Politics of the late republic- Main timeline Dates

78 BC

Sulla dies

77 BC

Revolt breaks out in Etruria

General Lepidus takes up the rebels, marches on Rome and is met by Pompey

76-73 BC

Pompey campaigns in Spain

75 BC

Cicero is quaestor in Sicily

74 BC

Mithridates initiates an eastern war

73-71 BC

• Slave revolt of Spartacus which is crushed by Crassus

• Verres is governor of Sicily and plunders the province

71 BC

Pompey requests the right to stand for consulship for the next year despite not meeting the age requirement, he is elected alongside Crassus

70 BC

Cicero writes 4 speeches for In Verrem, only delivers 1 and Verres flees into exile

69 BC

Caesar’s aunt dies, Julia, and he has Marius’ image carried in her funeral procession

67 BC

Pompey is granted Imperium to combat the issue of pirates, which he defats in 49 days

66-63 BC

Pompey defeats Mithridates and conquers vast areas of land

63 BC

• Cicero is consul

• Caesar becomes pontifex maximus

• Catiline strands for consulship but loses and is accused of assassination plans

• Revolt breaks out in Etruria and Cicero accuses Catiline of the Catiline Conspiracy

• Catiline flees Rome

• Cicero executes 5 conspirators without a trial

62 BC

• Pompey returns to Rome and lays down his arms

• Bona Dea scandal with Clodius

60 BC

Crassus, Pompey and Caesar form the First Triumvirate

59 BC

Caesar is consul and awards himself command of Gaul

58-51 BC

Caesar campaigns in Gaul and establishes a new Roman province

58 BC

• Clodius is now tribune and passes a degree exiling all those who have executed citizens without trial , forcing Cicero to flee to Macedonia

• Cato is sent to Cyprus as a governor in order to get him out of the way

57 BC

• Clodius’ gangs run the streets

• Pompey recalls Cicero from exile

56 BC

• Conference of Luca where the triumvirate is renewed

• Caesars Gallic command is extended for another 5 years

53 BC

• Pompey marries Cornelia Metella, choosing her over Caesars offer of his grad niece, which then allies himself with the optimates

• Crassus is killed

52 BC

• Clodius’ is killed by Pompey client, Milo

• Cato arranges for Pompey to be given sole consulship for the rest of the year

• Pompey clears the city of violence

49 BC

• Caesar crosses the Rubicon, starting the second Civil War

• Pompey flees to Greece with Cicero

• Cato flees to North Africa

48 BC

• Cicero defeats Pompey at Pharsalus

• Pompey flees to Egypt where he is assassinated

• Cicero transfers his loyalty to Caesar

46 BC

• Caesar defeats Cato who commits suicide

• The second civil war ends

• Caesar makes himself dictator for ten years, which he later extends to life

44 BC

• Caesar is assassinated on the Ides of March by a coalition led by Brutus and Cassius

• Antony seeks to establish himself as Caesars successor and Brutus and Cassius flee to the east

• Octavian comes to Rome to claim his inheritance

• Cicero recruits Octavian and attempts to use him to bring down Antony but Octavian switches sides and allies with Antony and Lepidus- the three of them take over Rome, forming the second triumvirate

43 BC

Cicero is killed through proscriptions in December

42 BC

The triumvirate defeat Brutus and Cassius at the battle of Philippi, leaving no one to oppose them

31 BC

• Octavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra, at the battle of Actium

• Octavian is now unchallenged ruler of Rome

27 BC

Octavian changes his name to Augustus and establishes a new political system, ending the republic and becoming Rome’s first emperor