Power Struggle 42-30BC Flashcards
Name of the 42 BC Treaty between the Second Triumvirate.
The Treaty of Brundisium
Who got what regions in the Treaty of Brundisium?
Octavian: West
Antony: East
Lepidus: Africa
Who took over Sicily?Why?
Sextus Pompeius to avenge his father, Pompey the Great.
What did Sextus Pompieus do in Sicily.
Caused a grain blockade which almost caused a famine in 39 BC.
What title did Octavian add during the grain blockade?
Imperator in 38 BC
(commander)
When was the naval campaign against Sextus Pompeius and who led it?
July 36 BC, led by Agrippa, Octavian’s closest genral.
How did Octavian lead to the downfall of Lepidus in 36 BC?
He bribed some of Lepidus’ legions to turn against him and claimed to the Senate that Lepidus had tried to raise an army against him in Sicily.
How was Lepidus removed from the Second Triumvirate?
He was exiled and stripped of his titles other than ‘Pontifex Maximus’ which he kept until his death in 12 BC.
Think of gifts he gave
How did Octavian position himself of the benefactor of Rome?
42 BC: Started work on the Temple of the Deifed Julius Caesar
34 BC: Commisioned an ampitheatre via General Taurus to hold games.
Oversaw a program of urban renewal, repairing sewers and ruined streets.
Agrippa would throw tokens in crowds at theatres.
How did the Second Triumvirate fall apart?
Intense competition between Octavian and Antony which led to civil war.
What god did Octavian align with?
Apollo
What god did Mark Antony align with?
Dionysus
What was Apollo the God of?
The sun, prophecy, archery, music, medicine, civilisation, discipline, moderation and morality
What was Dionysus the God of?
Wine, theatre, lavish living, religious sacrifice, festivity, fertility and conqueror of the East
Sources of Antony and Dionysus
-The Cistophorus of Antony (39BC): Dionysus on the reverse with snakes in an infinity symbol; Antony and Octavia on the obverse.
-Peter Zanker Secondary Scholarship
Sources of Apollo and Octavian
-Temple of Palatine Apollo (36-28BC): built where lighting struck on the hill where Octavian had planned to build his home.
-Dressed as Apollo during the Feast of the 12 Gods.
What is a matrona?
Honoured, upper class, traditional Roman wife.
What was the role of Roman wives? (Livia)
-Support husbands political career as marriages were alliances.
-Duty of chastity.
-Entertain guests
How was Livia an asset to Octavian?
-Member of the Claudii, oldest noble family in Rome.
-Beautiful and highly intelligent: reportedly spun all of Octavian’s clothes.
What was the bust of Livia made out of and when was it made?
Basanite, 31BC
What is Livia’s expression on the bust? Why was that important?
Stoic, it showed a lack of emotion which was value in traditional Rome.
What is the name of traditional hairstyle Livia has in the bust?
Nodus
Who was Mark Antony having a love affair with?
Cleopatra
Why were Cleopatra and Antony’s children a problem for Octavian?
They were Egyptian royalty and they had the ability to claim power over Rome
Cleopatra and Antony’s children
40BC: Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene
36BC: Ptolemy Philadelpheus
When did Antony move to Alexandria and marry Cleopatra?
36BC
How could Octavian use Antony’s love affair and residence in the East to smear his image?
Emphasise the anti-Roman behaviour, effeminacy and decadence.
When and what were Antony’s ‘Donations of Alexandria?
34BC: Launched a military campaign in Armenia and held the Triumph in Alexandria rather than Rome.
Where was Antony’s will being held?
Temple of Vesta
When did Octavian steal Antony’s will?
32BC
What did Octavian do with Antony’s stolen will?
He read it out the Senate, claiming that Antony had written he wished to be buried in Egypt alongside Cleopatra.
How did Octavian manipulate the Senates rage to Antony?
He convinced them that Cleopatra was to blame and that they should go to war with Egypt, avoiding the image of a civil war.
When did Octavian start building his mausoleum (burial tomb) and why?
32BC, in light of Antony’s will, Octavian wanted to be seen having undying loyalty to Rome.
When was the Battle of Actium?
2nd September 31 BC
How did Octavian present the Battle of Actium? SOURCE
Made it seem as though he was bringing peace. Minted a coin with his face and Pax (the Roman goddess of peace) which he used to pay the armies with.
When did Antony commit suicide and why?
1st August 30BC, when Octavian arrived in Alexandria.
When did Cleopatra commit suicide? Why was it later?
Cleopatra had tried to negotiate with Octavian however he stated she would be paraded around in a Roman triumph.
She killed herself on 12th August 30BC
