Rome: The second triumvirate

The First Triumvirate consisted of Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey. But now Crassus is dead, and Caesar and Pompey are enemies. Caesar crosses the border river Rubicon. By his side walks his closest ally: Marcus Antonius. To cross the river with soldiers is forbidden by the Senate - and Pompey.

Civil war is a certainty. Caesar battles Pompey and his allies for several years. Caesar eventually wins, and Pompey escapes... to Egypt. At first, Caesar temporarily declares himself dictator and then consul.

Marcus Antonius also gets a very powerful position. Meanwhile in Egypt - where Pompey has flown - things are happening. At this time, Greek kings are ruling Egypt. They are called the Ptolemies. Right now there's a 14 year old boy on the throne: Ptolemaios the thirteenth.

Because he is so young, he has a guardian to help him rule: Pothinos. Actually Ptolemaios is supposed to share the throne with his older sister Cleopatra. But she is so popular that Ptolemaios and Pothinos stage a coup, and depose her. Cleopatra sends to Caesar for help. Ptolemaios and Pothinos want Caesar to support them, and not Cleopatra.

So when Pompey arrives in Egypt they kill him... ... and present his head to Caesar. Caesar is... not happy at all. Pompey had been his friend.

He is sad. So sad, that he has Pothinos executed and reinstates Cleopatra to the throne. Caesar and Cleopatra fall in love. What about Marcus Antonius? Well, we'll return to him later.

Caesar returns to Rome and - again - proclaims himself dictator. This time for life. Several senators fear that the end of the Republic is close. They remember the monarchy and dread it. They don't want it back.

So they band together in a secret conspiracy and plan to murder Caesar. In the year 44 BCE they attack him... They kill him with 23 dagger stabs. But surely they are not allowed to do that? There must be some law and order in Rome?

Will anyone avenge Caesar? Yes. These three men. Marcus Antonius Caesar's adopted son: Octavianus And this man that Caesar had appointed as high priest in Rome: Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. These three now form: The Second Triumvirate.

They take care of Caesar's murderers and divide the Roman world amongst themselves. Like this: But this triumvirate does not fare better than the first one. Lepidus and Octavianus fall out. Octavianus sends Lepidus into exile. Marcus Antonius has married the sister of Octavianus BUT he prefers to stay here... ...

in Egypt, with Cleopatra. Because now they are in love. Cleopatra already has one child with Caesar, now she and Marcus Antonius get three children. Octavianus doesn't like it. He thinks that Marcus Antonius is behaving badly towards his sister.

But that's not all: now Marcus Antonius in effect becomes the stepfather of Caesar's biological son. Octavianus is only Caesar's adoptive son, so he feels threatened. He gets the Senate to declare war on Cleopatra and Marcus Antonius. In a great naval battle offshore from Greece, Octavianus defeats them. They escape to Egypt.

Octavianus follows them. Due to a misunderstanding Marcus Antonius believes that Cleopatra has committed suicide. Then he wants to die too. He throws himself upon his sword. But on his deathbed he finds out that Cleopatra still is alive.

He pleads with her to seek peace with Octavianus. Cleopatra does not succeed in establishing peace, so now she also kills herself. According to legend she does so with a venomous snake. Octavianus remains as sole ruler. He changes his name to Caesar Augustus...

or Caesar Augustus as it's pronounced in Latin. The republic is dead. Augustus is the first emperor of Rome.