eyond the Alps and Gallia
Cisalpina; Octavius, Sicily, Sardinia, and Africa. A bloody prescription
followed. Among its victims were CICERO, who was surrendered to please
Antony, 300 Senators, and 2,000 Equites.

PHILIPPI AND ACTIUM.

The Triumvirs could now concentrate their energies upon the East,
whither BRUTUS and CASSIUS, the murderers of Caesar, had fled. These two
had organized in the provinces of the East an army amounting to 80,000
infantry and 20,000 cavalry. They were employed in plundering various
towns of Asia Minor, and finally, in the spring of 42, assembled their
forces at Sardis preparatory to an invasion of Europe. After marching
through Thrace they entered Macedonia, and found Antony and Octavius
opposed to them at PHILIPPI, with an army of 120,000 troops. There were
two battles at Philippi in November, 42. In the first, Brutus defeated
Octavius; but Cassius was defeated by Antony, and, unaware of his
colleague's victory, committed suicide. In the second battle, three
weeks later, Brutus was defeated by the united armies of the Triumvirs,
and, following the example of Cassius, put an end to his life. With
Brutus fell the Republic. The absolute ascendency of individuals, which
is monarchy, was then established.

The immediate result of Philippi was a fresh arrangement of the Roman
world among the Triumvirs. Antony preferred the East, Octavius took
Italy and Spain, and Africa fell to Lepidus.

Octavius tried to establish order in Italy, but many obstacles were to
be overcome. Sextus Pompeius, who had escaped from Munda, was in
command of a strong naval force. He controlled a large part of the
Mediterranean, and, by waylaying the corn ships bound for Rome, exposed
the city to great danger from famine. Octavius was obliged to raise
a fleet and meet this danger. At first he was defeated by Pompey, but
later, in 36, in the great sea fight off NAULOCHUS in Sicily, the
rebel was overcome. He fled to Asia with a few followers, but was taken
prisoner at Miletus by one of the lieutenants of Antony, and put to
death.

Lepidus now claimed Sicily as a part of his province, and an equal share
in the government of the Roman world with the other Triumvirs. But his
soldiers were induced to desert him, and he was obliged to surrender
to Octavius. His life was spared, but he was deprived of his power and
provinces. He lived twenty years longer (until 13), but ceased to be a
factor in public affairs. Having rid the