Octavius was studying and undergoing military training in Apollonia , Illyria , when Julius Caesar was killed on the Ides of March ( 15 March ) 44 BC . He rejected the advice of some army officers to take refuge with the troops in Macedonia and sailed to Italy to ascertain whether he had any potential political fortunes or security . Caesar had no living legitimate children under Roman law , and so had adopted Octavius , his grand-nephew , making him his primary heir . Mark Antony later charged that Octavian had earned his adoption by Caesar through sexual favours , though Suetonius describes Antony 's accusation as political slander . This form of slander was popular during this time in the Roman Republic to demean and discredit political opponents by accusing them of having an inappropriate sexual affair . After landing at Lupiae near Brundisium , Octavius learned the contents of Caesar 's will , and only then did he decide to become Caesar 's political heir as well as heir to two-thirds of his estate
Caesar was killed
Assassination of Julius Caesar
Augustus