Antonius (East) versus Octavian (West)

Western Part of the Roman Empire

Octavian's settlements in Italy caused protests by the dispossessed
  Compare Virgil's First Eclogue   Protests were also stirred up by L. Antonius and Fulvia

40   Octavian, helped by M. Agrippa and Salvidienus, overcame opposition early in the year, spared Antonius' relatives
  Arguments were settled by Maecenas and Asinius Pollio

Treaty of Brundisium
Antonius kept East
Octavian took over Gaul
Lepidus kept Africa
Antonius warned Octavian about Salvidienus, who was recalled and killed
Since Fulvia had died, Antonius confirmed the agreement by a family alliance, and married Octavia

War with Sex. Pompeius was the next big problem
39   Octavian and others gave Pompeius recognition (he had Sicily and Sardinia), and proconsular command for five years, then he was to have a promised consulship
  The exiles with him were to be restored
Octavian then took Sardinia when Pompeius' governor offered it to him
  Cf. aftermath of First Punic War
In the ensuing war, Octavian lost at first until he made Agrippa his admiral

38   The Triumvirate was renewed until the end of 33

36   Sex. Pompeius was defeated and fled to Asia, where he was killed
  Lepidus had aided Octavian against Pompeius, and received Pompeian troops in Sicily, then claimed Sicily and told Octavian to leave
      The soldiers didn't want to fight, deserted to Octavian
Octavian spared Lepidus and let him remain Pontifex Maximus
  But Lepidus had no more triumviral powers

35-3   Octavian's campaigns in Illyricum: glory, NE frontier, piracy in Adriatic
33   On return to Rome, Octavian embarked upon building and social programs:
New buildings, good water, cheap food
Expulsion of astrologers and magicians
Banishment of eastern religious rites
Restoration of old Roman shrines and temples

Octavian alone ruled the west, and was beginning to acquire adherents besides Caesarians and revolutionaries

Eastern Part of the Roman Empire

41-40   Antonius spent the winter with Cleopatra, who conceived twins
  Then Antonius moved to Athens with Octavia
He had wars on two fronts: Macedon (from Illyria) and Parthia

39   Pollio had secured Macedon
39-8   Ventidius drove out invading Parthians from Asia and Anatolia
37   Antonius installed Herod as King of Judaea
  He sent Octavia, who was pregnant, back to Italy
  Cleopatra came to Antioch with the twins, whom Antonius renamed Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene
      He gave Cleopatra control of Coele-Syria, Cyprus, part of Cilicia
      He set up client kings in other parts: Galatia, Pontus, Cappadocia
Spring 36   Antonius sent Cleopatra (expecting Ptolemy Philadelphus) home
Antonius then invaded Parthia
  He marched through Armenia to Median capital near Tabriz
      He had to withdraw because his artillery train was defeated
      A month's retreat to Armenia was accomplished with hardships; he lost many men, but saved many too
      He accepted Cleopatra's supplies for his army, but not Octavia's

34   Antonius invaded Armenia and captured King Artavasdes, whom he blamed for loss of artillery
Armenia became a Roman province for two years
But Crassus' defeat at Carrhae was not avenged
Autumn 34: Antonius went to Alexandria
"Donations of Alexandria":
  He named Caesarion the legitimate son of Caesar, thus invalidating Octavian's adoption, which was contingent upon Caesar having left no male heir
  In his capacity at triumvir, he parcelled out provinces to Cleopatra, Caesarion, and Cleopatra's other children
      This didn't go over well at Rome and Octavian seized upon the opportunity to create ill-will

The end

33   Propaganda war: the triumvirate was officially over at the end of the year
Octavian was slated to be consul for 31; meanwhile he relied on his auctoritas

32   Both consuls supported Antonius: but in his own interest
      They would not ask the Senate to ratify his eastern accommodations
      They did try for a vote to censure Octavian, but a tribune vetoed
Octavian defended himself, verbally and physically
The consuls and 300 senators went east to join Antonius
Antonius divorced Octavia, Octavian read Antonius' will in public
More propaganda against Antonius: Octavian alleged that he would move the capital of the empire to Alexandria, that he was behaving as a regular eastern tyrant
Communities in Italy and the western provinces made an oath of allegiance (coniuratio) to Octavian's person (rather than to the state)
      This was spontaneous, with a little encouragement
Antonius was deprived of the consulship for 31, thus had no official position
Octavian declared war on Cleopatra
Antonius' following included many leading men
  Cleopatra was a liability, but she had the money

31   Octavian with the remaining senators went to meet Antonius in Greece
Octavian's army was entrenched north of Actium, couldn't be moved
Antonius gave up land operations, decided to try a decision by naval action
  He was blockaded in the Bay of Actium by Octavian's fleet

Actium

The "battle" was a fiasco of missed orders and misdirection
  But Antonius and Cleopatra escaped
Octavian discharged some soldiers, sent his veterans to Italy
  This caused trouble in finding pay and settlement for them
      Octavian returned to remedy the problems
      Agrippa was already there to deal with the son of Lepidus, who had engaged in a plot

30   Octavian went to Egypt, occupied Alexandria
Antonius and Cleopatra committed suicide
Donations of Alexandria were cancelled, but the children survived except two:
  Antyllus (Antony's oldest son with Fulvia) and Caesarion
Egypt became a special Roman province; its first governor was C. Cornelius Gallus, who is also known as a poet
Eastern provinces were re-established

11 January 29       Doors of the temple of Janus were closed, indicating peace throughout Roman territory