony in Alexandria. Anthony wanted to fight Octavian alone, but Octavian felt it was unnecessary and advised Anthony to end his life in other ways. Anthony was forced to commit suicide.
Octavian, like Caesar, became the winner of the "three heads". Octavian received all the honors awarded to Caesar by the Senate. Following Caesar's footsteps, he established a personal military dictatorship and monopolized the state's administrative, military, judicial and religious powers. But he did not use the titles of dictatorship and monarch, but called himself the first citizen or chief elder. This form of rule is called Fuehrer Politics. Since 27 BC, Octavian has been regarded as a sacred object by the Senate and was awarded the title of "Augustus". Augustus means sacred, solemn and great. Later, it became a title of western emperors.
The head of state system initiated by Octavian is a hidden monarchy, and the monarch is hidden under the cloak of the Republic. He was the first emperor of the de facto Roman Empire, but he did not adopt the title of emperor. It was not until Diocletian came to power more than 300 years later that absolute monarchy was openly adopted.
Octavian ruled Rome for more than 40 years, which was the richest era in ancient Rome's economy and the "golden age" in ancient Roman literature, so the word "Augustus era" later became synonymous with the golden age.
The statue mentioned at the beginning is that of Augustus, who is standing there, giving a speech to the army with rapt attention. Next to his right foot, stood a cute, clever and lively little angel Cupid, with wings and no eyes. Cupid is the youngest son of Venus and little love god. In Greek mythology, it is called eros. He often flies in the air with a bow and arrow. Whoever wins his golden arrow will have love, and whoever wins his lead arrow will lose love. Legend has it that lovers always open their eyes when they are in love, but they open their hearts, so little love god was stabbed in the eye. He also said that little love god often turns good and bad upside down, no matter right or wrong, so little love god will always be just a little doll and will never grow up. He needs to walk with people of insight. On that statue, the ancient Roman sculptor was original and showed these characteristics incisively and vividly. Even his rosy face and lovely dimples on his cheeks are lifelike. The sculptor asked Cupid to accompany Octavian, which reflected Octavian's tall image.