re: Octavius (Augustus) Caesar: Cruel sniveling coward or great Roman (or both)?

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Who was the Greatest Roman?

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Maximus

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Incorrect. The Gauls were constantly threatening Rome and had invaded just a half century before. These were the wars fought by Marius. At the time Caesar invaded, there was a lot of fighting between Rome's ally states and those seeking to expand their territory, which at the time of the invasion was threatening to encroach into Roman territory. The 4th century defeat was something every Roman was aware of, and the encroaching threat of the Gauls created a public fear.

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Marius wrapped those campaigns up 40 years before Caesar invaded Gaul. The Romans weren't in fear of a massive invasion from tribes coming from Gaul at the time Caesar became Proconsul of Cisalpine Gaul, Transalpine Gaul, and Illyria. In fact the gov. of Rome was not happy with Caesar's action to invade Gaul which was technically a violation of the Roman constitution. It would be the equivalent of a General stationed in Arizona invading Mexico without approval from the US gov.
The reality of the situation is Caesar invaded Gaul to make money and make a bigger name for himself.

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Hannibal never went to Iberia. Scipio went there to retake it and left his command because he knew that he could go no further, as he would have been sandwiched between two Carthaginian armies.

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Correct. I never said he went there to take on Hannibal. I said he had to take the fight (as in vs. Carthage) to Iberia, of course leaving Hannibal to be shadowed in Italy. The Romans finally figured out beating Hannibal in Italy wasn't the path to victory in the war. Scipio basically did what Hannibal was doing but he was doing it in Spain and eventually in North Africa.

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Hannibal wasn't recalled by Carthage. He left Rome after his allies deserted him and his brother was defeated and killed. Half of Carthage had never supported him, and he was constantly having to justify his invasion. When his strength had dwindled enough, he left on his own.

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This statement is not accurate. He was recalled from Italy. The only question on him being recalled is the reason he was recalled. Livy and Polybius cite different reasons, but both say he was recalled.