The domination of the triumvirs

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter concentrates on the formation of the Second Triumvirate and Antony’s victory over Brutus and Cassius at Philippi. Topics include: the senate’s declaration of Antony as a hostis; Antony’s alliance with Lepidus, Munatius Plancus, and Asinius Pollio; Octavian’s march on Rome and his assumption of a consulship; passage of the lex Pedia establishing a tribunal for trying Caesar’s assassins and their enablers; the conference at Bononia, at which the Second Triumvirate was formed with Antony as its senior member; passage of the lex Titia establishing the triumvirs as Rome’s top magistrates; the proscriptions and the death of Cicero; the possibility that Antony’s coinage at this time depicts Fulvia; the depredations of Brutus and Cassius in the east; the campaign against the Liberators culminating in Antony’s victory at Philippi and the deaths of Brutus and Cassius; new triumviral arrangements made by Antony and Octavian after Philippi; the necessity of confiscating municipal properties in Italy in order to establish colonies for veterans, an assignment given to Octavian; Antony’s assignment in the east: re-imposing order in the east and extracting its wealth in order to compensate the veterans.