According to Wikipedia:
Pax Romana is the name of the third AOE1:ROR Campaign and it begins with the "Battle of Actium." The Granary's AOE1 campaign "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" has a scenario called "Fall of Pompei". The AOE2 Blacksmith has an Actium scenario, and the AOE2:HD Steam Workshop has another one (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=929109335 ). AOE2 gives you an option to play as either Octavian or Anthony & Cleopatra, as AOE2 comes with an option to pick your Player (eg. either Player 1 or Player 2).
This raises the question of who was the rightful claimant to rule Rome?
The Roman Republic was officially run by the Senate, and the Roman Republic lasted until 27 BC, ie. after the war. According to the Wikipedia article:
It sounds like a majority of the Senate supported Octavian and decided to outlaw Antony. Only a minority of the Senate supported Antony. I guess that you could make an argument that the Senate was wrong to declare war on Cleopatra, because Antony's desire to be buried in Egypt was not enough grounds for a war. Plus, the decision was based on Antony's will, which had been seized illegally. And then you could argue that Antony's side was more rightful in that war.
Still, when it comes to who is the rightful ruler of Rome, it seems like you could still go by the Senate's decision on that topic, even if you disagree with it about the war.
On the other hand, Julius Caesar had already become seen as the great ruler of Rome. Wikipedia says about Caesar's power:
Imperator literally means "emperor."
On the other hand, Wikipedia's article on the Roman Republic says that many of Caesar's assassins "were afraid that Caesar would soon resurrect the monarchy and declare himself king." This implies that Caesar had not yet imposed a monarchical system, which would have been one where his heirs became automatically designated as his successors to the monarchy.
On the other hand, emperors following Caesar practically held themselves up as inheriting his legacy. They were part of the Julian-Claudian dynasty. Officially, Octavian was the first "emperor", and Octavian was also the founder of the Julian-Claudian dynasty, with his heirs belonging to that dynasty. However, this dynasty bears the name of "Julius", like Julius Caesar. The emperors also bore the name of "Caesar", including Octavian, who became "Caesar Augustus."
In the standard global model of the line of kings, the rightful heir to the throne was the king's son, as well as his daughter, although the right of the daughter to become Queen was not as universal. The right of a king's illegitimate children to become the heir seems even less respected. One problem with the illegitimate children's claim is that often they are not ascertained to be the king's children.
According to Wikipedia, Caesar's children were:
Caesar's daughter Julia married Pompey, and none of their children became Roman emperors. This makes sense because Pompey became Caesar's rival after Julia's death. Pompey's children, even though partly related to Caesar would be unlikely candidates to Caesar's line.
Caesar's and Cleopatra's illegitimate son Caesarion was killed by Octavian soon after Octavian defeated Cleopatra. Certainly Caesarion was on the side of Cleopatra and Antony in Antony's Civil War with Octavian.
Octavian was Caesar's adopted son, but it's not clear whether an adopted son would have more right to the throne than an illegitimate son by blood. Further, in this case, it was known that Caesarion was definitely Caesar's son. On the other hand, Wikipedia notes that to Antony's "surprise and chagrin, Caesar had named his grandnephew Gaius Octavius his sole heir (hence the name Octavian), bequeathing him the immensely potent Caesar name and making him one of the wealthiest citizens in the Republic."
In conclusion, it looks like Octavian was the rightful ruler in the Last War of the Roman Republic. The main reason was that the Roman Republic was still a Republic in that period, under the senate, and the Senate designated Octavian the rightful leader. Further, Caesar had also designated Octavian as his heir over Caesarion.
Nonetheless, it appears an odd or counterintuitive situation, where Octavian became designated the ruler, Rome's new "Caesar", in the line of dictators following Julius Caesar, and yet he also killed Julius Caesar's only definitely known biological son, Caesarion. In this weird situation, Octavian claimed Caesar's heritage yet killed Caesar's son Caesarion while Octavian himself was not actually a blood descendant of Caesar.
The last war of the Roman Republic, also known as Antony's Civil War or the War between Antony and Octavian, was the last of the civil wars of the Roman Republic, fought between Mark Antony (assisted by Cleopatra), and Octavian. In 32 BC, Octavian convinced the Roman Senate to declare war on the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Her lover and ally Mark Antony, who was Octavian's rival, gave his support for her cause. 40% of the Roman Senate, together with both consuls, left Rome and joined the war on Antony’s side. After a decisive victory for Octavian at the Battle of Actium, Cleopatra and Antony withdrew to Alexandria, where Octavian besieged the city until both Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide.
Octavian became the most powerful man in the Roman world and the Senate bestowed upon him the name of Augustus in 27 BC. Octavian, now Augustus, would be the first Roman Emperor and would transform the oligarchic Republic into the autocratic Roman Empire.
The last Republican Civil War would mark the beginning of thePax Romana, a period of relative internal peace and stability. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_war_of_the_Roman_Republic)
Octavian became the most powerful man in the Roman world and the Senate bestowed upon him the name of Augustus in 27 BC. Octavian, now Augustus, would be the first Roman Emperor and would transform the oligarchic Republic into the autocratic Roman Empire.
The last Republican Civil War would mark the beginning of the
Octavian (who later became the emperor Augustus) convinced the Senate via a propaganda campaign to start a war against Cleopatra, since they were reluctant to declare war on Antony, as he was a true Roman and the last thing Octavian or the Senate needed was a mutiny. Eventually, Octavian chased Antony’s senatorial supporters from Rome, and in 32 BC, the Roman Senate declared war against Cleopatra.
...
Octavian summoned the Senate and accused Antony of anti-Roman sentiments. Octavian had illegally seized Antony's will from the Temple of Vesta. In it, Antony recognized Caesarion as Caesar's legal heir, left his possessions to his children by Cleopatra, and finally indicated his desire to be buried with Cleopatra in Alexandria instead of in Rome. The Senators were not moved by Caesarion or Antony's children but Antony's desire to be buried outside of Rome invoked the Senate's rage. Octavian, the natural politician he was, blamed Cleopatra and not Antony. The Senate declared war on Cleopatra, and Octavian knew that Antony would come to her aid.
When Cleopatra received word that Rome had declared war, Antony threw his support to Egypt. Immediately, the Senate stripped Antony of all his official power and labeled him as an outlaw and a traitor. However, 40% of the Senate along with both consuls sided with Antony and left Rome for Greece.
...
Octavian summoned the Senate and accused Antony of anti-Roman sentiments. Octavian had illegally seized Antony's will from the Temple of Vesta. In it, Antony recognized Caesarion as Caesar's legal heir, left his possessions to his children by Cleopatra, and finally indicated his desire to be buried with Cleopatra in Alexandria instead of in Rome. The Senators were not moved by Caesarion or Antony's children but Antony's desire to be buried outside of Rome invoked the Senate's rage. Octavian, the natural politician he was, blamed Cleopatra and not Antony. The Senate declared war on Cleopatra, and Octavian knew that Antony would come to her aid.
When Cleopatra received word that Rome had declared war, Antony threw his support to Egypt. Immediately, the Senate stripped Antony of all his official power and labeled him as an outlaw and a traitor. However, 40% of the Senate along with both consuls sided with Antony and left Rome for Greece.
It sounds like a majority of the Senate supported Octavian and decided to outlaw Antony. Only a minority of the Senate supported Antony. I guess that you could make an argument that the Senate was wrong to declare war on Cleopatra, because Antony's desire to be buried in Egypt was not enough grounds for a war. Plus, the decision was based on Antony's will, which had been seized illegally. And then you could argue that Antony's side was more rightful in that war.
Still, when it comes to who is the rightful ruler of Rome, it seems like you could still go by the Senate's decision on that topic, even if you disagree with it about the war.
In 48 BC, he was reappointed dictator, only this time for an indefinite period, and in 46 BC, he was appointed dictator for 10 years. ... He also set the precedent, which his imperial successors followed, of requiring the Senate to bestow various titles and honours upon him. He was, for example, given the title of "Father of the Fatherland" and "imperator". ... In February 44 BC, one month before his assassination, he was appointed dictator in perpetuity.
Imperator literally means "emperor."
On the other hand, Wikipedia's article on the Roman Republic says that many of Caesar's assassins "were afraid that Caesar would soon resurrect the monarchy and declare himself king." This implies that Caesar had not yet imposed a monarchical system, which would have been one where his heirs became automatically designated as his successors to the monarchy.
On the other hand, emperors following Caesar practically held themselves up as inheriting his legacy. They were part of the Julian-Claudian dynasty. Officially, Octavian was the first "emperor", and Octavian was also the founder of the Julian-Claudian dynasty, with his heirs belonging to that dynasty. However, this dynasty bears the name of "Julius", like Julius Caesar. The emperors also bore the name of "Caesar", including Octavian, who became "Caesar Augustus."
In the standard global model of the line of kings, the rightful heir to the throne was the king's son, as well as his daughter, although the right of the daughter to become Queen was not as universal. The right of a king's illegitimate children to become the heir seems even less respected. One problem with the illegitimate children's claim is that often they are not ascertained to be the king's children.
According to Wikipedia, Caesar's children were:
* Julia, by Cornelia, born in 83 or 82 BC
* Caesarion, by Cleopatra VII, born 47 BC, and killed at age 17 by Caesar's adopted son Octavianus.
* Posthumously adopted: Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, his great-nephew by blood (grandson of Julia, his sister), who later became Emperor Augustus.
Suspected Children
Suspected Children
* Marcus Junius Brutus (born 85 BC): The historian Plutarch notes that Caesar believed Brutus to have been his illegitimate son, as his mother Servilia had been Caesar's lover during their youth.[143] Caesar would have been 15 years old when Brutus was born.
* Junia Tertia (born ca. 60s BC), the daughter of Caesar's lover Servilia was believed by Cicero among other contemporaries, to be Caesar's natural daughter.
* Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (born ca. 85–81 BC): On several occasions Caesar expressed how he loved Decimus Brutus like a son. This Brutus was also named an heir of Caesar in case Octavius had died before the latter. Ronald Syme argued that if a Brutus was the natural son of Caesar, Decimus was more likely than Marcus.
* Caesarion, by Cleopatra VII, born 47 BC, and killed at age 17 by Caesar's adopted son Octavianus.
* Posthumously adopted: Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, his great-nephew by blood (grandson of Julia, his sister), who later became Emperor Augustus.
Suspected Children
* Marcus Junius Brutus (born 85 BC): The historian Plutarch notes that Caesar believed Brutus to have been his illegitimate son, as his mother Servilia had been Caesar's lover during their youth.
* Junia Tertia (born ca. 60s BC), the daughter of Caesar's lover Servilia was believed by Cicero among other contemporaries, to be Caesar's natural daughter.
* Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (born ca. 85–81 BC): On several occasions Caesar expressed how he loved Decimus Brutus like a son. This Brutus was also named an heir of Caesar in case Octavius had died before the latter. Ronald Syme argued that if a Brutus was the natural son of Caesar, Decimus was more likely than Marcus.
Caesar's daughter Julia married Pompey, and none of their children became Roman emperors. This makes sense because Pompey became Caesar's rival after Julia's death. Pompey's children, even though partly related to Caesar would be unlikely candidates to Caesar's line.
Caesar's and Cleopatra's illegitimate son Caesarion was killed by Octavian soon after Octavian defeated Cleopatra. Certainly Caesarion was on the side of Cleopatra and Antony in Antony's Civil War with Octavian.
Nonetheless, it appears an odd or counterintuitive situation, where Octavian became designated the ruler, Rome's new "Caesar", in the line of dictators following Julius Caesar, and yet he also killed Julius Caesar's only definitely known biological son, Caesarion. In this weird situation, Octavian claimed Caesar's heritage yet killed Caesar's son Caesarion while Octavian himself was not actually a blood descendant of Caesar.