Second Triumvirate

Second Triumvirate

The Second Triumvirate was a special group of three leaders in ancient Rome who had great power to rule. It was created in 43 BC for Mark Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian. They could make laws, punish people without normal trials, and control parts of the Roman world.

This group formed after a fight between Mark Antony and the Roman senate. Their job was to bring back control for followers of Julius Caesar and to fight against those who had assassinated Julius Caesar. After a hard civil war, they defeated their enemies at the Battle of Philippi.

At first, Lepidus was given control of Africa. Mark Antony took charge of the eastern areas and Octavian the western ones. Later, Octavian removed Lepidus from the group and fought a final war against Antony. Octavian won and became the sole ruler.

Name

The name "Second Triumvirate" is used today to talk about an important group of leaders in ancient Rome. It came from an earlier group called the "First Triumvirate." People in the past did not use these names. They started being used during the Renaissance period. Some modern books avoid using "First" and "Second Triumvirate" because the names can be confusing. The Oxford Classical Dictionary says these names are modern and can mislead people.

Triumviral period

After Julius Caesar died in 44 BC, leaders made a deal. They agreed to pardon Caesar’s opponents and keep his actions.

Mark Antony, a leader, took control of some areas. But tensions grew between Antony and Octavian, Caesar’s heir. They joined with Lepidus to form the Second Triumvirate in 43 BC. This group had special powers to rule Rome for five years. They could make laws and control the Roman world without usual rules.

The triumvirs faced many challenges. They had wars against those who opposed them and needed to take care of their soldiers. They worked to keep their power and control over Rome’s regions.

Breakdown

As the group of three leaders became just two, Octavian got ready to face Antony. He tried to link Antony with Cleopatra and trained his soldiers near their lands. Antony was busy with problems far away in the east.

Octavian’s soldiers felt tired and wanted to go home, but he kept them ready by offering rewards and promises. He also sent his sister Octavia to talk with Antony, which caused more tension.

In 34 BC, Antony made some choices that many Romans did not like. He captured a king and showed him off in a city, upsetting people. He also held ceremonies that seemed to favor foreign customs over Roman traditions.

Their agreement ended in 33 BC. Octavian removed leaders who opposed him. Antony moved his army toward Greece but had to decide about Cleopatra. He left his Roman wife and stayed with Cleopatra, which made many Romans angry.

In 31 BC, a big sea battle happened at Actium. Most of Antony’s ships turned back. Over the next year, many of Antony’s supporters joined Octavian. By 30 BC, Octavian entered Egypt. After talks failed, he captured Alexandria. Antony and Cleopatra faced a sad end, and Octavian took control of Egypt.

Legacy

In formation of the Principate

Further information: Reign of Augustus

After the Second Triumvirate ended, Octavian made changes that started the Principate and the Roman empire. Even though the triumvirate was not meant to last forever, it changed Rome greatly. Writers like Tacitus later thought that the end of the Roman Republic began with the triumvirs' victory at Philippi. The long and tough fights after Julius Caesar's death made it hard to fix the republic.

The triumvirs tried to look like they were following old Roman rules, even though they had a lot of power. Over time, Octavian let the regular leaders of Rome, like the consuls, keep some of their jobs. The triumvirs still used the old ways of making laws, promising to give their power back to the senate and people, but they never did.

In Roman culture

The busy and unsure times of the triumvirate helped many new people become important. Many famous books and poems were written then, such as Horace's Epodes and Satires, Virgil's Eclogues and Georgics, and histories by Sallust and Asinius Pollio. The fight between Octavian and Antony inspired Octavian's friend, Gaius Maecenas, to help support artists.

Virgil's Eclogues showed the worries of people living in the countryside when lands were taken for veterans after Philippi. Stories about people trying to escape during tough times were also popular, especially tales about Cicero.

Timeline

The following years are taken from the narrative in Pelling 1996.