CLAS100 Lecture Notes - Roman Senate, Octavians, Autocracy
Document Summary
By his time the roman empire was an autocracy: state ruled by one man. His power base was an army that was loyal to him and not the state. After his assassination (44 bc) autocracy kind of became permanent. The empire is the 500 years after caesar. Caesar spent a lot of time in front of the mirror on his appearance. Only 5"7 had a limp leg, bad teeth, pretty good looking, curly hair (kid of gold coloured), clear bright eyes, slightly hooked nose, calm facial expression, but could lose temper. Was born gaius octavius in 63 bc in rome, sept 23rd, he came from a socially mobile family. His grandfather had been a rich banker in a small italian town father did better was elected in the roman senate in 73 bc married the niece of julius caesar. Related by marriage to caesar octavius was the great-nephew of caesar.