{"id":96902,"date":"2021-10-18T11:38:43","date_gmt":"2021-10-18T09:38:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/?post_type=biografie&#038;p=96902"},"modified":"2025-06-03T12:46:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T10:46:37","slug":"octavia-the-younger","status":"publish","type":"biografie","link":"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/biographies\/octavia-the-younger\/","title":{"rendered":"Octavia the Younger"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Chapters<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/biographies\/octavia-the-younger\/#origin-and-family\" >Origin and family<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/biographies\/octavia-the-younger\/#first-wedding\" >First wedding<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/biographies\/octavia-the-younger\/#second-wedding\" >Second wedding<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/biographies\/octavia-the-younger\/#life-after-antonys-death\" >Life after Antony&#8217;s death<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/biographies\/octavia-the-younger\/#death\" >Death<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n    <div class=\"ramka_ze_zdjeciem float-right \"\n         style=\"\">\n\n        <div class=\"zdjecie\">\n            <img\n                class=\"ramka-ze-zdjeciem\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/385px-8106_-_Roma_-_Ara_Pacis_-_Ottavia_Minore_-_Foto_Giovanni_DallOrto_-_30-Mar-2008-257x400.jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/385px-8106_-_Roma_-_Ara_Pacis_-_Ottavia_Minore_-_Foto_Giovanni_DallOrto_-_30-Mar-2008-257x400.jpg 257w, https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/385px-8106_-_Roma_-_Ara_Pacis_-_Ottavia_Minore_-_Foto_Giovanni_DallOrto_-_30-Mar-2008-640x997.jpg 640w, https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/385px-8106_-_Roma_-_Ara_Pacis_-_Ottavia_Minore_-_Foto_Giovanni_DallOrto_-_30-Mar-2008.jpg 1200w\"                alt=\"Bust of Octavia the Younger\"\n                width=\"250\"\n                height=\"390\"\n               \n               \n            \/>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/385px-8106_-_Roma_-_Ara_Pacis_-_Ottavia_Minore_-_Foto_Giovanni_DallOrto_-_30-Mar-2008.jpg\"\n               rel=\"fancybox\"\n               title=\"Bust of Octavia the Younger.\">\n                <div class=\"iover\">\n                    <div class=\"zicon\">\n                        <i class=\"fa fa-search-plus\"><\/i>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\n                    <div class=\"opis\">\n                                Bust of Octavia the Younger.            <\/div>\n        \n                    <div class=\"chmurka\">\n                Author: G.dallorto            <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n    \n<p>Octavia the Younger (<em>Octavia Minor<\/em>) was born in 69 BCE in Nola (<a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/roman-geography\/roman-provinces\/roman-italy\/\">Italy<\/a>). She was the elder sister of the future first <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/article\/emperor-who-was-chosen-by-gods\/\">emperor<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/roman-geography\/roman-cities\/rome-eternal-city\/\">Rome<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/oktawian-august\/\">Octavian Augustus<\/a> and the fourth wife of the chieftain of <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/marek-antoniusz\/\">Mark Antony<\/a>. Octavia had a reputation as an exemplary <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/roman-society\/roman-woman\/\">Roman woman<\/a>. Octavian has always had great respect for her, hence the great influence of Octavia on his rule and coming to power.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"origin-and-family\"><\/span>Origin and family<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Octavia was born from the relationship of <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/curiosities\/as-you-are-gaius-i-am-gaia-well-known-roman-phrase\/\">Gaius<\/a> Octavian with his second wife &#8211; Attia the Elder. She was the sister of the young Gaius Octavian and the half-sister of Octavia the Elder &#8211; the daughter of Gaius Octavian from his first <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/roman-society\/marriage-and-love-life-in-ancient-rome\/\">marriage<\/a> with Ancharia.<\/p>\n<p>Her father &#8211; senator and governor &#8211; died in 59 BCE. for natural reasons. Her mother remarried, <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/roman-constitution\/roman-republic\/roman-offices\/roman-consul\/\">consul<\/a> Lucius Marcusius Philippus, who took care of the <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/roman-society\/education-of-ancient-romans\/\">education<\/a> of her adopted daughter and son. Octavia spent her youth travelling with her father and mother.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"first-wedding\"><\/span>First wedding<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In 54 BCE the wedding of 15-year-old Octavia was arranged with Gaius Claudius Marcellus, a senator who took over the consulate in 50 BCE. The man was considered a &#8220;good party&#8221; considering that his ancestor was the famous leader of the <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wojny\/wojny-punickie\/ii-wojna-punicka\/\">Second Punic War<\/a> &#8211; Marcus Claudius Marcellus &#8211; and that he came from a prominent plebeian <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/curiosities\/family-in-ancient-rome\/\">family<\/a> Claudius. He was not happy with the wedding, <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/gajusz-juliusz-cezar\/\">Julius Caesar<\/a> &#8211; her uncle &#8211; wanted to maintain an alliance with <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/gnejusz-pompejusz-wielki\/\">Pompey<\/a> and offer him Octavia&#8217;s hand. However, she refused and did not agree to divorce Marcellus. Pompey, in the face of such a situation, took Cornelia Metella as his wife.<\/p>\n<p>Marcellus, offended by Caesar&#8217;s attitude, spoke out against <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/curiosities\/caesar-queen-of-nicomedes\/\">Caesar<\/a>; however, he ultimately did not take an active part in the <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wojny\/wojna-domowa-cezara-z-pompejuszem\/\">civil war<\/a> (49-45 BCE), which earned him later forgiveness from Caesar. After the <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/artykul\/zabojstwo-juliusza-cezara\/\">murder of Caesar<\/a> in 44 BCE Marcellus supported Octavian in the succession but eventually died in May 40 BCE. From his relationship with Octavia, three children were born: Claudia Marcella the Older, Claudia Marcella the Younger and Marcus Claudius Marcellus. All children were born in Italy.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"second-wedding\"><\/span>Second wedding<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Octavia had been a widow for only a few months. In October 40 BCE she took <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/marek-antoniusz\/\">Mark Antony<\/a> for her husband &#8211; Caesar&#8217;s great leader and ally of her brother. Octavia was his fourth wife after his ex-wife, <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/article\/fulvia-first-unofficial-empress-of-rome\/\">Fulvia<\/a>, died earlier. The approval of the wedding required the approval of the <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/roman-constitution\/roman-republic\/roman-offices\/roman-senate\/\">senate<\/a>, as Octavia was still pregnant with her deceased husband. Marriage has been welcomed in all circles of society, and in the <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/roman-army\/\">army<\/a> in particular, as an announcement and guarantee of lasting peace. On the one hand, Octavian&#8217;s fervent attachment to his sister was known, and on the other hand, Octavian&#8217;s charm, virtues and widely admired beauty were to ensure her influence over her husband and his behaviour.<\/p>\n<p>However, based on ancient sources, we conclude that Octavia had no affection for Antony. She travelled with him in the years 40-36 BCE. around different <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/roman-geography\/roman-provinces\/\">provinces<\/a> and lived in a villa in Athens. There she also raised her children from her relationship with Marcellus; two sons of Antony from a previous relationship; and their common children: Antonia the Older and the Younger.<\/p>\n<p>Antony&#8217;s relationship with Octavia had been in crisis since 41 BCE when the queen of Egypt &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/kleopatra-vii\/\">Cleopatra VII<\/a> appeared on the scene. Marcus Antony, after meeting the &#8220;beauty from the east&#8221;, completely lost his head for her and forgot about Octavia and their joint children. From the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra, three children were born: Alexander Helios, Cleopatra II Selene and Ptolemy Philadelphos. Despite the betrayal, Octavia still repeatedly acted as a mediator in the growing misunderstandings and disputes between her husband and brother.<\/p>\n<p>In 35 BCE Marcus Antony planned an expedition to the Party to gain an advantage in the Roman state and to be closer to his beloved Cleopatra. At first, Octavia accompanied her husband, but after arriving in Kerkyra (Corfu Island), her husband sent her to her brother under the pretext of the dangers of war. Octavia and her children returned to Rome, and Antony found himself in the arms of Cleopatra, for a time forgetting about the invasion in the east. In order to regain influence over her husband, Octavia sent him military troops and financial support. At that time, Octavia was soothing her brother&#8217;s nervous relationship with her husband and pretended that Antony&#8217;s behaviour was not hurting her.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, however, in 32 BCE Marcus Antony divorced Octavia and thus broke the last thread connecting him with Octavian. After the defeat of <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/bitwy\/bitwa-pod-akcjum\/\">Actium<\/a>, Antony left her to educate and care for all of his children after committing <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/roman-constitution\/roman-law\/suicide-in-world-of-romans\/\">suicide<\/a> in 30 BCE. After his death, Octavia did not get married for the third time.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"life-after-antonys-death\"><\/span>Life after Antony&#8217;s death<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In 23 BCE her adult son Marcellus died unexpectedly of illness. It was a shock to Octavia and her brother <em>princeps<\/em> Octavian <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/biographies\/augustus\/\">Augustus<\/a>. The emperor, due to the lack of a son, planned to anoint him with his successor. After the death of her son Octavia, she withdrew from the public life of Rome but took part in some of the most important events of the state. Among other things, she opened the Marcellus <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/article\/public-libraries-in-roman-world\/\">Library<\/a> in honour of her son, <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/curiosities\/mommsen-syme-the-nobel-prize-and-octavian-augustus\/\">and Octavian Augustus<\/a> founded the <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/kultura\/architektura-rzymska\/budowle-rzymskie\/teatr-marcellusa\/\">Marcellus Theater<\/a>. Octavia was certainly also consulted about organizing the wedding between <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/marek-wipsaniusz-agrypa\/\">Marcus Agrippa<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/julia-starsza-corka-augusta\/\">Julia<\/a> &#8211; Octavian&#8217;s daughter. It was important because <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/biographies\/marcus-vipsanius-agrippa\/\">Agrippa<\/a> was related to Octavia&#8217;s daughter &#8211; Claudia Marcella.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"ramka_ze_zdjeciem float-center \"\n         style=\"\">\n\n        <div class=\"zdjecie\">\n            <img\n                class=\"ramka-ze-zdjeciem\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/800px-VirgilAeneidVI-640x587.jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/800px-VirgilAeneidVI-640x587.jpg 640w, https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/800px-VirgilAeneidVI-400x367.jpg 400w, https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/800px-VirgilAeneidVI.jpg 800w\"                alt=\"Virgil reading Aeneid, Book VI, Augustus and Octavia, Taillasson\"\n                width=\"600\"\n                height=\"551\"\n               \n               \n            \/>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/800px-VirgilAeneidVI.jpg\"\n               rel=\"fancybox\"\n               title=\"Virgil reading Aeneid, Book VI, Augustus and Octavia, Taillasson\">\n                <div class=\"iover\">\n                    <div class=\"zicon\">\n                        <i class=\"fa fa-search-plus\"><\/i>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\n                    <div class=\"opis\">\n                                <em><a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/biographies\/virgil\/\">Virgil<\/a> reading Aeneid, Book VI, Augustus and Octavia<\/em>, Taillasson            <\/div>\n        \n        \n    <\/div>\n    \n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/seneka-mlodszy\/\">Seneca the Younger<\/a> Octavia mourned her son for the rest of her life and nothing could comfort her. She did not want any portrait of her son and would not let his name be mentioned in front of her. She hated other women, including <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/liwia-druzylla\/\">Livia<\/a>, whose sons were alive. On the other hand, <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/swetoniusz\/\">Suetonius<\/a> in <em>The Life of Virgil<\/em> mentioned in turn how it was during the reading of fragments of the <em>Aeneids<\/em> present Octavia fainted when Marcellus was mentioned in the poem.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"death\"><\/span>Death<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Octavia died in 11 BCE. for natural reasons, being almost 60 years old. Her <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/roman-society\/roman-funeral\/\">funeral<\/a> was of a state character (senators were dressed in mourning robes) and took place in the temple of Julius. Her sons-in-law took part in it: <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/biografie\/druzus-starszy\/\">Drusus the Elder<\/a>, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, Iullus Antony, Paullus Emilius <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/biographies\/marcus-aemilius-lepidus\/\">Lepidus<\/a>. Octavia was buried at the <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/kultura\/architektura-rzymska\/budowle-rzymskie\/mauzoleum-augusta\/\">Mausoleum of Augustus<\/a>. In her honour, Drusus and Octavian gave funeral speeches. Moreover, the emperor honoured her with the name of the Gate of Octavia and Portico of Octavia (<em><em>Porticus Octaviae<\/em><\/em>) and on his recommendation, the Senate recognized her as a goddess. Octavia was also one of the first Roman women whose image was on coins (previously only Antony&#8217;s wife &#8211; Fulvia &#8211; had this honour).<\/p>\n    <div class=\"ramka_ze_zdjeciem float-center \"\n         style=\"\">\n\n        <div class=\"zdjecie\">\n            <img\n                class=\"ramka-ze-zdjeciem\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/800px-Roma-PorticodiOttavia_02-640x480.jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/800px-Roma-PorticodiOttavia_02-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/800px-Roma-PorticodiOttavia_02-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/800px-Roma-PorticodiOttavia_02.jpg 800w\"                alt=\"Remains of the Portico of Octavia\"\n                width=\"600\"\n                height=\"450\"\n               \n               \n            \/>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/800px-Roma-PorticodiOttavia_02.jpg\"\n               rel=\"fancybox\"\n               title=\"The remains of the Portico of Octavia.\">\n                <div class=\"iover\">\n                    <div class=\"zicon\">\n                        <i class=\"fa fa-search-plus\"><\/i>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\n                    <div class=\"opis\">\n                                The remains of the Portico of Octavia.            <\/div>\n        \n                    <div class=\"chmurka\">\n                Author: Mac9 | Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic            <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n    \n","protected":false},"featured_media":37275,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"kategorie_biografii":[180],"class_list":["post-96902","biografie","type-biografie","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","kategorie_biografii-women"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/biografie\/96902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/biografie"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/biografie"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/biografie\/96902\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"kategorie_biografii","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imperiumromanum.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kategorie_biografii?post=96902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}