the first triumvirate

Question 1

What were some similarities between the 1st and the 2nd triumvirate?

Answer 1

1. They were coalitions of three men.
2. Allowed their members to gain almost complete control over the functions of the Republic.
   - a control that could not
   have been gained on their own
3. Were bolstered through personal ties.
   - 1st: Pompey married Caesar’s daughter.
   - 2nd: Octavian married Antony’s stepdaughter, Antony later married Octavian’s sister

Question 2

What were the differences between the 1st and the 2nd triumvirate?

Answer 2

1. The 2nd triumvirate had a legitimacy that the 1st one never did.
   - the 1st was an informal coalition, the 2nd was
   created by decree of the senate

Question 3

In the year 45 BCE, how may a soldier from Caesar’s army react to “current” political events?

Answer 3

THRILLED
- Caesar has triumphed over his enemies and can now force the senators to give his veterans a nice discharge
- Caesar promised a bonus and a nice plot of land where his soldiers can retire quietly
- May not mind that Caesar appears to be vying for dictatorship as the Senate has never cared for common folk

Question 4

In late March of the year 44 BCE, how may a young optimate, just beginning the curses honorum, react to current political events?

Answer 4

RELIEVED THAT CAESAR AS BEEN KILLED AND HOPEFUL THAT THE REPUBLIC WILL RETURN TO TRADITION
- has a desire to progress through the political offices according to the cursus honorum
- may think that the assassination of Caesar was the greatest day in the Republic’s history
- may believe that the “old caesarians” won’t stop making trouble for the Republic

Question 5

In the year 32 BCE, how may an old Caesarian veteran react to current political events?

Answer 5

CONCERNED REGARDING THE STATE OF THE REPUBLIC
- the belief that everything has gone wrong, that there’s no faith or piety in the world anymore
- in shock that Octavian declared war on Marc Antony for Antony’s relations with Cleopatra
- wondering if people remember that Marc Anthony fought alongside Julius Caesar, not Octavian

Question 6

In 59 BCE, Caesar received intense opposition from the optimates, Cato, and Bibulus (Cato’s son-in-law) when he decided to run for office. He belonged to an old senatorial family, so why did he receive this opposition? What action did he take because of this opposition?

Answer 6

1. He had been sympathetic to Catiline.
   - Catiline ran for consulship by appealing to small farmers and poorer classes with the promise of cancelling debts. When he lost the election, supporters in Eturia rebelled, therefore Catiline was accused of conspiring to overthrow the roman government.
2. In response to the opposition, Caesar joined an informal coalition with Pompey and Crassus as they would support his election.

Question 7

Julius Caesar joined the informal coalition between Pompey and Crassus because they promised they would assist in his election of consul. Why would Pompey and Crassus support Caesar in gaining power?

Answer 7

THEY HAD ULTERIOR MOTIVES
Pompey - he had recently returned from campaign against Mithridates and wanted:
1. land for his veterans
2. as well as ratification of his settlements in the east
Crassus - wanted Caesar’s help:
1. in passing laws favorable to his supporters

Question 8

After Caesar’s consulship, which province did he receive command of? Why was he well positioned in this province?

Answer 8

GAUL
He was able to:
1. keep track of events in Italy
2. as well as seek adventure in Gallic territories,
- these adventures would provide the perfect opportunity to gain wealth and glory.

Question 9

What sequence of events occurred after Julius Caesar’s consulship ended that led to him gaining the title of dictator?

Answer 9

1. Received command of the province of Gaul
2. 58 BCE Caesar began campaign in Gaul
   - Pompey and Crassus began quarrelling in Rome
3. 56 BCE Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar met in Luca to renegotiate their agreement
4. 55 BCE Pompey and Crassus stand for consulship
5. 53 BCE Crassus launches invasion of Parthia, it was a spectacular failure (he died)
6. 52 BCE Pompey prepares for Caesar’s return
   - upon his entrance in Italy, Pompey fled
7. 49 BCE Caesar now elected dictator

Question 10

When was the first time a Roman army stepped foot into Britain?

Answer 10

CAESAR’S GAUL CAMPAIGN (55-54 BCE)

Question 11

While Caesar was away on his Gaul campaign, the government nearly stopped functioning due to Pompey and Crassus quarrelling. What caused this?

Answer 11

PUBLIUS CLAUDIUS - he changed his name from patrician Claudius to plebeian Clodius early on in his career to allow him to run for tribune of plebs.
- as Tribune, he passed a law which would distribute grain at no cost to the poor. He became so popular that he had control over several gangs that he could use to threaten his political opponents.
- he was supported by Crassus, therefore Pompey supported a rival to Clodius, Annius Milo

Question 12

In 56 BCE, the triumvirate renegotiated their agreement, why was this significant? What was included in their new agreement?

Answer 12

It shows that once they came to an agreement, their wishes became law.
NEW AGREEMENT:
In 55 BCE, Pompey and Crassus would stand for consulship.

Question 13

After the death of Crassus in 53 BCE, what was the state of Pompey and Caesar’s relationship?

Answer 13

1. Cicero was pressuring Pompey to act in favor of the optimates.
2. Caesar was worried about possible political and legal actions that may take place against him upon his return from campaigning.
   - warranted as the senate voted for Caesar to disband his army and leave his province by a fixed date.

Question 14

In 49 BCE, Caesar was elected dictator with Mark Antony as his magister equituum. What of significance occurred during his dictatorship?

Answer 14

1. the senate voted for him to receive triumph as well as extended his dictatorship by 10 years.
2. he received censorship which allowed him to reform the senate.
3. began a substantial building program to provide employment.
4. to alleviate the cost of grain, he drastically cut the number of eligible recipients.
5. he launched a substantial program of colonization.
6. reformed the calendar - GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT

Question 15

Who rose to prominence after the assassination of Julius Caesar?

Answer 15

1. Mark Antony - a seasoned veteran of Caesar’s campaigns, was recently Caesar’s magister equituum.
2. Octavian - Caesar’s great-nephew of Caesar, was adopted by Caesar and made his heir.

Question 16

After Julius Caesar’s assassination, Mark Anthony and Octavian moved against their opponents in a series of proscriptions. What were these proscriptions meant to accomplish?

Answer 16

They were meant to kill the 2nd triumvirate’s opponents and to amass money from the victim’s estates.

Question 17

After the assassination of Julius Caesar, a 2nd triumvirate was formed. Who was included in this coalition? What was different about this coalition in comparison to its predecessor

Answer 17

MEMBERS
1. Mark Antony - a seasoned veteran of Caesar’s campaigns as well as Caesar’s magister equituum.
2. Octavian - great-nephew of Caesar, was adopted by him and made his heir.
3. Lepidus - A prominent supporter of Caesar.

Question 18

In which battle, led by Antony and Octavian, were Brutus and Cassius murdered?

Answer 18

42 BCE BATTLE OF PHILIPPI

Question 19

After defeating the conspirators of Julius Caesar’s assassination, the Roman Empire was divided amongst the triumvirate. How was it divided?

Answer 19

1. Mark Antony - Obtained the rich provinces of the east.
   - he hoped to use his position in the east to launch an attack on Parthia in revenge; gained an ally in Cleopatra.
2. Octavian - Received Italy and the rest of the western provinces.
   - secured political support through his working of the Roman government, held consulship twice, married
   Livia.
3. Lepidus - Received Africa.
   - he played a non-active role.

Question 20

After the death of Marc Anthony, Octavian ruled Rome alone. What were his advantages? What were his challenges?

Answer 20

ADVANTAGES
1. There were not many Roman elite left who would challenge him.
2. Rome had the prospects for peace for the first time in 100 years.
- he closed the doors to the temple of Janus after it was open for 200 years.

CHALLENGES
1. He did not want to be assassinated like Caesar.
- it was important that the Republic appear as though it was continuing, even though it was essentially abandoned.

Question 21

In an effort to soothe the Roman elite, Octavian took what title?

Answer 21

Princeps Senatus - First person of the Senate.

Question 22

What was the most important achievement of Octavian?

Answer 22

HIS CONSTITUTIONAL SETTLEMENT

Question 23

There were two notable reforms made by Octavian that would define Roman government for the next three centuries. What was the most important? What was the other significant reform?

Answer 23

1. MOST IMPORTANT - The reestablishment of the
   Senate.
   - he reduced the members of the sentate from 1000, to 800, and then to 600.
2. Lowered the age at which elected offices could be
   held
   - consulship could now be held at age 35.

Question 24

Octavian eventually resigned all of his powers. Why did he do this? What did Octavian receive because he did this?

Answer 24

WHY???
This was meant to suggest the Republic was restored.
- but he had no intentions of giving up his powers, the resignation meant he could still control Rome while appearing to have restored the public
GRANTED WHAT?
1. proconsular imperium for 10 years (having the power of consul without having to hold office)
2. Given direct control over several politically and economically important provinces.
- spain, egypt, gaul
3. Octavian was renamed Augustus (“revered”)

Question 25

In 23 BCE, a second constitutional settlement tweaked the system once again. What was the biggest change?

Answer 25

Augustus resigned the consulship therefore only having tribunician power; the change was only symbolic, but it allowed for more competition among the Roman elite.