Why did Cicero support Octavian after Julius Caesar’s death?

Following the death of Julius Caesar, Cicero supported Octavian primarily as a political tool to counter the influence of Mark Antony.12

Cicero viewed Antony as a dangerous threat who had seized control of events in Rome immediately following the assassination. By championing the young Octavian—Caesar’s adopted son and heir—Cicero hoped to leverage the youth's status and military following to drive the Senate toward declaring war on Antony.12

Cicero’s strategy was driven by a desire to preserve the republic, even if it meant compromising his own ideals or utilizing a figure he personally underestimated. He famously remarked that the young man should be praised, honored, and then "disposed of," revealing that his support was purely instrumental rather than based on a genuine alliance. Ultimately, this political maneuvering failed when Octavian reconciled with Antony and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus to form the Second Triumvirate, which led to Cicero’s proscription and execution.12