Reactions to the Death of Reactions to the Death of Caesar Caesar

Antony was fellow consul of Caesar took control Summoned the senate on March 17th no actions

would be taken against the assassins but Casear’s measures and appointments would remain

Diminished the aim of the assassination

Casear’s will left extensive lands to the people of Rome who then led an outcry against the assassins Brutus and Cassius driven from Rome

Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was elected potifex maximus

Gaius Octavius Gaius Octavius

18 year old grandnephew of Caesar

Had been abroad studying

Returned to Rome accompanied by friend Marcus Agrippa

Adopted by Caesar in his will to be his heir

Had ambitions to displace Antony as leader of Caesar’s supporters Sold off his own property to give each citizen some money Antony was loosing ground to Octavian so took his army to Gaul and

when the current governor did not leave, Antony besieged the city (Mutina)

Cicero proposed that the senate eliminate Antony (who they feared wanted to be dictator) –The Phillipics

Octavian given membership in the Senate and authority subordinate to only the consuls

Troops defeated Antony in Gaul and Mutina was relieved

Octavian as ConsulOctavian as Consul

Both consuls died in the fighting

Octavian insisted that he be made consul in order to give rewards to his men The senate refused the request In August Octavian marched on Rome at the head of

8 legions He became Consul

Formally condemned and outlawed Caesar’s assassins as well as Sextus Pompey

With the help of Lepidus, Octavian reconciled with Antony

The Second TriumvirateThe Second Triumvirate

Formed legally in 43 BC - Triumviri reipublicae constituendae Lex Titia

Given authority to make laws without reference to the senate or people, exercise jurisdiction without appeal, and nominate all magistrates In practice, they did continue to consult the senate and

people and elections were held

Antony took responsibility for Gaul, Lepidus for Spain, and Octavian for Africa, Sardinia, and Sicily

Main priority was to punish Caesar’s assassins

Antony and Octavian were to have 20 legions each (5000 per legion) Lacked the means to pay this many men so resorted to

confiscations and proscriptions (300 senators and 2000 equites)

Battle of Philippi Battle of Philippi

Caesar deified in 42, Octavian now was the “son of a god”

Octavian and Antony moved east against Brutus and Cassius

Met in Macedonia at Philippi in late summer of 42

Each army had about 100,000 men

Antony had displayed his skillful generalship and increased his military prestige Assumed the more attractive responsibility of remaining in

the East

Octavian did not prove to be a good general (had to be bailed out by Antony)

Both Brutus and Cassius committed suicide as a result of their defeats in these battles Marks the end of the republican cause

Sextus Pompeius Sextus Pompeius

Had gathered enough troops and support that he was able to cut off the grain imports to Rome

Abandoned hostilities by 39 BC Octavian married Scribonia, relative of Sextus Pompey, in 40 BC (had only

child, Julia, in 39) Retained control of Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and given the Peloponnese

Relations with Sextus Pompey quickly deteriorated Octavian divorced Scribonia in 39 Antony delayed handing over Peloponnese

Battles in 38 and 37 against Ocatvian and Antony They renewed the Triumvirate in 37 as well

Agrippa, elected consul in 37, finally defeated Sextus Pompey in 36 BC in a sea battle at Naulochus

Sextus escaped to Asia Minor but was tracked down and executed in 35 BC

Lepidus Lepidus

After Sextus’ defeat, Lepidus decided to try to rise over Octavian He demanded Sextus’ land troops surrender to

him but Octavian objected

Octavian entered Lepidus’ camp and invited all the troops (Lepidus’ and Sextus’) to recognize him as their commander which they did

Octavian took Africa and Lepidus was forced to live in exile

Antony in the EastAntony in the East

Remained in the east following the battle at Philippi

Reestablish good relations with Egypt Had met Cleopatra through Caesar in Rome

Personal relationship ensued Cleopatra gave birth to twins a year later Antony spent the winter of 41-40 in Alexandria with her

Helped strengthened Cleopatra’s rule

In 40 he married Octavia, sister of Octavian Continued relationship going with Cleopatra had another son with Cleo in 36

In 36, Antony set out against Parthia Had success but eventually lost one-third of his army

Clash between Antony Clash between Antony and Octavian (36-30)and Octavian (36-30)

In 36, Rome essentially had two rulers Antony in the East Octavian in the West

Octavian wanted to be sole ruler so intensified propaganda against Antony and Cleopatra

Antony spent another winter with Cleopatra (35-34) Would finally divorced wife, Octavia, in 32

“Donations of Alexandria” “Married” Cleopatra Distributed lands to Cleo, his sons, and Caesar’s son Gratified Egyptians

Propaganda Propaganda

Made Antony seem less Roman

Made himself seem less autocratic

Antony did not help himself – gave Cleo title “Queen of Kings”

Antony identified with Dionysus, Osiris, and Alexander

Octavian identified himself with Apollo and, later, with Venus

Battle of ActiumBattle of Actium

Divorce of Antony and Octavia broke any last ties between Octavian and Antony

Octavian declared war on Cleopatra in 32 (but not Antony)

Naval battle at Actium

Octavian and Agrippa blockade Antony and Cleopatra

Antony and Cleopatra flee

Antony’s generals desert

Aftermath of ActiumAftermath of Actium

Octavian invades Egypt, plunders and brings back as much as he can

3 day triumph in Rome (29 BC)

Civil War in Rome is over

100 years of peace to follow – Pax Romana

Literature, building programs, moral reforms