World History Encyclopedia
worldhistory.org › article › 1474 › the-propaganda-of-octavian-and-mark-antonys-civil
The Propaganda of Octavian and Mark Antony's Civil War - World History Encyclopedia
November 20, 2019 - Octavian, like most of the “people of Italy, found Egyptian beliefs alien” and worthy of mistrust (Bleicken, 257). He took advantage of the disgraceful Alexandrian ceremony and the propaganda assault towards Antony continued. Octavian brought the matter of Antony's ceremony to the Roman Senate and denounced it to the Roman people in an attempt to garner public disapproval of Antony's behavior.
Factsheet
Augustan Rome 27 BCE – 14 CE
Leader Augustus
Augustan Rome 27 BCE – 14 CE
Leader Augustus
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Propaganda_in_Augustan_Rome
Propaganda in Augustan Rome - Wikipedia
October 12, 2025 - Roman Emperor Augustus employed various forms of propaganda as he ascended to power. Augustus employed several forms of artwork and literature to boast the image of the enforcer of the Pax Romana ('Roman Peace', a.k.a. the Pax Augusta). He can be perceived as a historically important figure ...
Videos
Western Oregon University
wou.edu › history › files › 2015 › 08 › Kevin-Jeffries.pdf pdf
The Propaganda of Augustus Caesar: How Peace, Power ...
Home » WOU History Department · The faculty members of the History Department welcome you to Western. Students who study history gain a well-rounded liberal-arts education and vital job skills including researching, critical thinking, and communicating that translate into many employment settings.
The Conversation
theconversation.com › the-fake-news-that-sealed-the-fate-of-antony-and-cleopatra-71287
The fake news that sealed the fate of Antony and Cleopatra
January 13, 2026 - We used to call this propaganda; now it’s fake news. One of the most egregious examples of this takes us back to ancient Rome and to the very end of the Republic, when almost a century of civil war, chaos and political assassinations had led the Roman government to the brink of collapse. Master politician and propagandist, Octavian (later Augustus Caesar).
Brown University
brown.edu › Departments › Joukowsky_Institute › courses › romanartandarch2011 › 14123.html
Augustus, First Among Equals
But while Augustus's buildings and temples were stagnant objects that didn't exactly move around, coins themselves came to all members of the Roman population, and Augustus wisely chose to use these coins to perpetuate his propaganda. In his book The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus, Paul Zanker deems Augustus's coins "a good example of the effective use of the new visual language used by Octavian's supporters," pointing out how one coin had a "strikingly oversized dedication 'Divo Julio'" (Zanker 35). Augustus's coins use such visual cues as size to emphasize the current emperor's connection with Julius Caesar, who was deified posthumously.
Brewminate
brewminate.com › home › history › augustus: the use of propaganda to establish and maintain legitimacy and power
Augustus: The Use of Propaganda to Establish and Maintain Legitimacy and Power Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas
June 12, 2022 - Cicero related his words from a speech by Augustus before the Senate near the end of 44 BCE in which he dramatically pointed to a statue of Caesar and said, “So may I attain the honors of my father.” (Cicero) A single motion and a few words symbolized his early mastery of propaganda in this political context. He would for the time being govern, merely as Octavian, in a triumvirate with Lepidus and Mark Antony following their alliance in the defeat of Caesar’s assassins, but attaining the honors of his father clearly indicated pursuit of singular reign and eventual divination himself after attributing the appearance of a comet to be a sign of Caesar’s apotheosis.
Ancient Origins
ancient-origins.net › history › roman-propaganda-0014684
Octavian’s Trolling and Propaganda Against Mark Antony | Ancient Origins
Octavian was a master manipulator using fake news and propaganda to defile the reputation of his opponent, erstwhile war-hero Mark Antony.
Dominican University
scholar.dominican.edu › cgi › viewcontent.cgi pdf
Dominican Scholar Dominican Scholar Senior Theses Student Scholarship 5-2017
persuasive, motivational, or informative discourse, insisted this was symbolic as Octavian was · acting as Rome’s second founder. From a historical perspective, this seems rather poetic, but · 24 Anthony Everitt, Augustus: The Life of Rome’s First Emperor, 208.
Csusm
wp.csusm.edu › adahn
The Evolution of Augustan Propaganda – By: April Dahn
The main argument is that propaganda used by Augustus for political gain and power evolved throughout his reign. The findings show that Augustus, as a young Octavian, primarily used words as propaganda to create rumors against his enemies. As he gained power and became older his propaganda ...
Brewminate
brewminate.com › home › history › the propaganda of octavian and mark antony’s civil war
The Propaganda of Octavian and Mark Antony's Civil War Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas
October 6, 2025 - Octavian, like most of the “people of Italy, found Egyptian beliefs alien” and worthy of mistrust (Bleicken, 257). He took advantage of the disgraceful Alexandrian ceremony and the propaganda assault towards Antony continued.
Classical Wisdom
classicalwisdom.substack.com › p › propaganda-or-praise-the-age-of-augustus
Propaganda or Praise? The Age of Augustus
August 7, 2024 - And to kick off proceedings, he introduced Feriae Augusti, or the festival of Emperor Augustus, in 18 BC. This beloved holiday linked the various August festivals to provide a longer period of rest, called "Augustali", which was felt necessary after the hard labor of the previous weeks. This was, of course, in addition to its propaganda function...
University of Washington
depts.washington.edu › hrome › Authors › odis › ThePowerofanEmperorTheAugustinianAgendaImageryAsPropaganda › pub_zbarticle_view_printable.html
View Article: The Power of an Emperor: The Augustinian Agenda & Imagery As Propaganda
Augustinian Agenda a. Religious Renewal b. Ambitious Public Building Program c. Return to Morality · a. Conclusion b. Personal Observations c. Bibliography
Reddit
reddit.com › r/history › did octavian (augustus) called himself emperor?
r/history on Reddit: Did Octavian (Augustus) called himself emperor?
May 23, 2020 -
I was having this debate with a friend of mine and we couldn't find a middle ground.
I always thought that Augustus, even though he lived and acted like an emperor always refused to be called as such and instead going by the title pontifex maximus. The point - I believe - was that he would be seen in front of the public as a humble man who respected the Senate, even if it was all just for a good show.
My friend however, argued that everyone called Augustus an emperor during his time period including himself. My friend added that in Virgil's "The Aeneid" - which was commissioned by Augustus - he is mentioned as an emperor thus, he did use the title.
We both agreed that he was obviously an emperor and he probably saw himself as such but, did he publicly acknowledged and used the title?
Ultimately I thought of asking reddit's best armchair historians for help. Could you help us concluding this argument? Could you correct us in anything that we got wrong? Also, if possible, could you send us links of reliable sources?
I appreciate all the help you can give us!
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The title of "emperor" as we know it didn't really exist until the High Middle Ages. It was derived from the title of "Imperator" which was bestowed upon someone who was given command over a region. Augustus' official regnal name was Imperator Caesar Divi filius Augustus, but he more often went by the title of Princeps Civitatis or "First Citizen". All emperors up to Diocletian used this as their primary title to keep the facade that the Emperor was simply the first among equals, and not the "King" of Rome. It's also why the senate continued to function, despite reduced powers, for centuries after the fall of the republic.
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The Romans had had a long history of hating kings. Octavian was very shrewd and never declared himself anything that might be seen as "Kingly" and more "chief administrator of a bunch of offices", at least in public. What he insisted he was called in the bedroom is another matter. The Five Good Emperors also adopted this policy. Acting humbly, being respectful to the Senate, treating it not like a birth right but rather an office they were occupying for life. In fact they further reinforced this by adopting men of quality to be their heirs, which worked great until Marcus Aurelius, an otherwise very intelligent man, completely dropped the ball and made his son heir. After that power usually went to whoever brought the biggest army. Diocletian TRIED to reinstate the adopting the heir policy with his tetrarchy but the second he turned his back it fell apart. As for links, I followed the courses on The Great Courses which isn't free (unless you have a participating library) Fire of Learning has some good documentaries on Rome and Byzantium though. Start here
History Guild
historyguild.org › home › fake news, misinformation and propaganda throughout history
Fake News, Misinformation and Propaganda Throughout History - History Guild
September 30, 2021 - With their support, Octavian declared war on Cleopatra knowing Antony would come to her aid. This propaganda campaign sparked the last war of the Roman Republic and ushered in the golden age of the Roman Empire.
Bartleby
bartleby.com › essay › Octavian-Anthony-and-Cleopatra-Propaganda-and-the-PKED42KTC
Octavian, Anthony and Cleopatra: Propaganda and the Myth of Actium' - 1095 Words | Bartleby
With the last of his rivals dead ... Emperor of Rome (Stockton 56). Augustus had direct control over the aesthetics of public art, commissioning propagandistic works to his benefit....
Brewminate
brewminate.com › home › history › roman propaganda in the age of augustus
Roman Propaganda in the Age of Augustus Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas
June 12, 2022 - Caesar’s popularity earned himself a cult of personality that would later be replicated by many prominent historical figures such as Benito Mussolini and Napoleon I.[23] Most importantly, it would be imitated by the future emperor of Rome, Augustus. This cult of personality enabled Caesar and later Augustus to gain and maintain power through popular support as well as military control. Following his assassination, Caesar named Gaius Octavius (the future Augustus) as his son and heir. With the influence of Julius Caesar, it seems appropriate that Augustus became a political savant. Much of Caesar’s practices and propaganda works would serve as inspiration for his adopted son.
VRoma
vroma.org › vromans › bmcmanus › augustus2.html
Augustus, the Principate, and Propaganda
Augustus became a master of political propaganda, marshalling many different types of public display in order to make his new status and power seem appropriate and justified.
Dominican University
scholar.dominican.edu › senior-theses › 76
"Roman Propaganda in the Age of Augustus" by Alex Pollok
This paper is an examination of the methods and utilizations of propaganda in the Late Republic/Early Imperial period of Ancient Rome. The focus is on the propaganda of Augustus Caesar whose rulership ushered in the era referred to as the Pax Romana or Roman Peace. Augustus created a mythical image of himself that served as inspiration for future emperors.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/ancientrome › the numismatic propaganda of octavian/augustus
r/ancientrome on Reddit: The Numismatic Propaganda of Octavian/Augustus
January 24, 2025 - Without Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa i think Octavian never become Emperor Augustus Do you agree?. ... Finally received this coins two coins from my favorite roman emperor, Avgvstvs. And in my opinion, he is in the top 3 most influential humans ever ... Cleaned up a Vespasian denarius! ... Hadrian Denarius - 121 AD, Rome. ... Roman propaganda: Mark Antony depicted as a "simp" to Cleopatra by pro-Octavian faction, circa 30 BCE
ResearchGate
researchgate.net › publication › 383565605_Octavian_Antony_and_Cleopatra_Propaganda_and_War
(PDF) Octavian, Antony and Cleopatra: Propaganda and War
August 31, 2024 - In this context, propaganda and perception were · as important as formal office-holding for Roman leaders, altering their ability to raise and command · legions, control the Senate and use the resources of the provinces. This was particularly important in · the battle of words and deeds waged by Octavian against Mark Antony and Cleopatra.