Download 1 and 2 Triumverates

1st and 2nd Triumverates
In the history of ancient Rome, was a group of three men who attempted to seize control of
the government. Rome had two triumvirates. The first, formed about 60 B.C., was made up
of Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus. The second was formed in
43 B.C., after Brutus and Cassius had murdered Caesar. Its members were Octavian
(Augustus), Marcus Lepidus, and Mark Antony.
The Roman republican form of government suffered severely under the first triumvirate and
was destroyed by the second. Both triumvirates ended in civil war to decide the supremacy
of one member of the group. In the first war, Caesar defeated Pompey. In the second,
Octavian overcame Mark Antony.
1st Triumvirate
Pompey and two other Roman leaders—Julius Caesar and Crassus—formed an unofficial political
alliance known as the First Triumvirate.
About 60 B.C., Pompey formed the First Triumvirate with Crassus and Caesar . The trio worked together
to advance their careers
Dominated Rome for 10 years
Caesar and Crassis and Pompey join forces and helped Caesar get elected to consul
Gaius Crasss
Crassus represents corrupt political money, is senator of Rome, very wealthy
Unlike second triumvirate the first had no official status45 BCE JC was named dictator for life
Important to fall of Rome power struggle between JC and Pompey
Pompey 106-48 B.C
Pompey is general in Rome
Pompey granted the title The Great and came from Italy
In 71 B.C., he returned to Italy and tried to take credit for ending a slave revolt led by Spartacus
Pompey and Crassus used their army to force the Senate to make them consuls in 70 B.C.
In 49 B.C., civil war broke out between Caesar and members of the Senate. Pompey opposed Caesar in
the war. Caesar’s forces defeated those of Pompey
Julius Caesar
Caesar was Roman political and military leader who gained power through the mob as a popular military
leader after defeating the Gauls
Declared dictator for life and Pompey fled
New power of Caesar created many reforms of Rome to please the demos
Pompey lead conspiracy to assassinate JC. JC was stabbed at least 23 times as “Votes” by the senate to
return the senate back to power.
Civil War broke out between JC’s supporters and those who supported Senate leadership leading to 2nd
Triumverate
2nd Triumvirate
Marcus Lepidus went to war to overturn reforms that Sulla (Roman leader) had made to the Roman
Constitution.
Antony, JC’s grandnephew, ruled Rome’s eastern provinces, and Octavian ruled the western ones.
Lepidus controlled Rome’s territories in Africa.
Legal document between Lepidus, Antonius, and Caesar to share power
36 B.C. Octavian and Antony removed Lepidus from the Triumvirate. Octavian and Antony then turned
their armies against one another, as Antony seeked to give more power to the East and take it from
Rome.
Marcus Lepidus
Attempted to undermine Sicilian constitution
He was a patrician senator
Marcus Antonius (Marc Anthony)
Served as co-ruler of Rome from 43 B.C. until his death
Had Egypt on his side and a deep relationship with Queen Cleopatra
Augustus obtains complete control after defeating Marcus in battle
Marc Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide
In 32 B.C., Octavian declared war against Cleopatra, knowing that Antony had little choice but to support
her. Octavian's naval forces defeated Antony and Cleopatra's combined fleets in the Battle of Actium off
the west coast of Greece in 31 B.C. Antony and Cleopatra retreated to Egypt. Soon afterward, Octavian
pursued the couple. They committed suicide in 30 B.C. shortly after Octavian reached Egypt.
Julius Caesar Octavius (Augustas)
Raised an army of Caesar’s veterans to fight Antony and defeated him in 43 B.C.
Three arrangements with the Senate, in 27, 23, and 19 B.C., gave Augustus legal power to direct Rome’s
civil and military affairs as the princeps (leading citizen)
Claimed to be descended from the god Mars and the goddess Venus
Under Augustus, the empire doubled in size
The reign of Augustus is sometimes called the Augustan Age. It ushered in a period of peace and
prosperity after years of civil unrest.
Ruled until 14AD
His reign began what came to be called Pax Romana…ending after the death of Marcus Aurelius in
180AD.