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| Caesar Augustus (courtesy of Daniel Voshart | voshart.com) |
September 23, 63 B.C. - Rome - Gaius Octavius is born
January(?) 1(?), 61 B.C. - Rome - His father, Gaius Octavius, is elected praetor
January(?) 1(?), 60 B.C. - Rome - His father, Gaius Octavius, is appointed propraetor, to serve as governor of Macedonia
March(?) 1(?), 60 B.C. - Thurii (Sibari, Cosenza, Italy) - Before leaving for Macedonia, Gaius Octavius (father) is sent to put down a slave rebellion at Thurii, a mix of survivors from Spartacus' slave rebellion and stragglers from Catiline's army
April(?) 1(?), 60 B.C. - Macedonia - Gaius Octavius reaches Macedonia to assume his governorship
January(?) 1(?), 59 B.C. - Rome - Before arriving back in Rome, Gaius Octavius (father) dies at Nola, aged 40
October(?) 1(?), 59 B.C. - Rome - His mother Atia marries Lucius Marcius Philippus
January(?) 1(?), 56 B.C. - Rome - Lucius Marcius Philippus wins the consulship of 56 B.C.
January(?) 1(?), 52 B.C. - Rome - 12-year-old Octavian gives the funeral oration for his grandmother Julia - Caesar's sister - on the speaker's platform in Rome. He begins accompanying his stepfather Philippus on his business and attending public meetings or the Senate
January(?) 1(?), 49 B.C. - Puteoli (Puzzuoli, near Naples) - At the beginning of the Civil War, Atia and Philippus feel that Rome isn't safe for young Augustus and send him to one of their villas at Puteoli
October 18, 47 B.C. - Rome - 16-year-old Octavian receives his "toga virillis", with Julius Caesar probably attending the ceremony
November(?) 1(?), 47 B.C. - Rome - Caesar recommends his grand-nephew to be elected as pontiff in the College of Pontiffs after a leading pompeian who was killed at Pharsalus left a vacancy. Octavian is elected immediately
September 21, 46 B.C. - Rome - Caesar allows Octavian to follow behind his triumphal chariot, wearing an officer's insignia =(START)
June 1(?), 45 B.C. - Calpe (Gibraltar) - Octavian and his friend Agrippa arrive at Calpe to join Caesar
August 1(?), 45 B.C. - Mediolanum (Milan, Italy) - Mark Antony joins Caesar and Octavian on their return from Hispania. They enter in Mediolanum together with Decimus, the governor of Gaul. Among the people that hurried northward to greet them were Brutus and his mother, Servilia
September 13, 45 B.C. - near Labicum (near Tusculum, SE of Rome) - Julius Caesar writes his will, announcing that Octavian would be his political heir with rights to 3/4 of his fortune and adopt the name Caesar as his son. 1/4 would go to Octavian's cousins Pedius and Pinarius. He also names Octavian as his formal second-in-command, the Master of the Horse, beginning on March 18, 44 B.C. Caesar bequeaths every citizen a cash bonus of 300 sesterces and decrees that his estate across the Tiber, Caesar's Gardens, be converted into a public park
December 1(?), 45 B.C. - Apollonia (Pujan, near Fier, Albania) - Caesar sends Octavian and his friend Agrippa to Apollonia to spend the winter with the legions and a military tutor
March 25, 44 B.C. - Apollonia - Octavian receives the news that Caesar was assassinated
March 27(?), 44 B.C. - Otranto area - Octavian lands in the area of Otranto, avoiding Brundisium, where his enemies could be waiting for him
March 29(?), 44 B.C. - Lupiae (Lecce, Italy) - Octavian arrives at Lupiae on foot. He receives news of Caesar's funeral and the turn of the political situation under the leadership of Mark Antony
April(?) 1(?), 44 B.C. - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - After learning that Brundisium was safe, Octavian arrives there and is welcomed by the troops, being hailed as "Caesar" and adopting the name since then
April 18, 44 B.C. - Puteoli (Puzzuoli, near Naples) - Octavian arrives at Philippus' villa in Puteoli. The trip across Italy afforded the opportunity of publicity among caesarian settlers and colonies
April 21, 44 B.C. - Puteoli - Visit from Cicero
May 6, 44 B.C. - Rome - Brief trip to Rome. Octavian officially accepts his adoption by Caesar
June(?) 1(?), 44 B.C. - Rome - Mark Antony blocks Octavian's access to Caesar's funds and legacy. To pay Caesar's promised bequest to the roman people, Octavian raises the funds on his own, and so endears himself to the ordinary folk of Rome
July 20, 44 B.C. - Rome - Octavian puts on the funeral games in honor of his adoptive father, until July 28th
July 28, 44 B.C. - Rome - When a comet appeared during the games, Octavian turned what was usually considered an ill omen in Rome into a symbol of Caesar’s new place in heaven with the gods. This made splendid propaganda. Unusually bright, the comet was visible during the daylight hours, and so caught the public’s attention. When a soothsayer saw it as a sign of the dawning of a new age, the notion resonated with the Roman people.
November 1(?), 44 B.C. - Campania | Rome - After recruiting 3,000 of Caesar's veterans in Campania, Octavian marches his new army to Rome, however, he withraws when Mark Antony approaches
November 28, 44 B.C. - Alba Fucens (N. of Avezzano, central Italy) - The two veteran "macedonian" legions that mutinied at Brundisium join Octavian at Alba Fucens. He pays each man 500 denarii and promises them much more if they defeated Mark Antony - an additional 5,000 denarii each
January 1(?), 43 B.C. - Rome - After Mark Antony refuses the Senate's demands to withraw from Cisalpine Gaul, the Senate gives inducts Octavian as Senator and grants him the rank of substitute high official (proprietor), sending him along with consul Hirtius to help Decimus. In total they would have 7 legions
March 20(?), 43 B.C. - Bononia (Bologna, Italy) - Hirtius and Octavian advance along the Via Aemilia and reach Bononia
April 14, 43 B.C. - Castelfranco Emilia, SE of Mutina (Modena) - Mark Antony defeats the consul Pansa at the battle of Forum Gallorum. However, while his tired veterans returned to their camp, they are attacked and routed by rested and fresh troops of Legio IV Macedonica under Hirtus and Octavian
April 21, 43 B.C. - Castelfranco Emilia - Battle of Mutina - Hirtus and Octavian launch a direct attack on Mark Antony's camps. Hirtius is killed but the battle is won by Octavian. Mark Antony is forced to lift the siege and retreat westward along the Via Aemilia. Octavian refuses to hand over the legions to Decimus (as one of Caesar's assassins) and takes control of the 8 legions. With his soldiers deserting him, many going to Octavian, Decimus flees to Macedonia
May 24, 43 B.C. - While in Bononia (Bologna, Italy) - Letter from Decimus to Cicero: "(Octavian) Caesar, he says, makes no complaints about you to be sure, except for a remark which he attributed to you: “we must praise the young man, reward him, and discard him”. He added that he has no intention of letting himself be discarded."
July 1(?), 43 B.C. - While in Cisalpine Gaul - A deputation of 400 men from Octavian's army arrives in Rome, demanding that the Senate give one of the two vacant consulships to Octavian
August 19, 43 B.C. - Rome - After entering Rome with 8 legions, Octavian is elected consul, with his relative Quintus Pedius as co-consul
September(?) 1(?), 43 B.C. - Rome - Octavian has Quintus Pedius pass a law to rescind the amnesty for Caesar's killers. He also lifts the decree outlawing Mark Antony
October 30(?), 43 B.C. - near Bononia (Bologna) - Mark Antony, Octavian and Lepidus meet face-to-face and conclude a formal pact - the "Second Triumvirate". In total they had 40 legions. They divide up the western part of the empire among them, with Octavian taking Sicily, Sardinia and Africa, Lepidus taking Narbonese Gaul and Nearer Hispania, and Mark Antony taking most of Gaul
January 1, 42 B.C. - Rome - The Senate posthumously recognizes Julius Caesar as a divinity of the Roman state - Divus Iulius
July(?) 1(?), 42 B.C. - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - Mark Antony and Octavian begin concentrating their armies
September 10(?), 42 B.C. - Apollonia (Pujan, near Fier, Albania) - Mark Antony and Octavian land at Apollonia, two years after Julius Caesar. Octavian falls seriously ill and is unable to continue
October 3, 42 B.C. - Outside Philippi, near Neapolis (Kavala, Greece) - Still unable to ride a horse, Octavian is carried on a litter to a safe place outside Philippi while the First Battle of Philippi happens, resulting in a draw between the triumvirs' and cassius/Brutus. Cassius mistakes some of Brutus' cavalry for the enemy and commits suicide
October 23, 42 B.C. - Philippi - Second Battle of Philippi - Brutus's forces are defeated and he commits suicide
March 15, 40 B.C. - Perusia (Perugia, Italy) - Octavian has 300 roman senators and equestrians executed for allying with Lucius
January 1(?), 39 B.C. - Rome - Octavian is confronted by an angry mob while he was conducting business in the Forum. Mark Antony comes to the rescue. He and his soldiers are bombarded with stones
April(?) 1(?), 39 B.C. - Baiae, Bay of Naples - Octavian, Mark Antony, Sextus Pompey and their staffs meet at Baie. No agreement is reached
July(?) 1(?), 39 B.C. - Cape Misenum, Bay of Naples - Treaty of Misenum - Octavian, Mark Antony, Sextus Pompey and their staffs meet again at Cape Misenum. Sextus Pompey ends the blockade of Italy. In return, he is given legitimate power over his forces, enrolled in the Senate and granted the provincial commands of Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and Peloponnese. Mark Antony admits Sextus Pompey in the college of priests, and he is scheduled to be consul for the 33 B.C. elections
September 23, 39 B.C. - Rome - 24th birthday - Octavian shaves his beard (that he used as a sign of mourning since Julius Caesar's death)
October 1(?), 39 B.C. - Rome - After Claudius Nero obligingly divorces Livia, she and Octavian are betrothed
October 30, 39 B.C. - Rome - His daughter Julia (the Elder) is born. Octavian divorces Scribonia and takes the child
January 14, 38 B.C. - Rome - Livia gives birth to a boy, Drusus Claudius Nero (who gossip said could be Octavian's). The baby is sent to his father to be raised
January 17, 38 B.C. - Rome - Octavian marries Livia while she is still pregnant from a recently broken marriage. Octavian gains permission from the College of Pontiffs to wed her while she is still pregnant from another husband. Three months after the wedding she gives birth to a second son, Nero Claudius Drusus, while he and his elder brother, the four-year-old Tiberius, are living in Octavian's household.
July 20(?), 36 B.C. - Puteoli (Puzzuoli, near Naples) - The fleet of Agrippa and Octavian departs to Sicily. Statilius Taurus sets sail from Tarentum to join them. Lepidus sails from Carthage to join them
August 11, 36 B.C. - near Mylae (Milazzo, N of Sicily) - Naval Battle of Mylae - Agrippa defeats Sextus Pompey
August 20, 36 B.C. - Taormina, Messina, Sicily - Battle of Taormina - Octavian is surprised and defeated at the Battle of Taormina and nearly killed
September 3, 36 B.C. - Off Naulochus, NE coast of Sicily - Naval battle of Naulochus - Octavian watches from the shore. The - fleet of Sextus Pompey is almost entirely destroyed by Agrippa. About 200,000 men are killed and 1,000 warships destroyed
January 1, 33 B.C. - Rome - Becomes Consul for the second time
September 2, 31 B.C. - Ionian Sea, near Preveza, Greece - Naval Battle of Actium: Off the western coast of Greece, Octavian Caesar defeats naval forces under Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII.
April(?) 1(?), 30 B.C. - Dardanelles, Asia Minor (Turkey) - Spring – Octavian leads his army to the Dardanelles, ships them across to Asia Minor and marches into Syria where Herod the Great sends him vows of loyalty and thousands of his own troops in support.
July 1, 30 B.C. - Alexandria, Egypt - The Battle of Alexandria begins as Octavian lays siege to the city
July 30, 30 B.C. - Alexandria - Octavian launches his attack - Mark Antony resist Octavian
August 1, 30 B.C. - Alexandria - Octavian launches a second attack with numeric superiority and Alexandria falls. Mark Antony commits suicide with a sword, aged 53
August 30, 30 B.C. - Alexandria - Octavian orders Caesarion's execution
August 13, 29 B.C. - Rome - Octavian celebrates the triumph for his campaigns against the Illyrians back in 34 B.C.
August 14, 29 B.C. - Rome - Second triumph, this time celebrating the victory at Actium
August 15, 29 B.C. - Rome - Third triumph, celebrating the conquest of Egypt
August 18, 29 B.C. - Rome - The Temple to the Divine Julius is opened
January 1, 28 B.C. - Rome - Octavian shares his sixth consulship with Agrippa
September 1(?), 28 B.C. - Rome - The Actian Games are celebrated for the first time
October 9, 28 B.C. - Rome - The Temple of Apollo on the Palatine is opened
January 1, 27 B.C. - Rome - Octavian shares his seventh consulship with Agrippa (his third)
January 13, 27 B.C. - Rome - In a speech to the Senate, Octavian announces that he was resigning his powers and returning the control of the army, laws and provinces to the Senate.
January 16, 27 B.C. - Rome - Restoration of the Republic. In a meeting of the Senate, Octavian is granted the titles of "Augustus" and "Princeps" (of the "Imperium"). The Roman Republic becomes the Roman Empire. Caesar Augustus (Octavian) agrees to accept responsability for Gaul, Hispania, Egypt and Syria (and all legions stationed there), which were in internal disorder of in need of protection from foreign threats
January 1, 26 B.C. - Tarraco (Tarragona, Catalonia) - Caesar Augustus takes his eight consulship, this time with Statilius Taurus as colleague
January 1, 25 B.C. - Tarraco - Caesar Augustus takes his ninth consulship
January 1, 24 B.C. - On his way to Rome - Caesar Augustus takes his tenth consulship, with Caius Norbanus Flaccus
January(?) 1(?), 21 B.C. - Sicily - Spends the Winter of 22-21 B.C. In Sicily
January(?) 1(?), 20 B.C. - Island of Samos, Greece - Returns from his tour in Asia and spends the Winter of 21-20 B.C. at the Island of Samos
September 19, 19 B.C. - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - After returning to Italy, Virgil, who was travelling in Caesar Augustus' entourage, dies of fever
October 12, 19 B.C. - Rome - Returns from his Eastern Tour
May 31, 17 B.C. - Rome - Emperor Augustus celebrates the "ludi saeculares" (Secular games) in Rome
June 1, 17 B.C. - Rome - Ritual cakes are offered to Ilithyia, Greek goddess of Childbirth
June 2, 17 B.C. - River Tiber, Rome - Caesar Augustus slaughters a pregnant sow (swine) in honour of Mother Earth
June 3, 17 B.C. - Palatine Hill, Rome - Caesar Augustus and Agrippa offer sacrificial cakes to Apollo and Diana. A choir of 27 boys and 27 girls sing Horace's hymn the "Carmen Saeculare"
July 4, 13 B.C. - Rome - Returns from his Western Tour (Gaul, Hispania). The "Ara Pacis Augustae" (Altar of Augustan Peace) is commissioned by the Roman Senate to honor the triumphal return of Emperor Augustus from Hispania and Gaul.
March 6, 12 B.C. - Rome - After the death of Lepidus, Augustus takes up the position of "pontifex maximus"
March 19, 12 B.C. - Campania - Travels to Campania with Agrippa
July(?) 1(?), 12 B.C. - Aquileia (Italy-Slovenia border) - Meeting with Herod the Great in the Summer
January 1, 5 B.C. - Rome - Takes his 12th consulship and introduces his heir Gaius Caesar in the Forum
January 1, 2 B.C. - Rome - Takes his 13th consulship and introduces his other heir Lucius Caesar in the Forum
August 1, 2 B.C. - Rome - Julia the Elder, daughter of Augustus, is exiled on charges of treason and adultery to Pandateria; her mother Scribonia accompanies her.
February 5, 2 B.C. - Rome - Augustus is given the title of "Pater Patriae" (Father of the Nation)
February 21, 4 A.C. - While in Rome - His grandson and heir, Gaius Caesar, dies aged 23
May 26, 4 A.C. - Rome - Emperor Augustus summons Tiberius to Rome, and names him his heir and future emperor. At the same time, Agrippa Postumus, the last son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, is also adopted and named as Augustus' heir.
August 3, 8 A.C. - While in Rome - Roman general Tiberius defeats the Illyrians in Dalmatia on the River Bathinus, but the Great Illyrian Revolt continues.
September 9, 8 A.C. - While in Rome - Battle of the Teutoburg Forest: Legio XVII, XVIII and XIX are lured by Arminius into an ambush and defeated by his tribe, the Cherusci, and their Germanic allies. The Roman aquilae are lost and the Roman general and governor Publius Quinctilius Varus commits suicide. The Rhine river is established as the boundary between the Latin- and German-speaking worlds, and Legio II Augusta, XX Valeria Victrix, and XIII Gemina move to Germany to replace the lost legions.
January 16, 13 A.C. - Rome - Attends the Triumph of Tiberius
April 3, 13 A.C. - Rome - Last Will and Testament
May 11, 14 A.C. - Rome - Augustus' third (and final) 20-year census of the Roman Empire reports a total of 4,973,000 citizens
May 18, 14 A.C. - Rome - Caesar Augustus sends 2-year-old Gaius Julius Caesar (Caligula) to his father in Germania
July 24, 14 A.C. - Rome - Caesar Augustus and Tiberius leave Rome for the East
August 19, 14 A.C. - Nola (between Naples and Avellino) - Emperor Augustus dies while visiting Nola, aged 75 =(END)
~~As always, the timelines on this blog are subject to constant improvements and open to contributions from readers. To build these timelines from the Antiquity, it was necessary to dive into the detailed lives of many secondary personalities - 17 for Julius Caesar alone - to allow a more complete idea of each personality and the world around them, and even then it is not enough. There are gaps that will be filled when the time comes to dive into the lives and times of Sulla, Pompey, Mark Antony, Agrippina, Vespasian and others. L.M.C.~
