Octavian Civil War

Before the rise of the Roman Empire, there had been a civil war between Octavian and Marcus Antonius. The two had been close allies before the dispute, which had lasted over twenty years in the Roman State1. The civil war could have been avoided due to the errors made by both parties. Mark Antony abused his power as consul; it is also assumed that he had committed adultery. Octavian exploited Mark Antony of his crimes and made him an enemy of the state.

The two were both fighting for power in Rome. In 40 B.C. the Treaty of Brundisium was created; the treaty marked the land the two had control over. Octavian received authority from Africa to Lepidus while Mark Antony was in control of the eastern side of Rome2. A couple years later, Octavian

When she returned Octavian urged her to divorce her husband and she could then create her own household, yet she had refused. She begged Octavian not to start a war because of her but for different reasons if needed be. She had continued to live in Mark Antony’s household, attending to not only her children but the children from his previous marriage. She had also welcomed any guests that Antony had sent over. This proved the ideal elite Roman wife in society, which was supporting, dutiful and loyal4. Octavian did not listen to her, he did not start a war but he used this information as propaganda against Mark Antony, he exploited that Mark Antony was under the control of a foreign women, which was added with the influence of alcohol, other drugs or magic spells. Octavian talked about how Mark Antony’s lack of self-discipline, masculinity did not only look bad on Antony but to the Roman state as well5. Octavian had insulted Mark Antony as weak and out of control, and compared him to a Roman woman instead of a man, which was considered a huge disgrace to Rome, which could’ve been avoided had not Octavian used the information against Mark Antony which was against his sisters

The war could have been avoided if Octavian had given the legions he had promised while Octavian did could have not gone to Cleopatra. It could have also been avoided if Octavian had not committed adultery and put shame upon not only the Roman state but to his family as well, which included Octavian. Octavian had taken Mark Antony’s will without consent and used this as proof that needed to be a war due to the fact that Octavian was giving away land to