After watching the classic 1963 film, Cleopatra, starring the stunning 
Elizabeth Taylor, I was suddenly able to develop a new perspective on Roman history. I realized that the pinnacle of Roman history lays within the transition from a Roman Republic to the mighty Roman Empire, (60 BC- 27 BC), with key players such as Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Octavian-Augustus, Marcus Agrippas, and Queen Cleopatra at the center of it all.
The Roman Republic was established in 509 BC, and after the fall of the Macedonian Empire, had become the ultimate power in Europe. It established a completely new form of government, free of a monarchy, and run by both the people and the senate. This system of separation of powers and checks and balances lasted for several hundred years, until politics as usual got in the way. It was in 60 BC, that an up-and-comer leader by the name of Julius Caesar desired to rattle the cage of the Roman government. He did this by creating a political/military alliance with leaders, Crassus and Pompey that became known as the First Triumvirate. It was the undisputed military alliance of Rome.
In 51 BC, Julius Caesar led a victorious conquest into Gaul, that
extended the Roman territory into the English Channel, thus making him the ultimate general of Rome, with an unmatchable army. He was however opposed by his former conservative ally Pompey, to contend for the leadership of Rome. This sparked the Roman Civil War, from 49 BC- 45 BC, fought in Italy, Greece, Africa, Egypt, and Spain. Caesar finally defeated Pompey at the Battle of Munda, and thus began the transition into a new form of government. Julius Caesar became the first dictator of Rome.
However during his civil war and political reformation, Caesar fell under the seduction of Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt. At the time, she ruled jointly with her brothers, yet was able to use her beauty and charm to win over the affection of Caesar. Caesar in return made her the undisputed pharaoh of Egypt. The two lovers, later had a child, named Caesarion. Cleopatra had big plans for her child to rule both Egypt and Rome, yet these plans were suddenly halted by the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, by several conspirators in the Roman Senate. The conspirators, led by Cassius and Brutus, felt that Caesar was attempting to transform Rome into a tyranny, and considered themselves liberators.
The after-result led to another series of civil wars, from 44 BC to 30 BC. Julius Ceaser's nephew Octavian, formed a military alliance with Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus, known as the Second Triumvirate, to redeem the honor and legacy of Julius Ceaser. Their first civil war was against Caesar's assassins, known as the Liberators Civil War fought from 43-42 BC. This was a successful victory for the triumvirate, and eliminated all the political conspirators.
In 44 BC, a revolution in Rome occurred, known as the Sicilian Revolt, led by Pompey's son, Pompeius. At one point, Pompeius was able to claim control of Sicily from the Roman armies, however Octavian and his right-hand general Marcus Agrippas, were able to eventually defeat the revolution in 36 BC.
The Final Civil War of the Roman Republic took place in 32 BC, where general Marc Antony, broke away from the Second Triumvirate, and under the sway of his lover Queen Cleopatra, waged war against Octavian. He was eventually defeated, by General Marcus Agrippas at the sea Battle of Actium, and later committed suicide with Cleopatra in Alexandria, Egypt. With Marc Antony and Cleopatra out of the way, Octavian became the undisputed leader of Rome, and would go on to finish his uncle's work by transforming the democratic Roman Republic into an autocratic Roman Empire. In 27 BC Octavian became the first Roman Emperor known as Augustus.
Elizabeth Taylor, I was suddenly able to develop a new perspective on Roman history. I realized that the pinnacle of Roman history lays within the transition from a Roman Republic to the mighty Roman Empire, (60 BC- 27 BC), with key players such as Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Octavian-Augustus, Marcus Agrippas, and Queen Cleopatra at the center of it all.
The Roman Republic was established in 509 BC, and after the fall of the Macedonian Empire, had become the ultimate power in Europe. It established a completely new form of government, free of a monarchy, and run by both the people and the senate. This system of separation of powers and checks and balances lasted for several hundred years, until politics as usual got in the way. It was in 60 BC, that an up-and-comer leader by the name of Julius Caesar desired to rattle the cage of the Roman government. He did this by creating a political/military alliance with leaders, Crassus and Pompey that became known as the First Triumvirate. It was the undisputed military alliance of Rome.
In 51 BC, Julius Caesar led a victorious conquest into Gaul, that
extended the Roman territory into the English Channel, thus making him the ultimate general of Rome, with an unmatchable army. He was however opposed by his former conservative ally Pompey, to contend for the leadership of Rome. This sparked the Roman Civil War, from 49 BC- 45 BC, fought in Italy, Greece, Africa, Egypt, and Spain. Caesar finally defeated Pompey at the Battle of Munda, and thus began the transition into a new form of government. Julius Caesar became the first dictator of Rome.
However during his civil war and political reformation, Caesar fell under the seduction of Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt. At the time, she ruled jointly with her brothers, yet was able to use her beauty and charm to win over the affection of Caesar. Caesar in return made her the undisputed pharaoh of Egypt. The two lovers, later had a child, named Caesarion. Cleopatra had big plans for her child to rule both Egypt and Rome, yet these plans were suddenly halted by the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, by several conspirators in the Roman Senate. The conspirators, led by Cassius and Brutus, felt that Caesar was attempting to transform Rome into a tyranny, and considered themselves liberators.
The after-result led to another series of civil wars, from 44 BC to 30 BC. Julius Ceaser's nephew Octavian, formed a military alliance with Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus, known as the Second Triumvirate, to redeem the honor and legacy of Julius Ceaser. Their first civil war was against Caesar's assassins, known as the Liberators Civil War fought from 43-42 BC. This was a successful victory for the triumvirate, and eliminated all the political conspirators.
In 44 BC, a revolution in Rome occurred, known as the Sicilian Revolt, led by Pompey's son, Pompeius. At one point, Pompeius was able to claim control of Sicily from the Roman armies, however Octavian and his right-hand general Marcus Agrippas, were able to eventually defeat the revolution in 36 BC.
The Final Civil War of the Roman Republic took place in 32 BC, where general Marc Antony, broke away from the Second Triumvirate, and under the sway of his lover Queen Cleopatra, waged war against Octavian. He was eventually defeated, by General Marcus Agrippas at the sea Battle of Actium, and later committed suicide with Cleopatra in Alexandria, Egypt. With Marc Antony and Cleopatra out of the way, Octavian became the undisputed leader of Rome, and would go on to finish his uncle's work by transforming the democratic Roman Republic into an autocratic Roman Empire. In 27 BC Octavian became the first Roman Emperor known as Augustus.
