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Dr. Tashko’s historical painting showing Cicero misjudging Octavian’s ambitions in 44–43 BCE. In the Senate, Cicero sits in deep thought beside the young Octavian, whose sharp gaze signals hidden resolve. Senators watch from behind, their faces tense. The moment captures Cicero’s fatal error in supporting Octavian, underestimating his eventual rise to supreme power.

Event Summary

After Caesar’s assassination in 44 BCE, Cicero (age 62–63) believed Octavian (age 19), Caesar’s heir, could be used to counter Antony’s power. He praised Octavian as a defender of the Republic in his Philippics. Yet Octavian outmaneuvered him, allying with Antony and Lepidus to form the Second Triumvirate, which soon ordered Cicero’s execution.

Cicero’s Calculation

  • Cicero feared Antony’s ambition after Caesar’s death.
  • He hoped Octavian’s youth made him pliable.
  • He framed Octavian as a patriotic savior in speeches.
  • Cicero expected to control him through Senate influence.
  • This misjudgment proved fatal.

Octavian’s Rise

  • Octavian gained soldiers by appealing to Caesar’s veterans.
  • He secured Senate recognition despite his youth.
  • Cicero relied on him to defeat Antony near Mutina.
  • Octavian showed independence by demanding consulship.
  • His ambition grew clearer with each step.

The Fatal Alliance

  • In late 43 BCE, Octavian marched on Rome.
  • Senate reluctantly granted his demands.
  • Octavian reconciled with Antony and Lepidus.
  • The Second Triumvirate formed with near-absolute power.
  • Cicero’s usefulness was over.

Cicero’s End

  • Antony insisted on Cicero’s inclusion in the proscriptions.
  • Octavian, once Cicero’s protégé, did not intervene.
  • Cicero was executed in December 43 BCE.
  • His death symbolized the end of senatorial resistance.
  • Octavian advanced steadily toward monarchy.

Legacy

  • Cicero’s misjudgment revealed his longing for republican restoration.
  • He underestimated Octavian’s calculation and ambition.
  • Octavian’s rise marked a new age of power politics.
  • Cicero’s failure showed how ideals blinded him to reality.
  • His end revealed the Republic’s weakness against determined generals.

Why It Matters

Cicero’s tragic mistake was trusting Octavian to preserve the Republic. His hope that youth meant pliability ignored ambition’s power. Octavian used Cicero’s words, then discarded him once strong enough. This misjudgment cost Cicero his life and revealed how senatorial ideals could not contain military-backed ambition. Rome’s destiny shifted irrevocably toward empire.

A bold circular logo featuring a stylized blue owl perched on a classical pedestal, symbolizing wisdom and learning. Behind the owl is a Greco-Roman temple with five white columns, set against a deep red semicircle backdrop. The dark blue outer ring contains the inscription “DR. TASHKO’S HISTORY NOTES” in all caps, with two small red dots flanking the text. The design merges classical architecture with academic symbolism, reflecting authority, clarity, and historical scholarship.

References:

  • Michael Grant, The Roman Emperors: A Biographical Guide to the Rulers of Imperial Rome, 31 BC–AD 476. 1985.
  • Scarre, Christopher. Chronicle of the Roman Emperors: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial Rome. 1995.
  • David S. Potter, Emperors of Rome: The Story of Imperial Rome from Julius Caesar to the Last Emperor. 2011.

About Dr. Gerti Tashko, MD

Dr. Gerti Tashko, MD, is an endocrinologist in Montgomery County, Maryland. He is uniquely quadruple board-certified in endocrinology, lipidology, hypertension, and obesity medicine. His practice delivers root-cause-focused metabolic and endocrine care, available virtually and in person. He uses advanced diagnostics, personalized nutrition, and preventive medicine to improve long-term health.

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Gerti Tashko, MD
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