Cicero and Octavius
The political friendship between Octavius and Cicero was particularly one sided, with Octavius using his ‘friend’ to gain benefits.
When Caesar died, he left behind an adoptive son, Octavius and in the wake of his death, Cicero began nurturing a friendship with Octavius by providing support for a position in political office for Octavius as Horst Hutter, well published author with a PhD in philosophy and religion assents that, “Octavius, who was ambitious for political office and glory, eagerly accepted Cicero’s help in securing for himself the consulship.” (Hutter, 1978) This is supported by Fiona Forsyth, “Cicero helped Octavius Caesar in canvassing for the elections and procured for him the good will of the senate.” (Forsyth, 2003). Octavius continued to climb the cursus honorum, but when he reached the position of Consul, Cicero was paid no further attention by Octavius.
Watch Octavius dismiss Cicero below!
The shallow relationship that Octavius had with Cicero, is brought to light. As a further insult to the end of their friendship, Octavius became political friends with Marc Antony, his adoptive father’s friend, creating an alliance with him. In a letter to Brutus in 43BC, Cicero wrote that, “Caesar Octavianus… must necessarily have fallen under the power of Marcus Antonius, the most abandoned and depraved of men, with whom you see at this very moment in what a desperate contest we are engaged.” (Cicero, cited in Crane, 2013) This is supported by author with a PhD in philosophy and religion, Horst Hutter who endorses that, “He joined forces with Cicero’s arch-enemy Marc Antony, thereby publicly admitting that he had merely pretended to be Cicero’s friend and had thus taken advantage of the good will of the old man.” (Hutter, 1978) As a final betrayal of their friendship, he, though reluctantly at first, allowed for Cicero to be added to Marc Antony’s list of political enemies to be killed.
For more information on the connections between Cicero and Octavian, click here!
Sources
Crane, G. R., 2009. Latin Texts & Translations. [Online]
Available at: http://perseus.uchiago.edu/preseus-cgi/citequery3.pl?dbname=LatinAugust2012&getid=1&query=Cic.%20ad%20Brut.%202.5
[Accessed 13 May 2014].
Forsyth, F., 2003. Augustus: The First Emperor. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group.
Huttler, H., 1978. Politics as Friendship. Onatorio: Wilfred Laurier University Press.
Forsyth, F., 2003. Augustus: The First Emperor. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group.
Huttler, H., 1978. Politics as Friendship. Onatorio: Wilfred Laurier University Press.