Octavia the Elder also known as Octavia Major or Octavia Maior (Maior is Latin for the Elder) was the daughter of the Roman governor and senator Gaius Octavius

Gaius Octavius

Gaius Octavius was an ancestor to the Roman Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. He was the father of the Emperor Augustus, step-grandfather of the Emperor Tiberius, great-great grandfather of the Emperor Caligula, great-grandfather of the Emperor Claudius, and great-great-great grandfather of...

 by his first wife, Ancharia. She was also an elder half-sister to Octavia the Younger and Roman Emperor

Roman Emperor

The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...

 Augustus

Augustus

Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...

. Little is known of her life. Plutarch

Plutarch

Plutarch then named, on his becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. 46 – 120 AD, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia...

 only knows one daughter Octavia of Gaius Octavius and confuses Octavia the Elder with Octavia the Younger.

Marriage and Descendants

Octavia the Elder was married to Sextus Appuleius

Sextus Appuleius

Sextus Appuleius is the name of four figures during the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The first Sextus Appuleius was married to Octavia Major, the elder half-sister of Augustus...

 (I). They had one son, who was also named Sextus Appuleius

Sextus Appuleius

Sextus Appuleius is the name of four figures during the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The first Sextus Appuleius was married to Octavia Major, the elder half-sister of Augustus...

 (II) and was ordinary consul

Consul

Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...

 in 29 BC with his half-uncle, Augustus

Augustus

Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...

. Through her son, Sextus Appuleius (II), she had two grandchildren, a grandson, named Sextus Appuleius

Sextus Appuleius

Sextus Appuleius is the name of four figures during the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The first Sextus Appuleius was married to Octavia Major, the elder half-sister of Augustus...

 (III) like his forebears and a granddaughter, Appuleia Varilla

Appuleia Varilla

Appuleia Varilla was the only child of Claudia Marcella Major and her third husband, Sextus Appuleius, consul in 14...

. Octavia the Elder's last known descendant was her great-grandson, also named Sextus Appuleius

Sextus Appuleius

Sextus Appuleius is the name of four figures during the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The first Sextus Appuleius was married to Octavia Major, the elder half-sister of Augustus...

 (IV), through her grandson and his wife, Fabia Numantina

Fabia Numantina

Generally believed to be the daughter of Paullus Fabius Maximus and Marcia, a maternal first cousin of Augustus. However, it is possible that she was the daughter of Paullus' brother, Africanus Fabius Maximus and an unknown wife.- Marriages :...

.