Death of the Republic

First Triumvirate

Julius Caesar Pompey Crassus

Gaius Julius Caesar

Gaius Julius Caesar•The Death of Caesar and the fall of the Republic

•Julius Caesar assumes perpetual dictatorship of Rome

•Refuses title of “Rex” – “King”

•Imperator Emperor “Lower” than a king

•Champions of the old Republic seek his death

•Cassius was the mastermind of plot

•Brutus was the reluctant yet key player

•The Ides of March

•Three days before Caesar was to depart for Parthia

•Senate was about to declare him Rex/King over the Roman provinces (not Italy or Rome)

•Many bad omens warned of that fateful day

•Caesar was stabbed to death by senators

Republicans Caesareans

Majority of the

Senate

Brutus

Cassius

Legions and

People

Antony

Octavius

Lepidus

Civil War Begins

Second Triumvirate

Octavius(Caesar Augustus)

Lepidus Marc Antony

Marcus Antonius•Born in Rome to a prominent family

•Grandfather (same name) supported Sulla executed by Marius•Distant relative to Julius Caesar•Step-father executed by Cicero

•Julius Caesar’s “Chief Lieutenant” •Was “Master of Horse” in Rome•Poor performance resulted in a fall from favor with Caesar

•Most likely to take Caesar’s place•Powerful General•Inept Politician

Marcus Aemilius Lepidus•Caesar’s “Master of Horse” at the time of his assassination

•Was able to bring about order in Rome in the aftermath of Caesar’s death

•Had more political clout at the beginning of the Trimuvirate

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus

Gaius Octavius Thurinus

Octavius/Caesar Augustus•Relatively unknown great-nephew of Julius Caesar

•Julius Caesar adopted him as his son (posthumous)

•Caesar appoints him heir in his will

•19 years old at the time of Caesar’s death

Aftermath of Caesar’s Death

•Mark Antony•Turns the Roman citizens against Caesar’s assassins

•Seeks to consolidate power and remove contentious senators

•Fights Brutus and Cassius in Northern Italy

Aftermath of Caesar’s Death

•Octavius•Encouraged by parents to forfeit his claim on Caesar’s inheritance and submit to Mark Antony

•Encouraged by supporters to raise an army in Greece

•He does neither

•Goes to Rome and raises army in Italy

•Claims his rights as Caesar’s heir

Aftermath of Caesar’s Death

•Lepidus•Originally goes to Hispania (Spain) as governor

•His command of the legions in Spain make him a power player to be included in the Triumvirate

Octavian

Antony

Lepidus Cassius and Brutus

Octavian

AntonyLepidus

Octavian

Antony

Battle of Actium

Battle of Actium

Octavian

Pax Romana

“Roman Peace”

The Golden Age of Augustus