Second Triumvirate

Mark Antony (left) and Octavian (right) on 41 BC Roman gold 'aureus' issued to honor the Second Triumvirate

Lepidus (left) and Octavian (right) on silver 'denarii'. Both coins are inscribed "III VIR R P C", abbreviating "tresviri rei publicae constituendae" (Three Men for the Republic)

The Second Triumvirate was an alliance between Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus. It was formed to punish the conspirators who assassinated Julius Caesar.

The Triumvirate lasted from 43 BC to 33 BC. It ended the effort by Marcus Tullius Cicero to make the Senate once again the top body of the Republic. From then on Rome was ruled by an Emperor.

The Triumvirate army, led by Octavian and Mark Antony, defeated the Conspirators' army led by Cassius and Brutus. The war ended with the Battle of Philippi in Roman Macedonia in 42 BC. Cassius and Brutus committed suicide and the remainder of their army joined the Triumvirate forces.

Second Triumvirate Media

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  A 19th century depiction by Jean-Léon Gérôme of Caesar's corpse and the assassins' celebration.

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  Coin, minted by Marcus Junius Brutus in 42 BC, depicting himself on left and commemorating the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March on right.

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  Division of territory at the foundation of the Triumvirate (43 BC).

  Sextus Pompey     Brutus & Cassius     Rome's client kingdoms     Ptolemaic Egypt

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  Coin depicting Lucius Antonius.

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  Territory after the Treaty of Brundisium.

  Antony     Lepidus     Octavian     Triumvirs collectively

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  Denarius of Sextus Pompey, minted for his victory over Octavian's fleet. On the obverse is the Pharus of Messina, on the reverse the monster Scylla.

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  Sextus Pompey, depicted on an aureus minted c. 36 BC.

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  Troop movements during the joint campaign against Sextus.

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  Cleopatra and Mark Antony depicted on a silver tetradrachm struck in Antioch (36 BC).

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  A reconstructed statue of Augustus as a younger Octavian, dated c. 30 BC.