In 42 BC, Octavian and Anthony finally finally resolved the matter with Brutus and Cassius, after which they were able to triumphantly announce a vengeance for God-like Caesar.
In theory, the triumvirate could be dissolved on this - the program was executed, but history knows very few cases when someone who took power, voluntarily renounced it.
Having done away with the rebels (as the vanquished immediately began to be called), the main characters went around the corners to solve the problems that had accumulated in the state - and there were already a lot of them, as always during serious political upheavals.
Firstly, in an effort to win over as many legionnaires as possible, both triumvirs did not lose promises and promised each mountain and pilum worker gold mountains, diamonds in the sky and free distribution of elephants. Now, after fulfilling the primary goal of the mission, it was necessary to fulfill at least part of what was promised, otherwise the electorate might fatally not understand its leadership.
They decided to rake a lot of tasks separately, each on their own front. Anthony, more intelligent in terms of command and control, departed east, to collect money and with prejudice to ask all the cities, without resistance to the Republicans, what they wanted to say, while Octavian should hang noodles on the ears of the people of Italy.
I must say that Mark had no particular difficulties with his task. Those guilty of supporting Brutus and Cassius were severely punished (although they did not manage to shake the horse sums that the triumviere wanted - no one really had money), those who resisted and believed in the Roman authorities were awarded and received slight relief.
Along the way, the general made plans for the invasion of Parthia, for ten years already fiercely annoying Rome with the very fact of its comfortable existence and periodic raids, and also sent a letter to Egypt, a well-known young lady named Cleopatra VII Philopator.
The 28-year-old queen had already managed to compete for power, and twist an affair with Caesar, and take control of Egypt with the help of his legions, and even give birth to a son who was completely unclear why they called Caesarion.
Looking ahead, we say that Anthony sent the letter in vain, although he had a good time. The message asked why it was a fright that Cleo sent the fleet to help the Republicans, forgetting all the good deeds Caesar had given her, and thus betraying his worthy successors? Mark was completely in no position to get involved in the war even in the south, but the Egyptians did not need to know about this. The calculation was to intimidate and wring the maximum amount of money to finance, including a punitive expedition to Parthia.
Cleopatra, having familiarized herself with the list of questions from the triumvir, came to the conclusion that the situation is critical, and we must immediately get out of it. Being extremely intelligent and calculating in kind, she conducted an emergency collection of information about Anthony (which was not difficult, taking into account the peculiarities of his character) and on a gilded ship advanced to him with a personal report on what was happening, collecting a magnificent retinue and surrounding herself with maximum luxury.
Craving for gold and women, Mark at the sight of Cleopatra lost his head and sobriety of judgment. The beauty easily and naturally avoided all accusations of supporting the conspirators, saying that she did not know about any fleet in their support, moreover, she sent her to the aid of the worthy Anthony, but the trouble is - the weather did not allow to swim. In principle, given the thermonuclear effect produced by an intelligent and beautiful woman on Mark, he would not have scratched himself, even if Cleo motivated her behavior by direct orders of the lizards from Nibiru.
Relations developed rapidly, but preparations for the Parthian war stalled. Having scored on everything, the enchanted triumvir went with Cleopatra to Alexandria, where he continued to whirl and have fun.
Meanwhile, Octavian in Italy had a clear shortage of such entertainment and a general lack of fun in the blood. In order to distribute at least some land to those who were promised, at first it was necessary to obtain these hectares - and in Italy everything had already been divided and developed for a long time. I had to voluntarily force the landowners to sell their land for "market" prices in three copecks, and even these kopeks were not always enough - Anthony, who promised to share oriental riches, at that moment was mastering one particular treasure and did not want to share.
Not only that, due to the policy of dispossession and deprivation of Octavian’s land, many layers of the population categorically disliked it, so problems fell on two sides - both from the outside and from the inside.
Firstly, in Sicily and in the seas around, Sextus Pompey Magn was operating with might and main, who fought with Caesar after his uprising in Spain, during the Civil War he was appointed commander of the fleet, and then for some reason was included in the proclamation lists as the killer of the dictator. The naval commander did not understand such a twist of fate and declared Sicily his territory, after which he blocked the supply of food from North Africa to Italy. Despite a light healing fast, many Romans supported Sextus., seeing in him a much lesser evil than the triumvirate, who would arrange repression, then a civil war, then take away the land.
Octavian tried to deal with this problem even before the war with Brutus and Cassius, but he did not master it and postponed it "for later", and then "later" came to him in full growth.
The second problem, which unexpectedly appeared in Guy Julius, was called Lucius Anthony, and he was Mark's brother. While his relative was having fun in Alexandria, Lucius actively told everyone in Rome that all evil was from Octavian, and when the brother-in-law returned from the East, he would immediately restore the republic and the rivers would immediately flow with milk and honey. In the absence of a sound alternative to Guy Julius such delusional agitation began to enjoy success not only among the poor and middle class, but even among the aristocracy.
Not the last role in all this political mess was Fulvia - the wife of Anthony, who had an extremely unpleasant character. She heard rumors that her husband was actively exploring the mysteries of ancient Egypt., and, encouraging Lucius, she hoped to return the missus to the family hearth - but how will she come to cries?
In the summer of 41 BC, all attempts to somehow agree (for the most part carried out by army officials, who really did not want to start a new catastrophe when they finally began to distribute land) failed, and Lucius Anthony with Rome's loyal troops occupied. Octavian hooted and prepared for the attack.
How will fate of brother Anthony be decided? How's Mark doing? Can Octavian get out?
We will find out soon.
Read the rest of the story about Octavian coming to power:
- Part 2 - How did Anthony and Octavian share power?
- part 3 - the struggle for power and the elimination of rivals
- part 4 - the war of Anthony and Octavian
- part 5 - victory in the war with Mark Anthony, the suicide of Cleopatra
History Fun for Italy for Me.
