Killing Caesar- the conspirators grow a pair

Looking at the political machinations in the immediate aftermath of Caesar's assassination it seems to me that Brutus and Cassius simply let the initiative slip out of their hands. Instead of taking the high moral ground and not moving against others in the Caesarean faction they sat back and let Anthony and later Octavian reorganise their power base.

What if Brutus gets persuaded to lay aside his high minded ideals and Sullan-style proscriptions are invoked against, at least, the higher ranking Caesareans. If Cicero gets persuaded to come on board as a neutral frontman and spin doctor for the conspirators in the Senate could this work?
 
over the short term, IMHO, I think it could. However, it won't be long untill some Caesarian general takes command of part of the overinflated army, invokes Caesar's legacy and marches against them (probably with the support of Cleopatra). The resulting civil war will either make or brake the Liberators.
 
over the short term, IMHO, I think it could. However, it won't be long untill some Caesarian general takes command of part of the overinflated army, invokes Caesar's legacy and marches against them (probably with the support of Cleopatra). The resulting civil war will either make or brake the Liberators.

Ah but if they can secure, say, Italy, Gaul and Greece before that happens (most likely candidate might be Marc Anthony fleeing the West and setting up shop in Alexandria) then it might well be an even fight.

Having Cicero and Brutus actually take decisive action could well help to stabilise the situation in Rome. Then if Anthony or someone else moves with Cleopatra's backing they can easily cast him (as Octavian did IOTL) as the un-Roman traitor to the Republic.
 
Ah but if they can secure, say, Italy, Gaul and Greece before that happens (most likely candidate might be Marc Anthony fleeing the West and setting up shop in Alexandria) then it might well be an even fight.

Having Cicero and Brutus actually take decisive action could well help to stabilise the situation in Rome. Then if Anthony or someone else moves with Cleopatra's backing they can easily cast him (as Octavian did IOTL) as the un-Roman traitor to the Republic.

The best move for the conspirators may have been to kill Antony along with Caesar. Antony's vices and ambitions were alread well known, and apparently the conspirators considered taking this action, but instead distracted him in the antechamber to the Curia while killing Caesar.

Take Antony out, and you take away the famous eulogy that helped rally the mob. You also take away the most organized and decisive member of the incipient Second Triumvirate - Octavian was only 17, recall. Plus, Cicero knew what Antony was capable of, and was frankly scared of the man; remove Antony's presence, and he may commit more fully to the Liberators.
 
The best move for the conspirators may have been to kill Antony along with Caesar. Antony's vices and ambitions were alread well known, and apparently the conspirators considered taking this action, but instead distracted him in the antechamber to the Curia while killing Caesar.

Take Antony out, and you take away the famous eulogy that helped rally the mob. You also take away the most organized and decisive member of the incipient Second Triumvirate - Octavian was only 17, recall. Plus, Cicero knew what Antony was capable of, and was frankly scared of the man; remove Antony's presence, and he may commit more fully to the Liberators.

Actually that's a very good point. With Antony dead, who would be the most likely candidate to take command of the Caesarean forces? As you say, Octavian is a bit young (and IOTL he was initially sidelined by Antony anyway, until Antony openly rebeled against the Senate). I can't remember where Lepidus is at this point.

So you've got the Liberators getting together some sort of Army of the Republic (presumably from the forces in Greece and Asia where they recruited IOTL) and Cicero as their frontman in the Senate- I'd say they might be able to stand a chance against the Caesareans without Antony. I think one important factor is their not making the same mistake Pompey did and abandoning Rome itself thus giving up the symbolic high ground.
 
Actually that's a very good point. With Antony dead, who would be the most likely candidate to take command of the Caesarean forces? As you say, Octavian is a bit young (and IOTL he was initially sidelined by Antony anyway, until Antony openly rebeled against the Senate). I can't remember where Lepidus is at this point.

Lepidus, as Master of Horse, controls the majority of the armed forces present in Italy at this point- any conspiracy is going to have to rely on him acquiescing, as he holds a hell of a lot of cards. He is, though, related by marriage to M Junius Brutus, which could help them come to some sort of accommodation. Still, I think this accommodation alone would mean prescriptions are unlikely to happen. Antony may have to go, but other Caesareans, notably Octavian, will be left very much alone.

I THINK all the above is correct, anyhow. All these figures of the late Roman Republic can be deeply confusing!
 
So in this case which side would Octavian take? I mean, he was pretty pissed at Brutus for killing his grand uncle though but if he can somehow see that his granduncle Caesar's relationship with Cleopatra isn't approved by the public and he is blind to the criticisms, could Octavian eventually stand alongside Brutus and Cassius?
 
So in this case which side would Octavian take? I mean, he was pretty pissed at Brutus for killing his grand uncle though but if he can somehow see that his granduncle Caesar's relationship with Cleopatra isn't approved by the public and he is blind to the criticisms, could Octavian eventually stand alongside Brutus and Cassius?

In the short term at best. Octavian's views are already too well developed for him to become a true Liberator, and the conspirators would end up nursing the serpent in this scenario - he's very capable of biding his time until he's ready for revenge. A "Liberator" victory that leaves Ceasar's heir as a major player means the Populares have a leader to naturally rally around when the time comes.
 
But Octavian is still pretty young, even though he had the steeliest pair of balls in Rome. He'll still take some time to build up his power base.

If in the short term, Lepidus and Cicero are brought into the circle of the Liberators, they could move against Antony. If they beat him this, sort of leaves them on par with any forces Octavian could amass- he had Caesar's old legionaries but the Liberators have Lepidus.

I suspect that, as you say, this simply sets the stage for another round of civil wars a few years down the road.
 
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