Civil War After Caesar's Death I

Situation at Death of Caesar

• Conspirators expect Republic to spring back to life
• Many people unwilling for old system to revive
  • Offices already elected for years in advance
• Many revere memory of the dead dictator
• Common people have little stake in old political system
• Violence-prone assemblies in Rome don't really represent the body politic (all of Italy holds citizenship, many citizens reside abroad)

Mark Antony

• Son of pr. 74, grandson of cos. 99
• Distant relative of Caesar's
  • Served under Caesar in Gaul
  • As tr. pl. in 49 stood up for Caesar, fled to him (cause of civil war)
  • During civil war looked after Italy while Caesar was in East
• Cos. at time of assassination
  • Brutus unwilling to allow his murder
• Tries to reconcile with assassins
• Tries to assume leadership of "Caesarians"

"Octavian"/Young Caesar

• Great nephew of Caesar, who had no heir
• Son of "new man" praetor of 61
• 19 yrs. old at time of assassination
• Basically a small-town nobody
• Adopted by Caesar's will
  • Takes on Caesar's name
  • "Young Caesar"
  • Never uses form "Octavian" (shows lowly origins)
• Has no status of his own
• Plays on memory of assassinated "father"
• Undermine Antony's support among Caesarians by attacking reconciliation with assassins
• Raises troops (illegally) among Caesar's veterans
• Tries unsuccessful coup d'etat in summer of 44

Cicero

• Has irrational hatred of Antony
• After 15 yrs of military domination in Rome, his oratory can now play a role
• Nothing to lose from a personal perspective
  • Divorces wife
  • Rift w/brother
  • Recent death of beloved daughter
  • Son seems to have been loser
• Supports Young Caesar against Antony
• "Philippic orations" directed against Antony
• Abandons his previous principles in his fixation with Antony
• Fails to see threat posed by Young Caesar

Events of Late 44

• Pressure from Young Caesar causes rift b/t Antony and assassins
  • Antony would lose support of Caesarians if he keeps up cozy relations with assassins
• Brutus, Cassius given small provinces to get them out of town
• Antony gives up Macedonia for Cisalpine Gaul
  • Keeps Macedonia's legions
  • Cisalpine Gaul allows military threat against Italy
• D. Brutus (rel. of M. Brutus) seizes Cisalpine Gaul
  • Supporter of Caesar throughout civil war
  • Assassin
  • Appointed gov. of Cisalpine Gaul by Caesar before assassinations
• Young Caesar cooperates with senate against Antony
  • Cicero gung-ho to support Young Caesar
  • Brutus, Cassius tepid
    • Realize Caesar's heir can't be an ally of his father's assassins
• Antony besieges D. Brutus in Mantua