“Triumviri republicae constituendae” – the triumvirate (of three people) to govern the republic. The first triumvirate between Caesar, Pompey the Great and Crassus was unofficial – It was more like alliance between them. After Caesar’s assassination his assassins -Brutus and Cassius thought that the people of Rome will accept that with good cheer. But Caesar was giving poor people jobs and spoils, to landless – land and to everybody – circuses. After the assassination, Caesar’s body was burnt in Roman Forum.

Thousands of people – Romans and foreigners were weeping around the funeral pyre. The crowd went wild and try to burn the houses of Brutus and Cassius. The assassins of Caesar left the city. After the Battle of Philippi Cassius ordered his freedman to slay him. Brutus committed suicide. In November, 43 BC was created a new official institution – The Triumvirate consisting of Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus. Actually this was the second one. One of the greatest names in Ancient Rome’s history is Marcus Tullius Cicero – one of Rome’s greatest orators and philosophers. Thanks to Mark Antony’s intense hartred, he had the misfortune to find himself in triumvirate’s (Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus) proscriptions.

Octavian was against adding Cicero to the list. First he intended to sail to Macedonia and join the army of Brutus. But he changed his mind. Cicero decided to go back to Rome. He was killed by Roman soldiers near his villa in Formia. Years after, Octavian saw one of his grandsons reading Cicero’s papyrus. The boy tried to hide it. Octavian said: “He was a wise man. A wise man and loved his country”. Each of the triumvirates have right to govern Rome and its possessions for five years. Although they were supposed to have equal rights but that never happened. One of them always prevailed. This time it was Octavian.

After the defeat in the battle of Actium, Mark Antony tried to commit suicide. He wounded himself in the stomach but not deadly. Cleopatra’s secretary, Diomedes came and with the help of some slaves, carried him to the tomb where the queen and her two devoted slaves were locked. The queen covered Antony with her clothes. She was crying and calling him her master and husband. Antony wanted some wine. He managed to tell his wife not to grieve since he was dying happy. He had a lot of happy moments in his life. He was one of the most famous people. He was powerful. And now he is dying with dignity – as a Roman defeated by a Roman. Antony died. Cleopatra was 39. She had four children. She lost her husband, her kingdom, her freedom. She wasn’t sure she could safe her life or the life of her children.A Roman, who admired Cleopatra told her that soon they are going to leave Egypt. Then she made her decision. Fist she visited Antony’s grave. Then she took a bath and had breakfast. A peasant with a basket came to the palace. He was delivering wonderful figs to his queen.

Cleopatra wrote a letter to Octavius. Her dying wish was to be buried next to Antony. Maecenas (Gaius Cilnius Maecenas) was a patron of arts and political advisor of Octavian. Vergilius (Publius Vergilius Maro) was the one who introduced Horatius (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) to Maecenas. Horatius was very excited that he – the son of slaves will be introduced to such a great man and when they met, Horatius was confused and could hardly speak. Maecenas was a man of few words himself. Horatius was convinced that they will never meet again. But in nine months he received a second invitation. Maecenas wrote him that he will be very delighted to meet him again and he would like Horatius to become part of his circle.