Octavian had won but the problems associated with the distribution of land to the veterans remained. In the summer 01Fufius Calenus died and Octavian, who was in Northern Italy at the time, swiftly occupied Gaul and the seven legions there came over to him (Octavian leaving Salvidienus in command) as did two legions of Munatius Plancus in Italy.
03Scribonius Libo, Sextus Pompeius (8)’s father-in-law, suggested to Antony, who had arrived at Athens, that he and Sextus join together against Octavian. Antony responded by saying that he would do so if there was a war with Octavian, but if the latter kept to his agreements with him (Antony) then he would attempt to bring Octavian and Sextus together. This understanding was sufficient for Sextus to raid the Italian coast, and a little later his admiral Menodorus occupied Sardinia and displaced Octavian’s governor Marcus Lurius.
Meanwhile, Gnaeus 08Domitius Ahenobarbus and his seventy ships had joined Antony’s two hundred and they now sailed towards Brundisium. The alignments of early 43 BC had been reversed: the Republicans and Antony now stood together against Octavian. There was some initial activity: Brundisium, guarded by five of Octavian’s legions would not admit Antony’s fleet, was put under siege; Sextus continued his raids on the coast; Octavian sent Agrippa to the town’s aid and quickly followed him; there was some skirmishing and Antony had the better of it.
It seems that neither side was keen to fight. Deputations of each army were urging compromise. The two men’s friends began to discuss terms: Cilnius Maecenas (60; fl.40-08 BC) negotiating for Octavian, Asinius (1) for Antony, and 01Cocceius Nerva (cos.36 BC) as a neutral. Lipidus, however, always the weakest of the trio, was not represented.
It was agreed that there would be peace between the two leaders and the agreement to be cemented by Antony marrying Octavian’s sister, Octavia (58; fl.54-11 BC), the news having just arrived that Antony’s wife Fulvia had died in Greece.
The two triumvirs met and (as they had after Philippi) to divide the control of the Roman world between them, ignoring their colleague Lepidus. A line of separation was established at Scodra, just north of the boundary between Illyricum and Macedonia: the provinces north and west of the line were to be Caesar’s, those east of it Antony’s; Lepidus was left in charge of Africa, Pompey’s son Sextus 08Pompeius held Sicily. Italy was to be Octavian’s base, but it was agreed both the triumvirs could recruit soldiers there in equal numbers.
Sextus was still supreme in the Mediterranean, and disappointment that he had not gained more from the treaty at Brundisium prompted him to blockade the ports of Italy, deliberately interrupting the food supply. Riots broke out, the food supply was always a sensitive issue, and when Octavian tried to calm the mob he was stoned for his efforts until Antony arrived with some troops. Since Octavian had no fleet and Antony had too few ships, their only choice at the moment was further negotiation.
After an abortive attempt to reach an agreement, the triumvirs met with Sextus in spring 39 BC in ships anchored off Misenum in the Gulf of Naples. Sextus was given seventy million sesterces from his father’s estate and allowed to keep control of Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily and Southern Greece for five years, in return for clearing the sea of pirates, removing his blockades of Italian ports, agreeing not to take runaway slaves, and sending a specific quantity of grain to Rome.
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