Late Roman Republic, Gaius Octavius (=Octavian; (76; fl.47-00-14): Antony’s Civil War, the Second Triumvirate

Antony’s Civil War (43 BC)

Hirtius hastened north, with Octavian and his legions nominally under his control, while Vibius raised additional troops in Central Italy. When Antony learned that Pansa was approaching he took two legions and leaving his brother Lucius to maintain the siege, bypassed the forces of Hirtius and Octavian and marched southeast to Forum Gallorum, on the road from Bononia, about eight miles from the beleaguered city, to intercept and destroy the army of Vibius before he could link up with Octavian and Hirtius.

Hirtius, anticipating the enemy’s plan, sent the veteran Martia legion to his colleague’s assistance. On 14 April, Vibius’ reinforced army approached Forum Gallorum where most of Antony’s troops were concealed in the scrubland either side of the road, but with enough outposts left visible for the Martia, sensing an easy victory, to rush precipitately into the ambush, which then turned into a confused and desperate fight.

To the rear, Vibius’ raw recruits retreated to their camp to strengthen its defences. When Antony’s superiority in cavalry began to tell, the Martia began a fighting withdrawal but Vibius himself, mortally wounded by a javelin, was carried from the field. But Hirtius, learning what was happening, had taken two legions and now attacked Antony’s rear. After a struggle that had already lasted for many hours, Antony was compelled to withdraw his weary troops and return to Mutina.

Antony’s forces were still good enough to maintain the blockade of Mutina and he also retained a distinct advantage in cavalry. Hirtius and Octavian advanced to camp closer to the enemy lines and offered battle but Antony declined. Eventually, he finally decided to fight and was beaten. Hirtius and Octavian turned this into a full-scale attack on his fortified lines. Hirtius broke into Antony’s main camp, but was killed in the fighting. By the end of the day Antony had abandoned the blockade and was retreating.

After the battle Octavian assumed informal command of the senatorial army and stayed with his legions in camp until after the summer. Decimus pursued Antony who soon joined with three legions raised by one of Caesar’s old officers, Ventidius Bassus, and the whole force then crossed the Alps. Lepidus was in Narbonensis and decided, or was persuaded by his troops, to support Antony. Although Lepidus was now declared a public enemy, he was soon joined by two other former officers of Caesar, Asinius in Further Spain and Munatius in Comata. Decimus was deserted by his troops and forced to flee but was overtaken on his way to Greece and killed. 

In July, Octavian’s troops sent a message to the senators in Rome, asking for the money that was promised to them. They received some money, but not all that had been due and so another embassy was sent demanding that Octavian be made consul. When the senators refused, Octavian promptly divided his troops into two columns and set out for Rome.

When Octavian’s army appeared on the outskirts of Rome the senators had no choice but to surrender themselves and the city to him. He insisted on consular elections, at which he and his cousin Quintus Pedius were returned. A law was passed which formally confirmed Octavian’s adoption by Caesar and made legitimate his use of the name Caesar (he is called Octavian by modern writers to avoid confusion). Pedius then carried a measure which revoked the amnesty granted in 44 BC to Caesar’s murderers and outlawed them. 

Octavian knew that with Marcus ¹³Junius Brutus and Cassius having gathered substantial armies in the East, he and Antony would have to face them together. He therefore used Pedius to persuade the Senate to revoke the decrees of outlawry against Antony and Lepidus then made arrangements to meet them. 

Second Triumvirate (43-33 BC)

Lepidus, Antony and Octavian met in Bononia, where they agreed to bury their differences. On 27 November, the tribune Publius Titius (1) brought in the lex Titia, creating the triumviri rei publicae constituendae (‘three men for the constitution of the Republic’). Unlike the earlier triumvirate, the Second Triumvirate was an official, legally established institution, whose overwhelming power in the Roman state was given full legal sanction and whose imperium maius outranked that of all other magistrates, including the consuls. This was justified as an emergency position, as dictatorships had been in the past.

Between them they became the joint rulers of the Roman world: Italy went to the triumvirs collectively; Cisalpina and Comata to Antony; Narbonensis and Nearer Spain to Lepidus; Sicily, Sardinia, and Roman Africa to Octavian. They then began a reign of terror: proscriptions, confiscations and executions became general. Some of the noblest citizens were put to death, Cicero the most famous of them, apparently having been executed during his attempt to flee.