Second Triumvirate

The Second Triumvirate (43-33 BCE) followed on from the First Triumvirate (60-53 BCE), where Rome’s Generals dominated the Roman Republic.
It resulted in a civil war which saw Octavian emerge as the first Roman Emperor.

26 November 43 BCE Octavian formed the second Triumvirate along with Mark Anthony and Marcus Lepidus for a five year term, followed by another five year term. Their objective was to eliminate the assassins of Julius Caesar.
Unlike the First Triumvirate, this was officially approved by the Roman Senate.

Brutus and Longinus
- Julius Caesar‘s assassins, Brutus and Longinus, then took over the eastern Provinces including Macedonia, Asia and Syria.
- 42 BCE Battle of Philippi where Octavian and Mark Anthony challenged and defeated them.
- 40 BCE September ‘Treaty of Brundisium’: the three Triumvirs divided the Provinces between them. Octavian was given the West, Mark Anthony the East, and Marcus Lepidus Hispania and Africa.

Sextus Pompey
- Sextus Pompey who had escaped after the Battle of Munda in 45 BCE, had built a powerful army and navy in Sicily, and in 40 BCE his navy invaded Sardinia.
- 39 BCE Sextus Pompey signed the Pact of Misenum with the Triumvirs, leaving Mark Anthony free to fight the Parthians.
- 37 BCE Octavian failed to take Sicily at the naval Battle of Messina, and was defeated again in early 36 BCE.
- 36 BCE Agrippa, Mark Anthony‘s General, finally defeated Sextus Pompey‘s Navy at sea, and Marcus Lepidus raised 14 Legions in Africa to defeat Sextus Pompey on land.

- 36 BCE Octavian then stripped Lepidus of his title as Triumvir, but allowed him to continue in semi-retirement as Pontifex Maximus.
- 33 BCE The Triumvirate expired.

Octavian and Mark Anthony then drew apart, each seeking to consolidate power before eliminating the other.
- Mark Anthony resided in Egypt with Queen Cleopatra VII and openly lived with her, having three children by her.
- After 33 BCE Mark Anthony continued to style himself ‘Triumvir’, despite the Triumvirate having expired.
- 32 BCE July. Octavian obtained Mark Anthony‘s Will and published it in Rome. In the Will, Mark Anthony bequeathed generous donations to his illegitimate children with Queen Cleopatra VII, and requested his body be buried in Alexandria, Egypt.
- 32 BCE Octavian then moved the Roman Senate to declare War on Queen Cleopatra VII, to avoid the conflict looking like a Civil War with Mark Anthony.

Here Octavian destroyed the Fleet of Mark Anthony and Queen Cleopatra VII, who escaped back to Egypt, followed by Octavian with his Armies.

30 BCE 1 August Mark Anthony‘s armies in Egypt mutinied and joined Octavian. Mark Anthony and Queen Cleopatra VII then committed suicide.
Caesarion, Queen Cleopatra VII‘s son by Julius Caesar, after briefly being declared Pharaoh, was killed when Octavian entered Alexandria. Her three children by Mark Anthony were spared and returned to Rome with Octavian.
Octavian was then declared Pharaoh of Egypt, which was retained as the personal Property of all future Roman Emperors.

Octavian was now the undisputed Leader of the Roman World and became the first Roman Emperor.
The Roman Senate awarded him the title Augustus.