Gnaeus Octavius (consul 87 BC)
Gnaeus Octavius entered the Roman political arena as a member of the Plebeian gens Octavia. His father held the consulship in 128 BC, establishing a family tradition of high office. An uncle named Marcus Octavius played a key role opposing Tiberius Gracchus during the reforms of 133 BC. This third cousin relationship to Gaius Octavius linked him to the future emperor Augustus. He failed to secure election as aedile around 90 BC but succeeded in becoming Praetor that same year. The following year brought a propraetorial command in an eastern province. By 88 BC he returned to Rome and secured election for the upcoming consulship of 87 BC.
While serving as consul designate, Octavius faced pressure regarding the First Mithridatic War. He stood alongside his colleague Lucius Cornelius Cinna to swear an oath. This vow required them to uphold changes made by the current consul Sulla. They promised not to strip Sulla of his lawful military command. A scrupulously religious man, Octavius kept this oath despite personal reservations. He disliked Sulla's march on Rome and his vendetta against Gaius Marius. These political differences caused immediate quarrels between the two consuls in 87 BC. Cinna wanted to enroll new citizens across all Roman tribes. He also proposed recalling Marius and his supporters from exile. Octavius spoke eloquently and energetically against these proposals in the Senate.
Tensions escalated when Plebeian tribunes supporting Octavius vetoed Cinna's law in the Tribal Assembly. Cinna and his allies used violence to intimidate the tribunes into withdrawing their veto. A full-scale riot erupted in the Roman Forum. Octavius quickly gathered an armed group of supporters to attack Cinna. The fighting forced Cinna to flee the city. During the clash, Octavius's men murdered a large number of newly enfranchised citizens. He used his authority as consul to justify these killings. Octavius then illegally stripped Cinna of his consulship and citizenship. He elected Lucius Cornelius Merula to replace Cinna in office. News arrived that Cinna had gained support from Appius Claudius at Nola. The Senate began preparing Rome to withstand a siege while sending appeals for help.
Pompeius Strabo moved his troops to the vicinity of Rome outside the Colline Gate. When Cinna and Marius began their siege, Strabo attempted to negotiate with both sides. An attack by Marian forces captured the Janiculum hill temporarily. Octavius and Strabo repulsed the attackers but suffered serious losses. These defeats combined with a plague running through the army demoralized Octavius's forces. He lost 6,000 troops in the battle while Strabo lost some 11,000. Fear of famine in Rome led Octavius to join his men with Strabo's units outside the gates. He fled from Rome shortly after. Meeting Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius and Publius Licinius Crassus at the Alban Hills proved frustrating. They began negotiating with Cinna even recognizing him as consul. This turn of events caused Octavius to fall out with Metellus Pius. The army's disloyalty finally convinced Octavius to return to Rome.
Octavius tried to continue resistance against Cinna but could not prevent Senate negotiations. Cinna entered Rome as consul despite vague promises that no harm would come to Octavius. A group of colleagues persuaded Octavius to abandon the forum. He set himself up on the Janiculum as consul in protest. Only a small number of nobles and a tiny remnant of military forces accompanied him. Gaius Marcius Censorinus stormed the Janiculum with a small cavalry force. They captured Octavius who refused to escape when faced with this assault. Censorinus beheaded Octavius and took his head to Cinna. The head was then nailed to the Rostra for public display. Plutarch described his character as reputable though slow in action contributed to failure.
Historical assessments highlight Octavius's strict principles in politics and known honesty. Plutarch discusses him in his lives of Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Modern scholars suppose he was a member of the decemviri sacris faciundis due to interest in soothsayers. This priestly body managed the Sibylline books. His slowness in action ultimately led to his defeat against Cinna. He had at least one son named Lucius Octavius who became consul in 75 BC. References from Michael Lovano, Arthur Keaveney, T. Robert S. Broughton, and William Smith document these events. These sources provide context for his role during the crisis of the late Republic.
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Common questions
Who was Gnaeus Octavius and what family did he belong to?
Gnaeus Octavius entered the Roman political arena as a member of the Plebeian gens Octavia. His father held the consulship in 128 BC, establishing a family tradition of high office.
When did Gnaeus Octavius serve as consul and what were his main duties during that year?
Gnaeus Octavius secured election for the upcoming consulship of 87 BC. He faced pressure regarding the First Mithridatic War while standing alongside his colleague Lucius Cornelius Cinna to swear an oath upholding changes made by Sulla.
Why did Gnaeus Octavius oppose Lucius Cornelius Cinna and Marius in 87 BC?
Octavius spoke eloquently and energetically against proposals to enroll new citizens across all Roman tribes and recall Marius from exile. These political differences caused immediate quarrels between the two consuls in 87 BC.
How did Gnaeus Octavius die and who killed him on the Janiculum hill?
Gaius Marcius Censorinus stormed the Janiculum with a small cavalry force and captured Octavius who refused to escape when faced with this assault. Censorinus beheaded Octavius and took his head to Cinna before nailing it to the Rostra for public display.
What historical sources document the life and death of Gnaeus Octavius?
Plutarch discusses him in his lives of Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla. References from Michael Lovano, Arthur Keaveney, T. Robert S. Broughton, and William Smith document these events.