Editing Augustus (section)

== Early life ==
{{Main|Early life of Augustus}}

Octavian was born Gaius Octavius in Rome on 23 September 63&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Bringmann|2007|page=283}}{{sfn|Galinsky|2012|pages=xv, 2–3}}{{sfn|Lewis|2023|pages=21–23}}{{efn|{{harvtxt|Lewis|2023|pages=21–23}} writes that there is scholarly debate about Octavian's precise birthdate. Evidence that it had occurred on 22 September is based on statements by historians such as [[Suetonius]] and [[Velleius Paterculus]], though [[Cassius Dio]] affirms that it occurred on 23 September, and confusion also stems from the transition of using the early Republican [[Roman calendar]] to using the [[Julian Calendar]] during Octavian's lifetime. {{harvtxt|Galinsky|2012|pages=2–3}} also highlights the debate over 23 September versus 22 September as the date of birth.}} His paternal family was from the [[Volsci]]an town of [[Velletri]] ({{langx|la|Velitrae}}),{{sfn|Lewis|2023|pages=34–35}} approximately {{Convert|40|km|mi}} south-east of the city.{{sfn|Shotter|2005|pages=1–2}}{{sfn|Galinsky|2012|pages=2, 4–5}}{{efn|For more information, please see {{harvtxt|Suetonius|loc=''Augustus'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Augustus*.html#5 5–6]}}}} He was born at Ox Head, a small property on the [[Palatine Hill]], very close to the [[Roman Forum]].{{sfn|Lewis|2023|page=21}} In his childhood, he received the cognomen "Thurinus", possibly commemorating his father's victory at [[Thurii]] over a rebellious band of [[Slavery in ancient Rome|slaves]] who had been followers of [[Spartacus]].{{sfn|Fratantuono|2016|page=xix}}{{efn|For further information, please refer to {{harvtxt|Suetonius|loc=''Augustus'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Augustus*.html#7 7]}}}} [[Roman historiography|Roman histories]] gloss over the childhood of Octavian. Some details about his upbringing from his now lost autobiography were preserved by Suetonius, while the majority of information is preserved in a biography composed by [[Nicolaus of Damascus]] around 20 BC that survives only partially in 10th-century [[Byzantine literature|Byzantine excerpts]].{{sfn|Galinsky|2012|pages=1–2}}

Octavian was raised for at least part of his childhood in his father's hometown of Velletri.{{sfn|Galinsky|2012|pages=2, 5}} Octavian's father, also named [[Gaius Octavius (father of Augustus)|Gaius Octavius]], came from a moderately wealthy [[Equites|equestrian]] family of the ''[[gens Octavia]]''.{{sfn|Lewis|2023|page=34}}{{sfn|Shotter|2005|pages=1–2}}{{Efn|On their family, [[Suetonius]] wrote: "There are many indications that the Octavian family was in days of old a distinguished one at Velitrae; for not only was a street in the most frequented part of town long ago called Octavian, but an altar was shown there besides, consecrated by an Octavius. This man was leader in a war with a neighbouring town ..."{{Sfn|Suetonius|loc=''Augustus'' 1}}}} His paternal great-grandfather [[Gaius Octavius (tribune 216 BC)|Octavius]] was a [[military tribune]] in Sicily during the [[Second Punic War]]. His grandfather was [[Banking in ancient Rome|a banker]], while his father became a [[Roman senator]], was distinguished as a [[praetor]] by 61 BC,{{sfn|Shotter|2005|pages=1–2}}{{sfn|Luc|2024|page=133}} and then became a [[Roman governor|governor]] of [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]].{{sfn|Galinsky|2012|page=5}}{{efn|For further information, please See {{harvtxt|Suetonius|loc=''Augustus'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Augustus*.html#1 1–4]}}}} His mother, [[Atia (mother of Augustus)|Atia]], was the niece of Julius Caesar.{{sfn|Shotter|2005|pages=1–2}}{{sfn|Lewis|2023|page=34}}{{Sfn|Rowell|1962|page=14}}

[[File:RSC 0022 - transparent background.png|thumb|upright=1.35|left|{{lang|la|[[Denarius]]}} from 44&nbsp;BC, showing [[Julius Caesar]] on the obverse and the goddess [[Venus (mythology)|Venus]] on the reverse of the coin. Caption: {{langr|la|CAESAR IMP. M. / L. AEMILIVS BVCA}}]]
Octavian was four years old when his father died in 59&nbsp;BC,{{Sfn|Chisholm|Ferguson|1981|page=23}}{{sfn|Galinsky|2012|pages=xv, 5–6}} or in 58 BC.{{sfn|Shotter|2005|pages=1–2}}{{sfn|Luc|2024|page=133}}{{efn|{{harvtxt|Luc|2024|page=133}} provides two dates, 59 BC and 58 BC, while {{harvtxt|Shotter|2005|pages=1–2}} says 58 BC only, and {{harvtxt|Chisholm|Ferguson|1981|page=23}} and {{harvtxt|Galinsky|2012|page=xv}} say 59 BC.}} His mother Atia married a former governor of [[Roman Syria|Syria]], [[Lucius Marcius Philippus (consul 56 BC)|Lucius Marcius Philippus]].{{sfn|Shotter|2005|page=2}}{{sfn|Galinsky|2012|page=6}}{{efn|For further information in primary sources, please see {{harvtxt|Suetonius|loc=''Augustus''  [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Augustus*.html#4 4–8]}} and {{harvtxt|Nicolaus of Damascus|loc=3}}}} Philippus claimed descent from [[Alexander the Great]] and was elected [[Roman consul|consul]] in 56&nbsp;BC. Philippus never showed much interest in young Octavian. Because of this, Octavian was raised by his grandmother, [[Julia Minor (grandmother of Augustus)|Julia]], the sister of Julius Caesar. Julia died in 52 or 51&nbsp;BC, and Octavian delivered the funeral oration for his grandmother.{{sfn|Pelham|1911|page=912}}{{sfn|Shotter|2005|page=2}}{{efn|For further information in primary sources, please refer to {{harvtxt|Suetonius|loc=''Augustus'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Augustus*.html#8 8.1]}} and [[Quintilian]], [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/quintilian/quintilian.institutio12.shtml#6 12.6.1]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225070928/http://thelatinlibrary.com/quintilian/quintilian.institutio12.shtml#6 |date=25 February 2018 }}}} From this point, his mother and stepfather took a more active role in raising him. He donned the {{lang|la|[[toga]] virilis}} 'toga of manhood' four years later<ref name="Suetonius">Suetonius, ''Augustus'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Augustus*.html#8 8.1]</ref> and was elected to the [[College of Pontiffs]] in 47&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Nicolaus of Damascus|loc=[http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/nicolaus.html 4]}}{{Sfn|Rowell|1962|page=16}} The following year he was put in charge of the [[Ancient Olympic Games|Greek games]] that were staged in honour of the [[Temple of Venus Genetrix]], built by Julius Caesar.{{Sfn|Rowell|1962|page=16}}

According to Nicolaus of Damascus, Octavian wished to join Caesar's staff for his campaign in [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa]] but gave way when his mother protested.{{sfn|Nicolaus of Damascus|loc=[http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/nicolaus.html 6]}} In 46&nbsp;BC, she consented for him to join Caesar in [[Hispania]], where he planned to fight the forces of [[Pompey]], Caesar's late enemy, but Octavian fell ill and was unable to travel. When he had recovered, he sailed to the front but was shipwrecked. After coming ashore with a handful of companions, he crossed hostile territory to Caesar's camp, which impressed Caesar considerably.<ref name="Suetonius" /> [[Velleius Paterculus]] reports that after that time, Caesar allowed the young man to share his carriage.{{sfn|Velleius Paterculus|loc=[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Velleius_Paterculus/2C*.html#59.3 2.59.3]}} When back in Rome, Caesar deposited a new will with the [[Vestal Virgin]]s,<ref name="Suetonius-2">{{harvnb|Suetonius|loc=''Julius'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Julius*.html#83 83]}}.</ref> naming Octavian as the prime beneficiary and his principal heir on 13 September 45&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Bringmann|2007|page=283}}