FROM THE IDES TO ACTIUM
ClCv/Hist 307: Roman History Survey
44 B.C.
C. Iulius Caesar dictator perpetuus, M. Aemilius Lepidus magister equitum
C. Iulius Caesar and M. Antony consuls
Caesar assassinated on the Ides of March
Antony works for reconciliation: Caesar=s acta confirmed, dictatorship abolished, conspirators
granted amnesty
Lepidus becomes pontifex maximus with Antony=s support
Octavian adopted in Caesar=s will, quarrels with Antony; at the Ludi Victoriae Caesaris, a comet
(the astrum Caesaris) appears that reinforces popular sentiment that Caesar had become a god
Cicero delivers Philippics against Antony
Antony leaves for his command in Cisalpine Gaul
Decimus Brutus refuses to surrender Cisalpine Gaul to Antony; Antony besieges him in Mutina
Cicero passes a senatorial resolution supporting Decimus Brutus against Antony
43 B.C.
A. Hirtius and C. Vibius Pansa consuls
C. Iulius C. f. Caesar (Octavian) and Q. Pedius suffect consuls (later replaced by
Ventidius and Carrinas)
TRIUMVIRATE I
Cicero regularizes Octavian=s command by having the senate commission him as a propraetor
Hirtius, Pansa, and Octavian march against Mutina; Antony is forced to lift the siege of Mutina and
retreats to Transalpine Gaul, the consuls Hirtius and Pansa are killed in the fighting
Cicero has Senate declare Antony a public enemy
Antony finds refuge with Caesarian commanders: Lepidus (Gallia Narbonensis), Pollio (Spain),
and Plancus (Gallia Comata)
Octavian refuses to work with Decimus Brutus, one of the assassins of Caesar; Decimus quits Italy,
Octavian marches on Rome with a force led by his friends (M. Agrippa, C. Maecenas, and
Salvidienus Rufus)
Octavian and a Caesarean cousin, Q. Pedius, elected consuls to replace Hirtius and Pansa
lex Pedia revokes the amnesty Antony previously granted the conspirators; Antony rehabilitated
(no longer a public enemy)
lex Titia establishes the triumvirate of Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus; proscriptions follow (Cicero
killed)
42 B.C.
[M. Aemilius Lepidus and L. Munatius Plancus consuls]
TRIUMVIRATE II
Caesar deified and Octavian becomes Divi filius
Sex. Pompeius takes Sicily, which becomes a haven for ARepublicans@ and other enemies of the
triumvirate
Antony and Octavian defeat Brutus and Cassius at Philippi
41 B.C.
L. Antoninus [and P. Servilius Isauricus] consuls
TRIUMVIRATE III
AntonyCGaul, the East, Parthian campaign; OctavianCItaly, Spain, veteran settlement, Sex. Pompey;
LepidusCAfrica, continues as pontifex maximus
L. Antonius and Fulvia (currently Antony=s wife) oppose Octavian=s confiscations and veteran
settlement policies; Tiberius Claudius Nero (Livia=s husband) tries to raise a revolt in
Campania
Antony meets Cleopatra
Octavian besieges L. Antonius and Fulva in Perusia; Octavian summons Salvidienus from Spain,
L. Antonius calls Pollio and Ventidius from Gaul
Pollio and Ventidius do nothing, awaiting instructions from Antony; Perusia falls
Perusia destroyed, L. Antonius sent to Spain as Octavian=s legate (!), Octavian divorced Claudia
(Fulvia=s daughter), Octavian occupies Gaul
40 B.C.
[Cn. Domitius Calvinus and Cn. Asinius Pollio consuls]
TRIUMVIRATE IV
AntonyCEastern provinces; OctavianCSpain, Gaul, Italy, and Illyria; LepidusCAfrica
Antony arrives at Brundisium with a hostile force
Maecenas negotiates Pact of Brundisium: Antony divorces Fulvia (who soon dies), marries
Octavia; Antony gets more legions for his upcoming Parthian campaign; Octavian keeps Gaul
and adds Illyria; Salvidienus executed
Food riots in Rome because of Sex. Pompey=s blockade
Octavian begins negotiations with Sex. Pompey; marries Scribonia, a close relative of Sex.
Pompey=s father-in-law
39 B.C.
[L. Marcius Censorious and C. Calvisius Sabinus consuls]
TRIUMVIRATE V
AntonyCEastern provinces; OctavianCSpain, Gaul, Italy, and Illyria; LepidusCAfrica
At Puteoli Octavian and Sex. Pompey agree to the Pact of Misenum: Sex. Pompey is admitted as
an unofficial member of the triumvirate and his control of the islands recognized; blockade of
Italy lifted and grain can be imported; Republican refugees (like Nero and Livia) return to
Italy and a portion of their property is restored
Antony and Octavia move to Athens, preparatory to his Parthian campaign
38 B.C.
[Ap. Claudius Pulcher and C. Norbanus Flaccus consuls]
TRIUMVIRATE VI
AntonyCEastern provinces; OctavianCSpain, Gaul, Italy, and Illyria; LepidusCAfrica
Octavian divorces Scribonia the day their daughter Iulia is born; Nero gives Livia as wife to
Octavian (though she is pregnant); hostilities resume between Octavian and Sex. Pompey
Octavian=s fleet is destroyed in a storm, he fails to invade Sicily
By this time, Octavian regularly calls himself Imp. Caesar Divi f.
37 B.C.
M. Agrippa [and L. Caninus Gallus] consuls
TRIUMVIRATE Ib
Octavian puts Agrippa in charge of the war against Sex. Pompey; Agrippa builds and trains a new
fleet
Stress in the triumvirate mediated by Octavia, leads to the Pact of Tarentum: renews triumvirate
until 33 B.C.; Antony lends Octavian ships
Antony sends Octavia sent back to Italy
Antony marries Cleopatra in Alexandria
36 B.C.
[L. Gellius Publicola and M. Cocceius Nerva consuls]
TRIUMVIRATE IIb
Agrippa defeats Sex. Pompey at Naulochus
Lepidus, who came to Sicily to help fight Sex. Pompey, makes a bid for the province
Octavian wins Lepidus= army by virtue of his name, expels Lepidus from the triumvirate, and takes
Africa but allows Lepidus to live and keep his priesthood
AFrom the Ides to Actium,@ Page 3
35 B.C.
Octavian receives the personal sacrosanctity of a plebeian tribune
Antony invades Parthia, but after initial successes is defeated and forced into a winter retreat
[Sex. Pompeius {a different one!} and L. Cornificius consuls]
TRIUMVIRATE IIIb
AntonyCEastern provinces; OctavianCWestern provinces
Octavian fights in Illyria
Octavia and Livia receives honors, including the sacrosanctity of tribunes (highlights their status,
protects Livia from Antonian propaganda, and contrasts with Antony=s treatment of Octavia)
34 B.C.
M. Antonius cos. II [and L. Scribonius Libo consul]
TRIUMVIRATE IVb
AntonyCEastern provinces; OctavianCWestern provinces
Octavian fights in Illyria
Antony celebrates a Atriumph@ in Alexandria; the Donations of Alexandria, giving Roman territory
to Cleopatra and appointing her children kings and queens
33 B.C.
Imp. Caesar Divi f. (Octavian) cos. II [and L. Volcatius consul]
TRIUMVIRATE Vb
M. Agrippa Aedile
AntonyCEastern provinces; OctavianCWestern provinces
Octavian ends his Illyrian campaigns; he and Agrippa use booty for a massive building program in
Rome
Antony fights in Armenia and Media
Triumvirate legally ends at the end of 33 B.C.
32 B.C.
Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus and C. Sosius consuls
AntonyCEastern provinces; OctavianCWestern provinces
The consuls, friends of Antony, try to ratify Antony=s acta and to censure Octavian; a tribune
vetoes the reprimand, and Octavian drives the consuls and some 300 senators who are friendly to
Antony from Italy
Antony divorces Octavia, Octavian publishes Antony=s will
Oath of Tota Italia, followed by much of the West
Octavian elected consul for 31 B.C., secures declaration of war against Cleopatra
31 B.C.
M. Antonius cos. III desig. and Imp. Caesar Divi f. (Octavian) cos. III
Antony deprived of office, Octavian keeps it for the whole year
Octavian (and Agrippa) defeat Antony and Cleopatra=s fleet at Actium
Antony commits suicide at Alexandria
Octavian seizes Alexandria, Cleopatra commits suicide
Octavian makes Egypt a proprietary province