WI: Liberators win at Philippi

The Liberators win at Philippi, and Antony and Octavian are either killed in battle or commit suicide once it's clear that they've lost. What are the ramifications for Roman history?
 

Skallagrim

Banned
You may very well think you've saved the Republic. But instead, I will take this opportunity to suggest....

Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man: a Lepidus Timeline


;)
 

Skallagrim

Banned
Can't find it, got a link?

It doesn't exist, I suggested creating it. Because Lepidus is, and forever will be, maligned as the butt monkey of the Second Triumvirate. In most timelines, he's treated as a footnote at best, or - more often - as a joke. The poor fellow deserves better. The unlikely scenario of both Octavian and Marcus Antonius getting killed off might just give Lepidus the opportunity to rally whatever forces he can, defeat the no-doubt battle-weakened Libertatores, and assume command of the Roman state. This is funny, because it flies in the face of all conventional wisdom regarding Lepidus and his lack of decisiveness.

That said, the fact that the Liberatores just won a critical battle against two very powerful foes would in all likelihood cause considerable defections to their side, upon which Lepidus would actually be likely to start negotiations. That's realism talking. But I prefer my original idea: Lepidus becoming the head honcho of the Roman state, and forever after being seen as this canny politician who was just biding his time.
 
Reviving thread.
Considering Parthia and Ptolemaic Egypt supported the liberatores, i wonder what happens after a liberator victory.
Perhaps Brutus and Cassius pay both states for their support with territory?
 

Skallagrim

Banned
Reviving thread.

Yes, good! (And if my half-jesting response contributed to derailing the thread initially, @Fabius Maximus has my apologies.)


Considering Parthia and Ptolemaic Egypt supported the liberatores, i wonder what happens after a liberator victory.
Perhaps Brutus and Cassius pay both states for their support with territory?

Regarding this scenario: was it not more a case of Egypt and Parthia supporting the Liberatores on the basis of "let's you and him fight"? Once the Liberatores score a big win, such support is likely to dwindle. Payment in land is hard to justify, as it will either cost the Liberatores all sorts of support back home, or it will just be a false promise and recognised as such. Possibly both.

Their best chance is to simply portray themselves as advocates for peace in the east, making them at least the favoured faction in Parthia and Egypt (and securing their backs against betrays from that quarter). At the same time, they must use the momentum of their victory to rally as much support as they can. If they can make themselves look like a good bet - and, crucially - like the most legitimate faction, they can pull off a victory.

(If they indeed manage to scare Lepidus into negotiations, and make him promises that make him feel safe and lead him to sway his support to them, they've basically won.)
 
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