1. 82-79 BC Dictatorship of Lucius Cornelius Sulla, who empowers Senate at expense of other governing bodies 78 BC Death of Sulla

2. Marcus Licinius Crassus (d. 53 BC) Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey, 106-48 BC) Gaius Julius Caesar (102-44 BC)

3. 70 BC Crassus and Pompey serve as consuls, restore powers of assemblies in Rome 67-62 Pompey appointed to fight pirates, then wars abroad 63 Caesar serves as pontifex maximus (high priest). Subsequently serves as governor of Spain

4. 60 BC Formation of First Triumvirate 59 Consulship of Caesar. Caesar subsequently spends time campaigning away from Rome 57 Pompey suppresses violence in Rome, becomes dictator 56 Meeting of the triumvirs in Cisalpine Gaul Pompey and Crassus elected consuls. Caesar’s term in Gaul extended to 49 BC

5. 53 BC Crassus killed in battle in Middle East 52 Pompey becomes sole consul, effectively dictator 6th Jan 49 Caesar crosses R. Rubicon, attacks Italy “The die is cast.”

6. 48 BC Caesar defeats Pompey at Pharsalus, pursues him to Egypt 47 Caesar leaves Egypt, suppresses revolt in Pontus “veni, vidi, vici” 45 Caesar finishes crushing opposition

7. 45-44 BC Caesar passes large amount of legislation Lupercalia (festival in February) Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) Caius Cassius Longinus Marcus Junius Brutus 15th March 44 (Ides of March) Death of Caesar

8. 63 BC Birth of Gaius Octavius (Octavian) in Rome (father praetor) 44 Caesar’s will read. Octavian adopted as Caesar’s son. Conspirators withdraw to provinces. Mark Antony in charge in Rome 43 Octavian, Antony and Lepidus form “Second Triumvirate” Divi filius Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus

9. 42 BC Cassius and Brutus killed at Philippi. Empire divided. Octavian gets Rome, Antony gets east, Lepidus gets Africa 40 Antony marries Octavia 36 Octavian defeats Sextus Pompey

10. 37 BC Antony sends pregnant Octavia to Rome. Acknowledges twins by Cleopatra 34 Antony declares Caesarion to be child of Julius Caesar. Splits east between him, the twins and Cleopatra (“Queen of Kings”) 32 Antony repudiates Octavia 31 Octavian defeats Antony at Actium. Deaths of Antony and Cleopatra

11. Son of a Knight. Originally lawyer, became chief secretary to Hadrian (r. 117-38) 122 Dismissed from court De Vita Caesarum (The Twelve Caesars; biographies of Julius Caesar and first twelve emperors) Had access to state archives, but also uncritical in use of sources Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (69-c. 140 AD)