He was the son of Julius Caesar's niece.[1] [Footnote 1: This Octavius on his subsequent elevation to imperial power, received the name of Augustus Caesar, and it is by this name that he is generally known in history.

He was, however, called Octavius at the commencement of his career, and, to avoid confusion, we shall continue to designate him by this name to the end of our narrative.] He had always been a great favorite with his uncle.

Every possible attention had been paid to his education, and he had been advanced by Caesar, already, to positions of high importance in public life.

Caesar, in fact, adopted him as his son, and made him his heir.

At the time of Caesar's death he was at Apollonia, a city of Illyricum, north of Greece.
The troops under his command there offered to march at once with him, if he wished it, to Rome, and avenge his uncle's death.