Rome: The Loss of the Republic
Rome as a republic disintegrated into the rule of the powerful. Basically, the Republic died of its own success. An ever-expanding empire stretched beyond what Rome’s conscript army could administer. The urban poor of the capital grew in number threatening the social stability. Eventually, political leaders came to care more about satisfying their own ambition than about effective governance. The Senate consolidated power and then was made insignificant by the rise of powerful individuals. The First Triumvirate consisted of Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus. Eventually, the trio was narrowed to Caesar.
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In 44 B.C., a party of backers headed by Marc Antony, suggested that Caesar accept the title of king. He rejected the offer, but those who opposed the idea of a king saw this as a move to make Caesar king. A conspiracy was formed to prevent it. The result was Caesar’s death in 44 B.C.
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The initial power vacuum caused by the assassination of Caesar brought two groups into conflict. One was the conspirators, led by Brutus, who framed their action as the liberation of the Republic from a dictator. The other was led by Marc Antony, who was a loyal supporter of Caesar. With the funeral of Caesar, Antony’s oration moved those in attendance into an angry mob. The conspirators fled Rome to the eastern parts of the empire and began to build an army to oppose Antony. Unknown to either group, there was a competitor in the wings. Caesar had adopted his nephew, currently eighteen, and named him as his heir.
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Neither side took note of the youngster, until Octavian, now twenty, marched on Rome with his legions. He demanded and received the consulship. Spain and Gaul declared themselves for Antony. Neither man being powerful enough to remove the other, Octavian and Antony then met with Lepidus in Bologna and formed the Second Triumvirate—to be ratified by a powerless Senate. Rome was not to be ruled by a king, but a committee. Basically, Octavian and Antony divided the empire and ignored Lepidus.
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The conflict between Octavian and Antony ended with the suicide of Antony following his losses at Actium in 31 B.C. Thus, Octavian, who would become known as Caesar Augustus, became the first of the Roman emperors. He would be proclaimed pater patriae, father of his country, princeps, first citizen, and eventually a god.
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