WI: The Battle of Philippi won by the Republicans

What it says on the tin.

What if Brutus and Cassius had beaten the Second Triumvirate at Philippi?

For a start their fleet had already defeated the Triumvirate fleet wiping out sizeable Triumvir reinforcements and the Triumvir were in an akward postion even before the battle vis-a-vis-keeping their army in supply.
 
What it says on the tin.

What if Brutus and Cassius had beaten the Second Triumvirate at Philippi?

For a start their fleet had already defeated the Triumvirate fleet wiping out sizeable Triumvir reinforcements and the Triumvir were in an akward postion even before the battle vis-a-vis-keeping their army in supply.

Interesting question. Remove Octavian and you have massive butterfles. I guess the question would be how the Republicans intended to repair the Constitution that Caesar had ripped up and then stamped on.
 
At that point the old constitution isn't coming back, probably Sulla 2: Electric Bugaloo is the best that could be hoped for...
 
Sadly, this discussion has never evolved passed the first 10-15 comments, although I find it supremely interesting.

I wrote up two scenarios in previous threads regarding how they can achieve victory.

#1
Slightly different weather patterns lead to a messenger ship carrying the news of Admiral Ahenobarus' victory over the triumvir fleet in the Adriatic arriving in time to inform Brutus and Cassius.

Knowing that their enemy is trapped and all they have to do is wait, the Liberators army morale skyrockets, whereas Mark Anthony's and Octavians men become ever more desperate. With desertions and low morale plaguing their army, it's the two triumvirs that launch ill-fated attacks against fortified positions and eventually succumb to a counter-attack.

Mark Anthony is killed while Octavian tries to escape. Eventually he is caught up by the superior enemy cavalry at some fortified village. Knowing everything is otherwise lost, Octavian proposes a 1-on-1 duel with Brutus, which Brutus accepts since Octavian is just a sickly teenager and killing him personally would greatly enhance his popularity. The duel's outcome is a forgone conclusion.


I would expect the Liberators to march east, link up with their fleet and then land in Italy. But then what ? How would the Roman world develop, both short and long-term ? Would some sort of reformed republic emerge or would it descend into renewed civil war at the first possible chance and then increasing autocracy ?

#2 (octavian killed early in the battle instead of succesfully hiding in a swamp)
if the liberators defeat and kill Octavian, I give them a 90% chance of winning the battle. Their morale will skyrocket and they will gain lots of loot. This leads to less impatience and fewer desertions amongst their men, critically the mercenaries. This (and Cassius' survival) then leads to Brutus not being forced to attack when he did. This leads to the news of Admiral Ahenobarbus' victory over the triumvir fleet vest of Greece reaching the liberators and the realization on their part that Marc Anthony is for all intents and purposes trapped and running out of supplies. This enables them to keep their army in check, while this time its Anthony's men that begin deserting.

You thus end up with a situation that corresponds perfectly to Brutus' and Cassius' original battle plan, of having a starved enemy charge their fortified positions. while stranger things have happened, I doubt Anthony will be able to snatch a victory in these conditions. Moreover, he wont be able to retreat his army to Italy directly, but instead have to use the long route up the Adriatic coast on foot due to the triumvir fleet being defeated. Brutus and Cassius thus have a very good shot at reaching Italy before him, or trapping and destroying him altogether.

Lepidus might try and fight, but he's not really a leader and doesn't have many troops anyway, since Octavian and Marc Anthony took most of them to Greece. What he might do is possibly hand over the keys to Rome in exchange for some sort of position in the future government, or at least semi-retirement like was forced upon him by Octavian OTL.

Sextus Pompeius controls Sicily and a considerable fleet at this point, and might try and take Rome, but its a long shot given everyone will want to ingratiate themselves with the victors in the east. Most likely a political settlement will be reached between him and the Liberators, possibly setting the stage for another round of civil wars several years down the line.

If he does try and fight, he simply can't match the resources Brutus and Cassius have at their disposal. Any war between him and them will probably be very similar to the one he fought against Octavian and Marc Anthony, with the same forgone conclusion
 
In this scenario the interesting part is what happens to Rome when the Liberatores return.

What would they do about the situation in Rome, how would they deal with Egypt and the Parthians, who in OTL invaded in 39BC (just a few years later)?

I would expect Brutus and Cassius would devide the spoils, as many of their supporters had been killed in Octavian and Anthony's proscriptions already, there's plenty to divide. Lepidus seems practical enough to come to an accomodation with them. (Might this even lead to a Third Triumvirate?)

One of them would need to go to Asia to put Roman affairs (Egypt, Parthia and a few dozen client rulers) in order. Cassius seems to be the logical person for theat job (he had already fought at Carrhae a decade before and been a Governor of Syria). Sextus Pompey needs to be dealt with on Sicily.
 
I guess the question would be how the Republicans intended to repair the Constitution that Caesar had ripped up and then stamped on.

The Sullan constitution was ripped appart bye Pompey and Crassus, while Caesar killed it off, its was dead before he came along. Most of the serrious damage is already done. Gaul is conquerd and that is a very very bad thing for rome.
 
I gues in the short term they could come to an agreement with both Sextus and Lepidus, although the latter did oppose them, so they might sideline him along the way, or fight him if he resists (though that fight will be totally one-sided, since Mark Anthony and Octavian took most of the army with them to Greece).

Giving out land to the Legions will probably be one of their most pressing concerns. They might have the Senate organize the whole thing in an effort to increase its power and legitimacy.

Egypt will probably be forced to pay to pay tribute, while the Republic will probably pay tribute itself to Parthia for a short time for the assistance it offered to the Liberators. This will probably not go down well and Brutus and Cassius might find themselves forced into a war in the east against Parthia, probably over who gets overlordship over the petty states in the area

EDIT: If and when Brutus and Cassius do go to war against Parthia, I can probably see Sextus making a bid for power, probably suported by Cleopatra.

Even if they win this one as well, the duo will have their hands full with a very politically unstable Rome, which, ironically, migth push them towards centralizing more and more power onto themselves or a rubber-stamp Senate, aquiring lots of wealth, everyone seeking their patronage, all in the name of ending the chaos.
 
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