The Death of a Republic The Birth of an Empire

The Senate had come to control most of Rome by the Aristocrats taking more and more land from the less wealthy. This corrupted the senate from serving Rome to serving itself. Some senators acted to reverse the power grab of the senate. Senators Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus urged for Gracchus urged for laws to be passed giving land back to the people. Rival senators murdered them. Marius General Marius is elected Consul and creates an army of volunteers who swear loyalty to Marius, not Rome. As a result of the Jugurthine and Cimbrian wars Marius was elected consul 7 times. Sulla Elected to consul after success in the Mithridate War in Asia Minor. Civil War breaks out between Sulla and Marius after Marius is elected Consul the 7th time and Sulla won’t give up his power. Sulla marches on Rome and takes the city in 82 B.C.E. and restores power to the senate. After having to retake the city a second time again from Marius, Sulla kills thousands of political rivals in Rome. Strengthens the senate again. Sulla showed Rome what could be accomplished by 1 man with an army loyal to that man. *Jugurthine – Numidian king in North Africa killing Romans *Cimbria – Cimbri and Tueton tribes attacking from France and Germany

The Triumvirates After Sullas death the Senate elects the General Pompey to lead much of the military. He puts down rebellion in Africa and Sicily, catapulted to fame in social and political worlds. Pompey helps Crassus put down the Spartacus slave rebellion and Mithridate rebellion. Crassus seeks an alliance with the young General Julius Caesar and with Pompey the first Triumvirate is created. Rome is now three men. Crassus ruled in Syria, Pompey ruled in Spain, and Julius ruled in Gaul (modern France) Wealthiest Roman Caesar gains power after conquering Gaul and some of Britannia. At the same time Crassus dies in Syria. The senate tries to get Caesar to give up his command in favor of Pompey being made imperator. Caesar marches to Rome in pursuit of Pompey and forces him to flee to Greece with his army. Defeats Pompey in Greece and Pompey flees to Egypt and was later assassinated. Caesar is now declared dictator for life. He centralizes power to himself and weakens the senate with increased membership * Caesar crosses the Rubicon River to get to Rome.

Caesar continues to anger the Senate and is later assassinated by a group of senators who wanted to restore the Republic. After Caesar is killed a power struggle between the Senators who killed Caesar and the allies of Caesar erupts. A second triumvirate is created between Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus. Octavian is Caesars heir and nephew, Antony was Caesars personal assistant and Lepidus commanded Caesars cavalry. Lepidus retired leaving the other 2 to compete with each other. After putting down the senators Octavian defeated Mark Antony who fled to Egypt and allied with Cleopatra. Octavian defeats the combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra and they commit suicide together. Octavian is named the first emperor of Rome and is given the title of Augustus and with him, the Roman Republic died, and gave way to the empire * Augustus means the revered one