The author’s aim was to present two literary traditions which refer to the way in which the image of Gaius Octavius, who went on to become Emperor Augustus, which was created in order to legitimate his assumption of power, was presented. The first episode where these traditions are so distinctly perceptible is Gaius Julius Caesar’s second Hispanian campaign (46—45 BC). The representatives of the first tradition (Nicholas of Damascus, Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus) attempted to emphasise Octavius’s personal qualities which were supposed to make him a vigorous and resolute leader. This suggests that the sources of this tradition should be sought in the period of the civil wars when Octavius had to face above all the challenge presented by Mark Anthony in the context of propaganda. Whereas the representatives of the second tradition (Velleius Paterculus, Dio Cassius) no longer attempted to emphasise the purported achievements of Octavius and they concentrated instead on the question of legitimisation resulting from the appurtenance to Caesar’s family. This may indicate that the tradition emerged in the period when one was no longer obliged to be held accountable for the doubtful military achievements of the years 44—36 BC, and what results from the following: when one was no longer obliged to respond to political invectives hurled by his adversaries. In this approach instead of emphasising military accomplishments it was much more important to indicate the decision that was made by Caesar, and perhaps the vaticinal signs, for such a distinguished individual as the murdered dictator doubtlessly was, could not misjudge the talents of the successor whose greatness was even foretold by the gods themselves.
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Vol. 9 No. 14 (2015)
Published: 2018-01-16
English
Język Polski