Ancient Rome

===Octavian and the Second Triumvirate===
Caesar's assassination caused political and social turmoil in Rome; the city was ruled by his friend and colleague, [[Mark Antony|Marcus Antonius]]. Soon afterward, [[Augustus|Octavius]], whom Caesar adopted through his will, arrived in Rome. Octavian (historians regard Octavius as Octavian due to the [[Roman naming conventions]]) tried to align himself with the Caesarian faction. In 43&nbsp;BC, along with Antony and [[Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (triumvir)|Marcus Aemilius Lepidus]], Caesar's best friend,<ref>[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Caesar*.html] Plutarch, Life of Caesar. Retrieved 1 October 2011</ref> he legally established the [[Second Triumvirate]]. Upon its formation, 130–300 senators were executed, and their property was confiscated, due to their supposed support for the ''[[Liberatores]]''.<ref>[http://www.roman-emperors.org/auggie.htm Augustus (31 BC – 14 AD)] by Garrett G. Fagan. ''De Imperatoribus Romanis''. 5 July 2004. Retrieved 21 March 2007.</ref>

In 42&nbsp;BC, the Senate [[Imperial cult (ancient Rome)|deified]] Caesar as ''[[Divus Iulius]]''; Octavian thus became ''[[Divi filius]]'',<ref>[https://www.usask.ca/antiquities/coins/augustus.html Coins of the Emperor Augustus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525075317/http://www.usask.ca/antiquities/coins/augustus.html |date=25 May 2009}}; examples are a coin of 38&nbsp;BC inscribed "Divi Iuli filius", and another of 31&nbsp;BC bearing the inscription "Divi filius" ([http://www2.unine.ch/webdav/site/antic/shared/documents/latin/Memoires/mlreid.pdf ''Auguste vu par lui-même et par les autres'' by Juliette Reid] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319090301/http://www2.unine.ch/webdav/site/antic/shared/documents/latin/Memoires/mlreid.pdf |date=19 March 2009}}).</ref> the son of the deified. In the same year, Octavian and Antony defeated both Caesar's assassins and the leaders of the ''Liberatores'', [[Marcus Junius Brutus]] and [[Gaius Cassius Longinus]], in the [[Battle of Philippi]]. The Second Triumvirate was marked by the [[proscription]]s of many senators and ''equites'': after a revolt led by Antony's brother [[Lucius Antonius (brother of Mark Antony)|Lucius Antonius]], more than 300 senators and ''equites'' involved were executed, although Lucius was spared.<ref>[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Augustus*.html#ref53] Suetonius, ''The Twelve Caesars'', ''Augustus'', XV.</ref>

The Triumvirate divided the Empire among the triumvirs: Lepidus was given charge of [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa]], Antony, the eastern provinces, and Octavian remained in [[Italy (Roman Empire)|Italia]] and controlled [[Hispania]] and [[Gaul]]. The Second Triumvirate expired in 38&nbsp;BC but was renewed for five more years. However, the relationship between Octavian and Antony had deteriorated, and Lepidus was forced to retire in 36&nbsp;BC after betraying Octavian in [[Bellum Siculum|Sicily]]. By the end of the Triumvirate, Antony was living in [[Ptolemaic Egypt]], ruled by his lover, [[Cleopatra VII]]. Antony's affair with Cleopatra was seen as an act of treason, since she was queen of another country. Additionally, Antony adopted a lifestyle considered too extravagant and [[Hellenistic]] for a Roman statesman.<ref>[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Antony*.html#ref57] Plutarch, ''Parallel Lives'', ''Life of Antony'', LXXI, 3–5.</ref> Following Antony's [[Donations of Alexandria]], which [[Reign of Cleopatra VII|gave to Cleopatra]] the title of "[[Queen of Kings]]", and to Antony's and Cleopatra's children the regal titles to the newly conquered Eastern territories, [[War of Actium|war between Octavian and Antony broke out]]. Octavian annihilated Egyptian forces in the [[Battle of Actium]] in 31&nbsp;BC. [[Death of Cleopatra|Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide]]. Now Egypt was conquered by the Roman Empire.