Octavia of the Julii

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Rome character
Octavia of the Julii
Name	Octavia of the Julii
Class	Patrician
Family	Atia of the Julii (mother) Gaius Octavian (brother) Glabius (ex-husband) Caesar (great-uncle)
Allies	Atia of the Julii Gaius Octavian Servilia of the Junii (ep 7-9)
Enemies	Servilia of the Junii (ep 9-12)
Appearances	1-1 "The Stolen Eagle" 1-2 "How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic" 1-10"Triumph" 1-11 "The Spoils" 1-12 "Kalends of February"
Portrayed by	Kerry Condon

Octavia of the Julii is a fictional character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series Rome, played by Kerry Condon. The basis for the character is the Roman matron Octavia Thurina Minor, but bears little actual resemblance to her life and character.

[edit] Personality

Octavia is the kind and well-intentioned but weak older sister of Octavian. She is easily manipulated by both her mother Atia, and her erstwhile lover Servilia. Octavia proves to be a very loving and caring sister to her eleven-year-old brother, Octavian in earlier episodes, being the one who speaks up for him, even if it is in vain, against Atia's harsher mother skills, and being the one who really nurtures Octavian and shows him most affection.

Rarely ever sticking up for herself, Octavia will do everything her mother asks her to do, normally involving asking for favours from Servilia on behalf of her mother. Octavia is naive, and is easily made a part of Servilia plan to gain revenge on Caesar for abandoning her. Servilia easily turns Octavia against her mother when she tells her that Atia was responsible for the murder of Glabius, and even convinces Octavia into seducing Octavian in order to obtain information about Caesar's "serious affliction" that only Octavian knows about. Following finding out that Servilia had lied to her, she flies the city in shame but is brought back by Octavian. In the last episode, Octavia reveals that she is now above feeling affection for people who don't deserve it (such as Servilia) and tells her mother that she just feels pity for people now, including herself.

[edit] Character history

Born to one of the most powerful families in Rome, the Julii, Octavia is the only daughter and elder child of Atia of the Julii, who is the niece of Gaius Julius Caesar. Octavia, alongside her mother, raised her younger brother Gaius Octavian, with whom she has a fairly strong relationship. She was originally in an arranged marriage with Glabius and despite difficulties they grow to love each other, however, upon the death of their cousin Julia, Atia is asked by Caesar to find another girl in their family to marry Pompey Magnus. Octavia is even offered up for pre-marital relations with Pompey by Atia only to be rejected for another woman called Cornelia following Pompey's attempt to turn the people and the Legio XIII Gemina against Caesar by stealing their standard and kidnapping Octavian in the process.

Octavia continues to visit her ex-husband behind her mother back until Atia decides to deal with it by killing him and blaming it on the fact that many nobles allied with the Julii have been killed. While Octavia suspects her mother, she lets it rest when her brother assures her that it is unlikely. Following Caesar's defeat in Greece, Atia sends Octavia to ask help from Servilia, Caesar's ex-lover, who at first appears to feel sorry for Octavia being used by her mother in such a way. When Servilia receives news that Caesar has won and Servilia fears that her son Brutus is dead, Octavia shows her pity and they end up becoming lovers.

Upon Caesar's return to Rome and Octavian return from school, Octavia casually slips that Octavian may have been Caesar's lover in his youth but denied it saying that Caesar had a "serious affliction". Upon hearing this, Servilia insists that Octavia find out what this affliction is, even if it means seducing Octavian. Upon being told by Servilia that Atia killed Glabius, Octavia does as she says and seduces Octavian in trying to find out what the affliction is. However Octavian still refuses to tell her and Atia finds out about Octavia and Servilia, and scolds Octavia for being so foolish.

Ashamed of herself, Octavia sends herself into self-imposed exile but is brought back to Rome by Octavian who is sent by Atia to bring her home. Following her events with Servilia, Octavia appears to have learnt her lesson as reveals in the last episode of the season that she is above petty affections, or at least tries to be.

[edit] Comparison to the historical Octavia Thurina Minor

• Octavia's first husband bears little resemblance to her factual husband, Marcellus Minor
• In reality, it was her grand-uncle, Julius Caesar, who wanted her to marry Pompey, not her mother, Atia.
• Octavia became a widow 4 years after Caesar's assassination, not before, as depicted in the series.
• The factual Octavia had three children with her first husband; in the fictionalized account, she had no children with him.
• The fictionalized account of Octavia has a weak personality. The factual Octavia also seemed to be led around by others in life, but exerted more influence as she matured. It is yet to be seen if the fictional Octavia eventually develops a stronger character with time.