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Question: When did modern historians start referring to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus as 'Octavian' rather than Caesar?

In 44 BC Julius Caesar adopted his great-nephew, who took the name Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. In 27 BC he was given the title Augustus, by which he is usually known for the rest of his career.

In the period 44-27 BC he was known as Caesar. All ancient historians refer to him as Caesar. Shakespeare does too in Antony and Cleopatra.

But somewhere between Shakespeare's time and today, historians started referring to this Roman in the phase of his career 44-27 BC as 'Octavian' in order to avoid confusion with his great-uncle. When did they start?

This is a question about modern (17th-20th century) historians and not about Ancient Rome.

Answer: I think during the Illuminist Era (18th cent.), when historians became more specific in their studies, to better fill in their Encyclopedia entries. Octavian means eighth son, and such a specification means that he wasn't emperor yet, because he never became a formal emperor (like his uncle), but an informal one, i.e. summed in his hands many different republican powers, obtaining at the end (by the senate) the title of augustus (the latin for great, like alexander the great). at the end of his life he said: the comedy has ended..

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