Following decades of Civil War which costs Rome hundreds of thousands of dead, the rise of a 19-year old adopted son of Julius Caesar seemed improbable.  Aligned against him were the murders of Caesar and strongman Mark Anthony, all veterans of the wars, savvy politicians and holders of immense wealth and prestige.  How could a sickly, inexperienced youth hope to compete let alone survive against the forces aligned against him?  The strongest hand he had to play was that Julius Caesar had chosen that boy to inherit his mantle, his wealth, his name.