Page:Light and truth.djvu/138

136 the wife of Ptolemy Philometer, the kingdom of Egypt became a province of Rome under emperor Octavius Augustus. [Rollin]

The Battle of Philippi was fought 42 years B.C. It was gained by Octavius Cæsar and Antony over the forces of the conspirators against Julius Caesar, headed by Brutus and Cassius. This decided the fate of the empire.

Octavius, Antony and Lepidus, had formed a triumvirate for their mutual benefit, though the two former were rivals, and alike desirous of supreme authority. To gratify each other's wishes, each consented to sacrifice some of the best of his friends to the vengeance of his associate.

In this way the great Cicero was given up by Octavius to the resentment of Antony. In this manner three hundred senators and three thousand knights were put to death. Octavius, being grand nephew of Julius Cæsar, and his adopted heir, though destitute of military talents, had gained the senate to his interest, and divided with Antony the favor of the people.

As soon as the conspirators were overtaken, Octavius and Antony gave them battle. This happened at Philippi, in Thrace, and Antony obtained the victory Brutus and Cassius escaped the vengeance of their enemy, by a voluntary death.

The Battle of Actium, and the end of the Roman Commonwealth, took place 31 years B. C. The battle was fought between the naval forces of Octavius, and those of Antony, in which the former was victorius. Octavius became the sole master of the Roman world.

Antony had excited the indignation of the Roman people, on account of his profligacy, and expenditure of the public resources. And having divorced Octavia, his wife, who was sister to Octavius, war between them became inevitable. The object at stake was the empire.

An immense armament, chiefly naval [the land force being merely spectators] came to an engagement near Actium on the coast of Epirus. The conflict was decisive. Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen, to whom Antony was infamously attached, deserted him with her gallies, in the midst of the engagement.