Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/215

A Century of Revolution III. TRIUMPH OF AUGUSTUS AND END OF THE CIVIL WARS 240. How Octavian (Caesar Augustus) made himself Head of Rome. Julius had adopted his- grandnephew Octavian and had made him his sole heir. At the time of Caesar's assassination he was only eighteen years old and was quietly pursuing his studies in Illyria. His mother sent him word of his uncle's death and urged him to flee eastward as fast as possible. Instead of this he started for Rome and began skill- fully to gather up the threads of the tangled situation in his clever fingers. In spite of his youth and inexperience, he managed to find supporters and secure a military command, so that two years after Caesar's murder he was able to de- feat his enemies, including Caesar's assassins, in the battle of Philippi (42 B.C.). During the following ten years he was able to make his position stronger and stronger, and at the age of twenty-eight he had gained almost complete control over both the eastern and western portions of the Empire. 241. Octavian, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra. Octavian's last struggle was with his former friend and supporter Mark Antony, who, having fought in the east, had become infatuated with the charming Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. Antony was now living in Alexandria and Antioch, where he ruled like an oriental monarch. It was reported to Octavian that Antony and Cleopatra were planning to make themselves rulers of Rome. Accordingly Oc- tavian induced the Senate to declare war on Cleopatra, and thus he was able to advance against Antony. As Caesar and Pompey, PORTRAIT OF AUGUSTUS, NOW IN THE BOSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS