Untitled Document

The Triumvirate
Near what is today Bologna, Lepidus, Antony, and Octavian forged the Second Triumvirate. This was a three-man ruling committee with absolute power, similar to the triumvirate that had once been formed between Licinius Crassus, Caesar, and Pompey. The triumvirs would hold power for five years. The lex Titia, the law to enact the Triumvirate, was introduced by a friendly tribune and passed in 43 BCE. The consulship, the traditional seat of power, remained in place, but the actual power of the consuls was greatly reduced. Octavian and his relative resigned their positions as consuls, and Octavian then married Claudia, the daughter of Fulvia, Antony’s wife. Antony was allotted Gaul, Lepidus Spain, and Octavian North Africa and some of the islands, such as Sicily and Corsica, many of which were under the actual control of Sextus Pompey.

The first act of the Triumvirate boded ill for the "Republic". It was a proscription, under which 130 Senators were killed and many political enemies were eliminated. The rationale given by the triumvirs was that they were avenging Caesar’s killers, but most of the killings were so that the Triumvirs could confiscate the property of the richest members of society and use it to pay their soldiers for the coming war against Brutus and Cassius. The most prominent victim was Cicero, who Octavian sacrificed in return for several members of Antony’s family.

In order to increase their base of support, Antony and Octavian packed the Senate with non-patricians who would be loyal to them, and also increased the number of praetors. Also, in order to further justify their actions, they had Caesar declared a god under the name Divine Julius. Thereafter, Octavian included Divi Filius, son of a God, as part of his titles.

The End of the Triumvirate
With Italy now consolidated under their combined control, Antony and Octavian turned towards Brutus and Cassius. Brutus and Cassius had a better navy, but Antony and Octavian slipped past their fleet with a larger army and gave battle at Philippi in 42 BCE. Brutus defeated Octavian, but Cassius was defeated by Antony. Unaware that Brutus had won, Cassius committed suicide. After another battle, Brutus was defeated and also took his own life.

Antony now held the true power in the Empire. He took all of the Eastern provinces as well as Gaul. Lepidus quickly became a nonentity in the Triumvirate. He was given only North Africa in the redivision of the empire. Octavian received Italy and the islands. In 40 BCE, Cleopatra bore Antony twins. Even to the avergage Roman, it was obvious that there were two men that were in charge of all of the state, and though Octavian was the junior partner, Antony could not ignore him.