Rise to Power: The First Roman Emperor

The Young Nephew of Julius Caesar, Octavian, made all the right decisions

and moves to become the first Emperor of Rome. Can You?

The Murder Of Caesar

• On March 15th, 44 B.C. Julius Caesar is murdered leaving a power vacuum behind. Mark Antony heads one camp. You are seen as the rightful heir to Caesar. What do you do?

• Go to War Against Mark Antony.

• Come to terms with Antony.

BAD MOVE

• Although Octavian originally allied with enemies of Antony fighting against a skilled a popular opponent like Antony at this time would have been disastrous

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Wise Decision

• By allying with Antony and his ally Lepidus. You claim a role as a Triumvir, one of the three rulers of the Roman Republic. However Brutus and Cassius have been building an army in Macedonia.

• Do you engage them in a battle?

• Do you offer a truce.

NEVER

• These are the murders of your uncle and they are threatening your rule in Rome. Peace is unacceptable here. Octavian charged into battle along with Antony.

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Death to the traitors

• Eliminating these rivals was the right thing to do. Now You and Antony have no rivals to challenge your hold over the Roman Republic. At this point do you.

• Turn on Antony to become sole ruler.

• Rule Jointly.• Split the Republic and

rule half.

Back Stabber

• Although this might have worked it would have left your armies very weak against other possible rivals. Octavian chose not to move against Antony yet.

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Get Out of My Way

• While this could have solved many problems, both Octavian and Antony were to too proud to share the prestige of ruling the Republic.

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Splitsville

• This seems to be the best solution for the time. You take control of the west and Antony takes control of the east. Antony marries your sister. Sextus Pompeius controls the navy and blockades Italy.

• Do you Ask Antony for help?

• Share your power with Sextus.

• Break the blockade and crush the uprising yourself.

NOPE

• Octavian did not get along well with Antony despite being brother in laws. In addition Antony was busy fighting off the Parthians. No help coming from that direction.

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You Wish

• Octavian did not have the sea power to break the blockade and defeat Sextus at least not yet. But it is definitely on your to do list. Until the time comes something else must be done.

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Fine, Take Sicily

• You determine that the only safe option now is to give up control of Sicily and some other islands to Sextus. But something has to be done about this.

• Build and train your own fleet so you can challenge Sextus.

• Ask Sextus to be a general under your command.

• Send spys to kill him with poison.

Nice Try

• Sextus already has power and he knows you cannot compete with his Navy. Octavian wanted full control and that meant no Sextus at all.

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Just like a Roman

• Poison was used to kill off many rivals and enemies during the glory of Rome but not in this case. Octavian knew that not just the leader but the fleet had to be neutralized.

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A Great Victory

• Your new fleet suffers some early defeats but under your general Agrippa, Sextus is destroyed. Now, just when you seem to have the west under control, Antony divorces your sister.

• Let things go on the way they have been Peace is needed.

• Take up arms against Antony and reclaim the East.

• Join with Antony and expand the borders of the Republic.

Alas No

• Octavian had had enough. Rome, he felt, could not be divided and stand. All the politicians and infrastructure were in the west and most of the wealth was in the east.

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Might Have Worked

• A combined effort to increase both sections of the Republic would have strengthened ties between Octavian and Antony but, Octavian wanted to rule on his own.

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Its about time

• You have decided that the Republic has been split long enough and that you are going to rule all. You eventually conquer Antony’s fleet and he and commits suicide.

• With no other major challenges. You have honors and titles heaped upon you including the name Augustus Caesar. At this time you are nominally the Emperor and Rome is an Empire.