Summary

Book 3 is comprised entirely of a long letter written from Octavius to Nicolaus of Damascus in A.D. 14. Octavius is 76 years old now, and he is sailing to Capri on his yacht. He writes that the people of Rome are not convinced that he is fond of Tiberius, which may make it difficult for him to ascend to the throne after Octavius’s death. He speaks of Livia, stating that they have finally become something like friends after all this time married to one another.

Octavius continues by writing that, three days ago, he deposited at the Temple of the Vestal Virgins four documents. The first is his will, dictating that two-thirds of his property and wealth go to Tiberius—this is necessary for succession—with the remainder of the wealth going to Livia, who will be adopted into the Julian family...