5/28/20

Julius Caesar’s grandnephew - and adopted son - Octavian takes over at the age of 18! with his own triumvirate

Mark Antony is an experienced general

Lepidus is a powerful politician

 

This is the Second Triumvirate

 

Octavian forces the weak Lepidus to retire

He and Mark Antony become rivals

Mark Antony partners up with Cleopatra of Egypt

Militarily

Personally

Politically

Economically

Octavian defeats them at the Battle of Actium

Victories/accomplishments

Expanded the Roman Empire further into Africa

He set up civil service to run the government/empire

Building a network of roads

Collecting taxes

Establishing a postal service

Administering the grain supply

Building awesome public facilities

Buildings, aqueducts

Setting up a police department

Running a fire-fighting organization                         

Finally died of natural causes

 

 

 

After Octavian’s death, power was passed down to emperors

Some were good, some were horrible, some appeared to be completely insane

This could cause complete messes and and for some good

 

Caligula

Ruled from AD 37 to AD 41 (only 4 years!)

won a power struggle after Tiberius' death

known for his cruelty, extravagance, and perversity - an insane tyrant

assassinated by a group of praetorian guards, Senators, and the imperial court, trying to re-establish the Republic

but it didn't work


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