7.[32] Caesar arrived July 29, 46 B.C. (Caes., B. Af. 98). The decisive battle was Thapsus, April 6, reported in Rome about April 20 (Cic., Fam. 9, 2).
[33] It was Caesar’s practice to put to death any who fell captive to him a second time (Dio 41, 62; 43, 17; 44, 45; 44, 46; Suet., Caes., 75). In describing the incident which follows, however, Nicolaus seems to have exaggerated the importance of Octavius’ exploit, for in every case of similar circumstances Caesar allowed each of his subordinates to secure the release of one prisoner. Dio 43, 12-13 says further that Caesar released Cato’s son and ‘most of the rest.’ Nicolaus evidently drew from Augustus’ personal memoirs of his youth for this portion of the biography, and found it advantageous to emphasize Octavius’ act at this juncture. For a contemporary commentary, see Cic., Fam. 6, 13, 3, where Caesar is said to be especially incensed at those involved in the African [disturbance], but that with the lapse of time he seems to have become more indulgent toward them.
[34] This is the first indication that Agrippa was already a companion of Octavius. See Sen., Epis., 15, 2, 46.
8.[35] Caesar had 4 triumphs: for Gaul, Egypt, Pontus, and Africa (Liv., Epit., 115; App., 2, 101; Dio 43, 19).
[36] Octavius was, through his mother, grandson of Caesar’s sister Julia. Suetonius (Caes. 83, 1) is explicit in stating that Caesar’s will whereby Octavius was adopted as Caesar’s son, was made on September 13, 45 B.C. Nicolaus has here either anticipated this accepted date by something more than a year, or else he had access to a statement in Augustus’ memoirs to the effect that Octavius knew of the existence of an earlier will in which he had been made Caesar’s adopted son.
[37] Nicolaus is probably referring to the ‘cognomen imperatoris’ and not to the ‘praenomen imperatoris.’ According to Dio 43, 44, the ‘praenomen imperatoris’ was not conferred upon Caesar until after the battle of Munda, some seven months later. However, if Nicolaus felt any unusual significance in the title Imperator as here mentioned, we have an indication that Caesar actually held the new title prior to the date given by Dio. Suetonius (Caes. 76) including ‘praenomen imperatoris’ in a group of various honors conferred upon Caesar, gives no date or correlative occurrence in this connection. See McFayden, The History of the Title Imperator under the Roman Empire, Chicago 1920, pp. 7 ff.
9.[38] The plays and games (Cic., Fam. 12, 18, 2; Livy, Epit., 115; Dio 43, 22-24; App. 2, 102; Plut., Caes., 55; Suet., Aug., 39; Vell. 2, 56) were given immediately after Caesar’s dedication of the temple to Venus Genetrix on September 26, (= July 20 corrected calendar) 46 B.C. Augustus continued these games annually as the ‘ludi Victoriae Caesaris’ on July 25. Vergil seems to have them in mind in writing Aeneid 5 and [Catalepton] 14, see Class. Quart. 14, p. 156. The ludi Romani and ludi Graeci were given separately (Suet., Aug. 45; Tac., Annal. 14, 15). See also CIL 6, 32323; Dessau, Ins. Lat., 5050, an account of the Ludi Saeculares of 17 B.C. In addition to the Theatre of Pompey, a temporary wooden stage was erected for the ludi Latini in 46 B.C. as in 17 B.C. (line 154 of the inscription).
[39] The effects of the sunstroke were, however, apparently lasting throughout Octavius’ life. He was unable to withstand the Italian sun even in winter, and never went out into the open without a hat (Suet., Aug., 82).
10.[40] To Spain. He started apparently in November of 46 B.C. He was still in Rome on September 24 (Cic., Fam., 6, 14, 2). Nearly a month was consumed in his journey thither (Strabo 3, 4, 9; App. 2, 103; Suet., Caes., 56).
[41] Sextus Pompeius had 11 legions in all. Caesar had sent to Cicero in January, 45 B.C., a copy of a letter which he had received from L. Vibius Paciaecus, one of his subordinates in Spain who was in a position to know, and who gave this figure (Cic., Fam., 6, 18, 2).