The Aftermath of Caesar's Assassination and the Rise of Octavian

TLDR The aftermath of Caesar's assassination in Rome is marked by chaos, violence, and political maneuvering. Octavian, the primary heir appointed by Caesar, asserts his power and eventually forms a triumvirate with Antony and Lepidus, effectively ending the Roman Republic and establishing a military dictatorship.

Timestamped Summary

00:00 Brutus hears a strange apparition in his tent, foreshadowing his eventual defeat, and the aftermath of Caesar's assassination leads to chaos and uncertainty in Rome.
05:29 After the assassination of Caesar, the assassins propose an amnesty and the abolition of the dictatorship, but make the fatal mistake of allowing Caesar to have a public funeral, during which Antony reads out Caesar's will and gifts, turning the crowd against the assassins.
10:15 The aftermath of Caesar's assassination is marked by chaos, violence, and a sense of impending doom, with mobs lynching suspected assassins and the heavens seemingly turning against them, while Cicero becomes the chief spokesman for the traditional constitution and identifies Antony as the great danger to the Republic.
14:47 Octavian, the 18-year-old primary heir appointed by Caesar in his will, takes on the name Gaius Julius Caesar, crosses to Italy, and begins to assert his power by constructing improbable stories about himself, spending lavishly, and recruiting a private bodyguard.
19:46 Octavian, surrounded by his recruited thugs, tries to win over Cicero and eventually persuades the Senate to legitimize his private army and enroll him in the forces of Hirscher St. Panzer, becoming a key player in the conflict against Antony and Lepidus.
24:38 Octavian is elected consul at the age of 19 and forms a triumvirate with Antony and Lepidus, effectively ending the Roman Republic and establishing a military dictatorship.
29:28 During the prescription period, the triumvirs rewarded individuals who killed those on the prescription list, resulting in brutal and murderous acts, such as the story of a woman who betrayed her husband and married her lover on the same day, while there were also inspiring stories of wives standing by their husbands; Cicero, who had been writing abusive speeches about Antony, was killed and his head and hands were displayed in the forum, symbolizing the silencing of free speech in Rome; in the East, the assassins of Caesar were hunted down and executed, with Trebonius being tortured and killed, serving as a warning to the other assassins.
34:11 Brutus and Cassius demonstrate their brutality and ambition by committing atrocities, such as destroying an entire city and extorting money, in order to raise funds for their armies, while Antony and Octavian match their forces and defeat them in battle.
38:29 Brutus and Cassius's defeat at the Battle of Philippi and their subsequent deaths mark the end of the Republic, with their actions and legacy being remembered as the last stand of the Romans.
43:11 The Republic is officially gone as Octavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra, becomes Augustus, and rules as Rome's first emperor, although the question of whether he rules over the corpse of liberty remains.
48:08 The crisis in Rome could have continued and led to the disintegration of the empire if not for the extreme bloodshed and the rise of Octavian as a skilled politician who stabilized the situation.
Categories: History

Browse more History