Octavian's march on Rome
- REDIRECT [[War of Mutina#
Political reconfiguration]]
March on Rome
Political developments
After news of the victories at Forum Gallorum and Mutina reached Rome, a decree was passed declaring Antony a public enemy (hostis).[1] News of the deaths of both consuls reached Rome, probably on 25 April, leading to a power vacuum at the top of government.[2] The Senate, aware that the campaign could still be lost if Antony joined with Lepidus and Plancus on the far side of the Alps, was troubled when news arrived that Octavian allowed Antony to join with three legions of reinforcements by inaction.
With the siege raised, Decimus Brutus cautiously thanked Octavian, now commander of the legions that had rescued him, from the other side of the river. Octavian coldly indicated he had come to oppose Antony, not aid Caesar's murderers. Decimus Brutus was given the command to wage war against Antony, but many of his soldiers deserted to Octavian.
Further troubles emerged when Decimus reported he was not in control of his army and that Octavian refused to follow orders.[3] The lack of living consuls and the need to hold elections for the suffect consulship caused political paralysis in the middle of the republican war effort, which doomed Cicero's war plans.
Antony's army joined with Lepidus' army shortly after Decimus was unable to intercept it. On 30 May, Lepidus sent a letter claiming that his army had mutinied from his command and joined Antony's forces; he called for the Senate to make peace.[3] Decimus Brutus in Gaul recommended to Cicero in a letter on 3 June that the legions from Africa and Sardinia be recalled to Italy along with Marcus Brutus' forces in Macedonia.[4] Octavian's loyalty to the Senate also was in serious doubt; Appian reports that after Mutina, he opened communications with Antony and Lepidus, seeking to join with them to suppress the "Pompeians".[5] Octavian, apparently hearing rumours that Cicero was intending to side-line him, also refused to send Pansa's former legion to Decimus Brutus.[4]
Legions under Octavian then declared in early June that they refused to serve under Decimus Brutus. This took everyone at Rome by surprise. While Plancus' forces had joined with Decimus' forces in Gaul against Antony and Lepidus' combined armies, the two armies were locked in a stalemate: Plancus wrote to Cicero on 28 July – in the last letter preserved – that he would attack if he were reinforced by Octavian's forces or legions from Africa. Worryingly, he also reported that Octavian was refusing to come to his aid.[6]
Rebellion
The Senate, distrusting Octavian, attempted to suborn his troops. This failed. Octavian then roused his army against the Senate in Rome. While the Senate attempted to appease him by giving Octavian command of the war on Antony and granting him more honours, this also failed. Octavian's soldiers demanded for him the consulship. When the Senate refused, he marched on Rome.[6] Cornutus, in command of some legions from Africa and one legion of recruits, attempted to make a stand against Octavian's forces. The Senate moved a senatus consultum ultimum against Octavian, but when Octavian's forces arrived, the garrison at Rome simply defected. Cornutus committed suicide and Octavian encamped outside the city.[7] The Senate, intimidated by his forces, finally offered him the consulship and ten thousand sesterces to each of his men.[8]
Because an interrex could not be appointed if there were any patrician magistrates, two men were irregularly appointed pro consulibus to hold consular elections. The following elections returned Octavian (aged 19) and one of his relatives, Quintus Pedius; they took office on 19 Sextilis (later renamed August) 43 BC.[9] Octavian had his adoption by Caesar ratified; Pedius had legislation enacted (the lex Pedia) establishing a court to try Caesar's killers. After a single day trial, the liberatores as a lot were condemned and outlawed in absentia.[10][11] They then lifted the declaration of Lepidus and Antony as public enemies.[12]
Aftermath
Under Lepidus' auspices, Octavian and Antony met at Bononia to form a compromise. The two, with Lepidus, then agreed to form a commission of three men with powers rei publicae constituendae; Octavian and Antony would go to war against Caesar's killers. This commission, known today as the Second Triumvirate, would be ratified by the lex Titia. The alliance would be further consummated by Octavian's marriage to Antony's step-daughter.[11] Within the year, the triumvirs started a series of proscriptions where prominent wealthy men and political enemies were marked for death: among them were Decimus Brutus and Cicero. Decimus Brutus was executed in Gaul during an attempt to flee to Marcus Brutus in Macedonia.[13] Cicero was executed at his villa in Caieta on 7 December.[14] With the formation of the Second Triumvirate, the Caesarians had crushed all resistance to them in the Roman West and soon turned to the Roman East where the Liberatores were located. Both factions would soon clash in a bloody civil war, which would result in a decisive Caesarian victory, allowing the Triumvirate to take control of the entire Roman world.
Cultural depictions
The war on Antony is depicted in the first half of the second season of the HBO–BBC series Rome.[15]
References
- ^ Rawson 1992, p. 483.
- ^ Golden 2013, pp. 200–01.
- ^ a b Golden 2013, p. 201.
- ^ a b Golden 2013, p. 202.
- ^ Golden 2013, p. 202, citing App. BCiv., 3.81.330–32.
- ^ a b Golden 2013, p. 203.
- ^ Golden 2013, p. 204.
- ^ Rawson 1992, p. 485.
- ^ Golden 2013, p. 204; Tempest 2011, p. 204.
- ^ Welch 2014, pp. 142–43, citing App. BCiv., 3.95.392–93.
- ^ a b Rawson 1992, p. 486.
- ^ Broughton 1952, p. 337.
- ^ Broughton 1952, p. 347.
- ^ Rawson 1992, p. 487.
- ^ Cyrino, Monica S, ed. (2015). Rome, Season Two: Trial and Triumph. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-1-4744-0028-2.