Coordinates: 41.0131°N 24.2864°E Battle of Philippi From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Wars of the Second Triumvirate between the forces of Mark Antony and Battle of Philippi Octavian (of the Second Triumvirate) and the forces of the Part of Liberators' civil war tyrannicides Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus in 42 BC, at Philippi in Macedonia. The Second Triumvirate declared this civil war ostensibly to avenge Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, but the underlying cause was a long­ brewing class conflict between the ancien regime represented in the Senate (Optimates), and the rising class (Populares). The battle consisted of two engagements in the plain west of the ancient city of Philippi. The first occurred in the first week of October; Brutus faced Octavian, while Antony's forces fought those of Cassius. At first, Brutus pushed back Octavian and entered his legions' camp. But to the south, Cassius was defeated by Antony, and committed suicide after hearing a false report that Brutus had also failed. Brutus rallied Cassius' remaining troops and both sides ordered their army to retreat to their camps with their spoils, and the battle was essentially a draw, but for Cassius' suicide. A second encounter, on 23 October, finished off Brutus's forces, and he committed suicide Philippi Location in turn, leaving the triumvirate in control of the Roman Date October 3 and 23, 42 BC Republic. Location Philippi, Macedonia (modern Greece) Result Decisive Second Triumvirate victory; Contents end of the Liberators' civil war Territorial Eastern provinces of Roman Republic 1 Prelude changes given to Mark Antony, Ptolemaic 2 Opposing forces Egypt and Parthia give up support for 3 The First Battle the Liberators 4 The Second Battle 5 Aftermath Belligerents 6 Quotes Second Triumvirate Liberators, controlling 7 Popular culture the Eastern provinces of 8 References 8.1 Primary sources Roman Republic 9 External links Supported by Ptolemaic Egypt and the Parthian Empire Prelude Commanders and leaders Mark Antony Marcus Junius Brutus † After the murder of Caesar, Brutus and Cassius (the two main Octavian Gaius Cassius Longinus † conspirators, also known as the Liberatores and leaders of the Allienus (Unknown) Republicans) had left Italy and taken control of all Eastern Serapion (Retreats to provinces (from Greece to Syria) and of the allied Eastern Tyre) kingdoms. In Rome the three main Caesarian leaders (Antony, Strength Octavian and Lepidus), who controlled almost all the Roman 19 legions, 17 legions, army in the west, had crushed the opposition of the senate and allied cavalry 33,000; allied cavalry 17,000; established the second triumvirate. One of their first tasks was total over 100,000 men, total about 100,000 men, to destroy the Liberators’ forces, not only to get full control of up to 223,000 troops if up to 187,000 troops if the Roman world, but also to avenge Caesar’s death. auxiliary numbers auxiliary numbers The triumvirs decided that Lepidus would remain in Italy, while matched legionary matched legionary the two main partners of the triumvirate (Antony and Octavian) numbers numbers moved to Northern Greece with their best troops (a total of 28 Casualties and losses legions). They were able to ferry their army across the Adriatic and sent out a scouting force of eight legions (commanded by ? Surrender of entire army Norbanus and Saxa) along the via Egnatia, with the aim of searching for the Liberators' army. Norbanus and Saxa passed the town of Philippi in eastern Macedonia and took a strong defensive position at a narrow mountain pass. Antony was following, while Octavian was delayed at Dyrrachium because of his ill­health (which would accompany him throughout the Philippi campaign). Although the triumvirs had been able to cross the sea with their main force, further communications with Italy were made difficult by the arrival of the Republican admiral Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, with a large fleet of 130 ships. The Liberators did not wish to engage in a decisive battle, but rather to attain a good defensive position and then use their naval superiority to block the triumvirs’ communications with their supply base in Italy. They had spent the previous months plundering Greek cities to swell their war­chest and had gathered in Thrace with the Roman legions from the Eastern provinces and levies from allies. With their superior forces they were able to outflank Norbanus and Saxa, who had to abandon their defensive position and retreat west of Philippi. Thus, Brutus and Cassius could position holding the high ground along both sides of the via Egnatia, about 3.5 km west of the city of Philippi. The south position was anchored to a supposedly impassable marsh, while on the north to impervious hills. They had plenty of time to fortify their position with a rampart and a ditch. Brutus put his camp on the north while Cassius on the south of the via Egnatia. Antony arrived shortly and positioned his army on the south of the via Egnatia, while Octavian put his legions north of the road. Opposing forces The Triumvirs' army included nineteen legions (other legions had been left behind). The sources report specifically the name of only one legion (IV legion), but other legions present included the III, VI, VII, VIII, X Equestris, XII, XXVI, XXVIII, XXIX, and XXX, since their veterans participated in the land settlements after the battle. Appian reports that the triumvirs’ legions were almost at full complement. Furthermore, they had a large allied cavalry force (13,000 horsemen with Octavian and 20,000 with Antony). The Liberators' army had seventeen legions (eight with Brutus and nine with Cassius, while two other legions were with the fleet). Only two of the legions were at full strength, but the army was reinforced by levies from the Eastern allied kingdoms. Appian reports that the army mustered a total of about 80,000 foot­soldiers. Allied cavalry included a total of 17,000 horsemen, including 5,000 bowmen mounted in the Eastern fashion. This army included the old Caesarean legions present in the East (probably with XXVII, XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXI and XXXIII legions); thus most of these legionaries were former Caesarean veterans. However, at least the XXXVI legion consisted of old Pompeian veterans, enrolled in Caesar's army after the Battle of Pharsalus. The loyalty of the soldiers who were supposed to fight against Caesar’s heir was a delicate issue for the Liberators. (It is important to emphasize that the name "Octavian" was never used by contemporaries: he was simply known as Gaius Iulius Caesar). Cassius tried in all ways to reinforce the soldiers’ loyalty both with strong speeches ("Let it give no one any concern that he has been one of Caesar's soldiers. We were not his soldiers then, but our country's") and with a gift of 1,500 denarii for each legionary and 7,500 for each centurion. Although ancient sources do not report the total numbers of men of the two armies, it seems that they had a similar strength. Modern historians put the total at about 100,000 legionaries on each side. The First Battle Antony offered battle several times, but the Liberators were not lured to leave their defensive stand. Thus, Antony tried to secretly outflank the Liberators' position through the marshes in the south. With great effort he was able to cut a passage through the marshes, throwing up a causeway upon them. This manoeuvre was finally noticed by Cassius, who countered by moving part of his army south into the marshes and constructing a transverse wall in a bid to cut off Antony’s outstretched right wing. This brought about a general battle on October 3, 42 BC. Antony ordered a charge against Cassius, aiming at the fortifications between Cassius's camp and the marshes. At the same time, Brutus's soldiers, provoked by the triumvir’s army, rushed against Octavian’s army, without waiting for the order of attack (given with the watchword "Liberty"). This surprise assault had complete success: Octavian’s troops were put to flight and pursued up to their camp, which was captured by Brutus’s men, led by Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus. Three of Octavian’s legionary standards were also taken, a clear sign of disbandment. Octavian was not found in his tent: his couch was pierced and cut to pieces. Most ancient historians say that he had been warned in a dream to beware of First Battle of Philippi that day, as he had himself written in his memoirs. Pliny bluntly reports that Octavian went hiding into a marsh. However, on the other side of the via Egnatia, Antony was able to storm Cassius’ fortifications, demolishing the palisade and filling up the ditch. Then he easily took Cassius’s camp, which was defended by only a few men. It seems that part of Cassius’s army had advanced south: when these men tried to come back they were easily repulsed by Antony. Apparently the battle had ended in a draw. Cassius had lost 9,000 men, while Octavian had about 18,000 casualties. However, the battlefield was very large and clouds of dust made it impossible to make a clear assessment of the outcome of the battle, so both parts were ignorant of each other's fate. Cassius moved to the top of a hill, but could not see well what was happening on Brutus’s side. Believing that he had suffered a crushing defeat he ordered his freedman Pindarus to kill him. Brutus mourned over Cassius’s body, calling him "the last of the Romans".