Augustus' Self-Glorification?
What's in a name?
63 BC: Gaius Octavius Gaii Filius
Gaius of the gens Octavius, son of Gaius
44 BC: Gaius Julius Gaii Filius Caesar Octavianus
Gaius Caesar of the gens Julius, son of Gaius, originally of the gens Octavius
42 BC: Gaius Julius Divi Filius Caesar Ocatvianus
Gaius Caesar of the gens Julius, son of the Deified, originally of the gens Octavius
31 BC: Imperator Gaius Julius Divi Filius Caesar Ocatvianus
Imperator Gaius Caesar of the gens Julius, son of the Deified, originally of the gens Octavius
27 BC: Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus
Imperator Caesar the Revered One, son of the Deified
Augustus dropped his links back to his original family in order to adopt names that reflect his achievements, and therefore can be seen as self-glorification: 'Imperator' refers to military glory, 'Augustus' translates as 'revered one' and 'Divi Filius' means 'son of the deified one' so would have gained plebeian support from this.
Gaius of the gens Octavius, son of Gaius
44 BC: Gaius Julius Gaii Filius Caesar Octavianus
Gaius Caesar of the gens Julius, son of Gaius, originally of the gens Octavius
42 BC: Gaius Julius Divi Filius Caesar Ocatvianus
Gaius Caesar of the gens Julius, son of the Deified, originally of the gens Octavius
31 BC: Imperator Gaius Julius Divi Filius Caesar Ocatvianus
Imperator Gaius Caesar of the gens Julius, son of the Deified, originally of the gens Octavius
27 BC: Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus
Imperator Caesar the Revered One, son of the Deified
Augustus dropped his links back to his original family in order to adopt names that reflect his achievements, and therefore can be seen as self-glorification: 'Imperator' refers to military glory, 'Augustus' translates as 'revered one' and 'Divi Filius' means 'son of the deified one' so would have gained plebeian support from this.