The Second Triumvirate

The Second Triumvirate was an alliance formed by Augustus Caesar, Mark Antony and Lepidus. It was officially recognised by the Senate and lasted for two five year terms. Octavian had been warring against Antony in northern Italy. They decided to form an alliance with Lepidus so they could all focus on stopping Brutus and Cassius. Augustus was allowed to control the Western half of the Empire including Rome, Antony had the East and Lepidus was allowed to control Africa. Eventually Augustus disposed of Lepidus and sent him into exile. He then took control of all of Lepidus' provinces and wealth. This led to a breakdown in the alliance of Mark Antony and Augustus. Tensions rose and eventual war broke out. This however was not classed as civil war as Augustus didn't want the people to panic at the fact that there was another civil war so soon after the previous one. Augustus with the help of his lieutenants such as Agrippa managed to defeat Mark Antony in multiple battle before pushing into Egypt to find that both he and Cleopatra had commited suicide rather than suffer at the hands of Augustus. This led to Augustus having a secure hold over Roman lands and he declared himself princeps and effective emperor of Rome.