The First Triumvirate

Caesar PompeyCrassus

Pompey was the outsider in this originally secret alliance, formed in 60 BCE

Julius Caesar

Born to a patrician family around 100 BCE

Early life was a time of turmoil—marriages, affairs, etc.

Served in the army outside of Rome

Waited for the death of Sulla before returning to Rome

The First Triumvirate

Crassus used part of the

Roman army to expand the Republic’s

territory to the east, Caesar

did the same to the north, and Pompey stayed

in Rome

63 BCE, Caesar elected to the office of Pontifex Maximus (highest priest of the Roman state religion)

50’s BCE- as part of the 1st Triumvirate, Caesar governs Gaul

Conquers Gaul by 51 BCE

Ordered back to Rome, crosses Rubicon w/ army in 49 BCE

The First Triumvirate

Seven years after the formation of the 1st Triumvirate, Crassus died in battle and Pompey campaigned to be Rome’s only

consulCaesar returned to Italy in 49 BCE to challenge Pompey

(Roman law forbade generals from crossing the

Rubicon River with a standing army)

The First Triumvirate

A civil war ensued & Caesar defeated Pompey

Coin minted to pay

Caesar’s troops

Julius Caesar in charge

Caesar never married Pharaoh Cleopatra VII, the Queen of Egypt with whom he allied, although they

did (probably) have a son together

Caesar, who admired Alexander the Great, spent the next four

years further expanding the Roman

Republic

Julius Caesar in Charge

46 BCE- Dictator for 10 years45 BCE- Dictator Perpetuus

Instituted reforms and building projects Calendar Senate- 900 members Citizenship to conquered peoples (esp. Gaul)

Assassination of Caesar

Roman senators, led by Brutus and Cassius, assassinated Caesar in 44 BCE (motives

included jealousy, “protection of the Republic,” and anger about the $ spent by Caesar)

Caesar’s friend Mark Antony, Caesar’s great nephew (and adopted son) Octavian, and

Marcus Lepidus hunted down those involved in the assassination and then formed the 2nd

Triumvirate

Assassination—March 15, 44 BCE

Et tu, Brute?

What does Caesar’s death mean?

End of the republic?DeificationOctavian is the “heir”

The Second Triumvirate

Antony LepidusOctavian

Formed in 43 BCE, this triumvirate also succumbed to jealousy and ambition.

Why does any last hope of Republic die with the 2nd Triumvirate?

The Second Triumvirate

Antony married Octavian’s sister but lived and had children with Cleopatra VII (who had also

had a child with Julius Caesar)

Octavian raised an army and defeated

Lepidus, then at Actium defeated

Antony and Cleopatra, who committed dual

suicide in 31 BCE

Octavian In Charge

Many people consider the Battle of Actium to mark the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire

Other people say that the Republic “died” under Julius Caesar

Still others say that the Republic did not “die” until the Senate gave Octavian the title Augustus – “the illustrious one” – in 27 BCE

Augustus (27 BCE and beyond)

31 BCE—Beginning of Pax Romana (lasted until 180 CE) Served as Pontifex Maximus (high priest)

Purged the Senate to 600 members Fire and police departments Put permanent employees in the government, made army

professional Public buildings and roads Rebuilt Rome (“bricks to marble”) Biggest external problem—people to the north

Carefully chose his own successor, but did not clearly declare how others should do it in the future

Why were the Romans willing to accept Augustus’ abandonment of Republican ideals?