Changes

After the assassination of Julius Caesar, it seemed likely that the Roman Republic would once more fall into anarchy<ref> Plutarch. Life of Cesar. 15</ref>. In the aftermath of the death of Caesar, Mark Anthony tried to seize power but was defeated by the two Roman consuls but they were both killed in battle. This allowed Anthony to regroup his forces and he entered into an agreement with other Caesarians, to form the Second Triumvirate.<ref> Goldsworthy, Adrian. Julius Cesar (London, Orion, 2007), p. 319 </ref>. This arrangement included Augustus and Marcus Lepidus. The Triumvirate worked together to advance the interest of the Caesarians, such as securing land for veterans. The trio was also able to pacify the Empire and provided a measure of stable government. They defeated the Republicans at the battle of Phillippi and put down many other revolts, such as Sextus Pompeius in Sicily.<ref> Holland, Tom. Rubicon (London, Longman, 2005), p 167, 213</ref>.

Lepidus was marginalized and Augustus and Mark Anthony became the two most powerful men in Rome. They agreed to work together in the best interests of Rome. Augustus was given control of the west, including Rome, while Mark Anthony was given the east.<ref> Holland, p. 216</ref>. The control of Rome was to prove crucial for Augustus in his later war with Mark Anthony. At this time Octavian’s sister married Anthony to secure the alliance between the two men. This alliance was to bring a measure of stability to Rome and its empire and both men reorganized the provinces and carried out much-needed reforms after years of conflict. Soon there were strains in the relationship between the two most powerful men in the Empire. This was because of Anthony’s brazen affair with Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt and what was seen as the public humiliation of Augustus sister, who was Mark Anthony’s lawful wife .<ref>Plutarch. Life of Augustus, 16</ref>. Anthony also increasingly acted like an independent ruler in the east and did not consult the Roman Senate or his supposed ally and partner Augustus. He also outraged public opinion in Rome when he gave his children by Cleopatra, territories that were officially part of the Roman Empire.<ref> Plutarch. <i>Life of Anthony</i>, 18</ref>

August began a propaganda campaign against Anthony and this led to a bitter war of words between the two men. When Anthony married Cleopatra, Augustus used the humiliation of his sister to turn Rome against his former ally. Augustus claimed that Anthony sought to make himself and Cleopatra rulers of the east and break from Rome. The Senate in Rome was outraged by the actions of Anthony and concerned that he may even be prepared to make himself and the hated Cleopatra rulers of Rome. It was widely believed that Anthony was under the influence of Cleopatra. In the words of Plutarch ‘he was not master of his own faculties, but, as if he were under the influence of certain drugs or of magic rites, was ever looking eagerly towards her’ her.’<ref> Plutarch, 37.4 </ref>.At the request of Augustus, they stripped Mark Anthony of all his powers and honors and gave Augustus orders to raise an army and navy. Anthony gather his own and Cleopatra’s forces and civil war was inevitable.<ref> Holland, p. 315</ref>.