The First Triumvirate

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The First Triumvirate
Caesar
Pompey
Crassus
Pompey was the outsider in this originally secret
alliance, formed in 60 BCE
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The First Triumvirate
Crassus used part of the Roman army to expand the
Republics territory to the east, Caesar did the
same to the north, and Pompey
stayed in Rome
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The First Triumvirate
Seven years after the formation of the 1st
Triumvirate, Crassus died in battle and Pompey
campaigned to be Romes only consul
Caesar returned to Italy in 49 BCE to challenge
Pompey (Roman law forbade generals from crossing
the Rubicon River with a standing army)
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The First Triumvirate
A civil war ensued Caesar defeated Pompey
Coin minted to pay Caesars troops
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Julius Caesar in charge
Because Romans could only marry Romans, 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
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Julius Caesar in charge
Caesar became dictator for life, introduced many
reforms, and undertook building projects (he
dreamed of building a canal across the Isthmus of
Corinth which connects mainland Greece to the
Peloponnesian peninsula)
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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)
Caesars friend Mark Antony, Caesars great
nephew (and adopted son) Octavian, and Marcus
Lepidus hunted down those involved in the
assassination and then formed the 2nd Triumvirate
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The Second Triumvirate
Antony
Lepidus
Octavian
Formed in 43 BCE, this triumvirate also succumbed
to jealousy and ambition
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The Second Triumvirate
Antony married Octavians 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 30 BCE
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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