Last Words After a Grand Performance on Life’s Stage (Part 2)
Octavius then double crossed the Senate, reached an agreement with Mark Antony, and joined him in a power sharing dictatorship. The duo launched a massive purge that executed thousands of suspected opponents, including Cicero. They went after Julius Caesar’s assassins, defeated them, and exacted revenge. Octavius and Antony then swore friendship, and sealed the bargain with Antony’s marriage to Octavius’ sister. They divided the Roman empire, with Antony ruling the east, while Octavius stayed in Rome and ruled the west. The duo fell out when Antony fell in love with Cleopatra in Egypt, married her, and abandoned Octavius’ sister. Octavius used that as a pretext to attack Antony, whom he defeated decisively in 31 BC. He then seized Egypt and the eastern provinces, and finally brought the entire Roman empire under his control. He then set about reorganizing the state.
Octavius ended the Roman Republic, whose political structure, created for a city state, had proved impractical for the governance of a vast empire. That led to a century of chaos and bloodshed, until the reins were taken by Octavius, whom the Senate granted the honorific “Augustus” by which he is known to history. In the Republic’s place, Augustus established a stable, autocratic, and centralized de-facto monarchy. That inaugurated a period known as the Pax Romana that brought about two centuries of peace, stability, and prosperity. He held supreme power in the Roman world from 43 BC, first in conjunction with Mark Antony until 31 BC, and thereafter alone, until his death in 14 AD. Comparing the role he had to play as emperor to the theater, Augustus’ last words to those gathered around his deathbed were: “Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit“.
