caesardictator

Olivier's Crassus bears less resemblance to the historical Crassus and more to Sulla, even though the character refers derogatorilly to the latter. Always thought this was interesting - bit off point, but isn't this one of the only times that Sulla is mentioned in any films/TV productions? I seem to remember Richard Harris playing him in a TV film (but I think it was centred on Caesar played by Timothy Dalton). Apart from that, I'm not sure of him turning up anywhere else...?

You are quite right. It's more of me interpreting what I've read and making my opinion based on that. Terrible prediliction of mine, forgive me. However, I am eager to learn which is why I've joined this forum in the first place. Therefore, I'm interested in the other side of the discussion. If Octavian did not have preconceived ideas of how he would govern or how to retain/grow his power, what are you suggesting? Surely there was some inherent ability - 'From the beginning his sense for realities was unerring, his ambition implacable'. (Sir Ronald Syme) ?

You are quite right. It's more of me interpreting what I've read and making my opinion based on that. Terrible prediliction of mine, forgive me. However, I am eager to learn which is why I've joined this forum in the first place. Therefore, I'm interested in the other side of the discussion. If Octavian did not have preconceived ideas of how he would govern or how to retain/grow his power, what are you suggesting? Surely there was some inherent ability - 'From the beginning his sense for realities was unerring, his ambition implacable'. (Sir Ronald Syme) ?

I think he did have these abilities at such a young age. Might sound ridiculous I guess but Octavian was a very cold, calculating person from the outset. His method of how he would hold power (Caesar himself had sorted out his achieving the power) meant that he had to rely on his own inherent abilities. They might not have been refined but his idea of how he would govern was there before Actium. Also, we have to assume that Caesar knew what he was doing in choosing this young man. As for maturity, given that Roman society did put so much emphasis on maturity, he had to have some inbuilt mechanism to survive. Which must have contributed to him achieving the consulship at 20 instead of the given 42? Apart from the blackmail element. Being aware of the maturity aspect, perhaps he tried to make himself seem not so much a daddy in years but in stature. Obviously, he couldn't be the adventurer or showman that Caesar was or the General that Antony was and therefore had to choose more subtle means of control. Perhaps it was the abilities portrayed at such a young age that made Agrippa stick with him so early on?

Correlation between GJ Caesar and LC Sulla Felix - both followed the same model of 'government', same route to the top, both were unsuccessful. Was Caesar actually following Sulla's example but believed he could do better when he rose to power i.e. not give it up?

Augustus was the master at propaganda. Therefore, would have exploited Caesar's image and Godlike status (indeed probably caused by Augustus creating a frenzy in the Caesar loving public) for his own ends i.e. getting the supreme power. Probably in a better way than Caesar, Octavian could see what was needed for Rome to survive. Not so much an all powerful Dictator (as Caesar and Sulla had both failed at that) but more like a 'Daddy'. Someone with the power in the background making the politicians think they were ruling but all the time influencing decisions and life itself. The Godfather perhaps? With this in mind, the brilliant propagandist would have gotten away scott free with the proscriptions - referring all the blame to Mark Antony (an easy target).