![]() ![]() Thus, the strategic position of Antony and Octavian became quite serious, since the already depleted regions of Macedonia and Thessaly were unable to supply their army for long, while Brutus could easily receive supplies from the sea. On the same day of the first battle of Philippi the Republican fleet, patrolling the Ionian Sea, was able to intercept and destroy the triumvirs’ reinforcements (two legions and other troops and supplies led by Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus). Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus coin / Wikimedia Commons We were not his soldiers then, but our country’s”) and with a gift of 1,500 denari for each legionary and 7,500 for each centurion. 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. The loyalty of the soldiers who were supposed to fight against Caesar’s heir was a delicate issue for the Liberators. However, at least the XXXVI legion consisted of old Pompeian veterans, enrolled in Caesar’s army after the Battle of Pharsalus. ![]() This army included Caesar’s old legions present in the East (probably with XXVII, XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXI and XXXIII legions) thus much of the Liberators’ army was made up of former Caesarean veterans. Allied cavalry included a total of 17,000 horsemen, including 5,000 bowmen mounted in the Eastern fashion. Appian reports that the army mustered a total of about 80,000 foot-soldiers. Only two of the legions were at full ranks, but the army was reinforced by levies from the Eastern allied kingdoms. The Liberators’ army had seventeen legions (eight with Brutus and nine with Cassius, while two other legions were with the fleet). Furthermore, they had a large allied cavalry force (13,000 horsemen with Octavian and 20,000 with Antony). Appian reports that the triumvirs’ legions were almost at full-ranks. The sources report specifically the name of only one legion (IV legion), but other legions present included the VI, VII, VIII, X Equestris, XII, III, XXVI, XXVIII, XXIX, and XXX, since their veterans participated in the land settlements after the battle. The triumvirs brought 19 legions to the battlefield. As Marc Antony and the bulk of the triumvir’s troops arrived (minus Octavian, who was delayed at Dyrrachium because of ill health), they found Amphipolis well guarded and Norbanus was left in command of the town. ![]() When Brutus and Cassius managed to outflank them, Norbanus and Saxa retreated toward Amphipolis. By a ruse, Brutus and Cassius managed to make Norbanus leave this position, but Norbanus discovered the ruse in time to recover the dominating position. Although they were outnumbered, Norbanus and Saxa occupied a position near Philippi which prevented the republicans from advancing. In the neighborhood of Philippi, Norbanus and Saxa met the combined advancing troops of Cassius and Brutus. In 42 BC, Gaius Norbanus Flaccus and Decidius Saxa were sent by the triumvirs with an eight-legion advance guard into Macedonia against the murderers of Julius Caesar. The triumvirs decided to leave Lepidus in Italy, while the two main partners of the triumvirate (Antony and Octavian) moved to Northern Greece with their best troops (28 legions). ![]() One of their first tasks was to destroy the Liberators’ forces, not only to get full control of the Roman world, but also to avenge Caesar’s death. In Rome the three main Caesarian leaders (Antony, Octavian and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus), who controlled almost all the Roman army in the west, had crushed the opposition of the senate and established the second triumvirate. Wikimedia CommonsĪfter the murder of Caesar, Brutus and Cassius (the two main conspirators, also known as the Liberatores) had left Italy and taken control of all Eastern provinces (from Greece and Macedonia to Syria) and of the allied Eastern kingdoms. All coins are inscribed “III VIR R P C”, abbreviating tresviri rei publicae constituendae (“One of Three Men for the Regulation of the Republic”). From left to right, Mark Antony, Octavian and Lepidus portrayed in Roman coins. ![]()
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