The Battle of Philippi: The Last Stand of the Roman Republic

The Battle of Philippi: The Last Stand of the Roman Republic

I have been learning more about Roman history, in particular the time surrounding Julius Caesar.

Yesterday I touched on the Battle of Philippi, and today I want to dig a little bit deeper and find out more about it. It feels like one of those moments in history where everything that people believed in was tested.

After Caesar’s assassination on the 15th of March 44 BC, Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus believed they had acted for the good of Rome. They seem to have convinced themselves that they were restoring the Republic, and that their actions would bring balance back to a system they felt was becoming more like a tyranny. But instead, there was unrest. Rome did not react the they had thought it would. They had created a power struggle. In response, Caesar’s supporters -especially Mark Antony and Octavian-formed an alliance to avenge him, leading Rome into another civil war.

By 42 BC, Brutus and Cassius had gathered their forces in the eastern provinces, they were preparing for what must have felt like an inevitable confrontation. On the opposing side was Mark Antony and Octavian. Both sides were not just fighting for power, but for their vision for Rome. 

The fighting took place near the city of Philippi. The first clash came in October 42 BC. It was chaotic and confusing. Brutus’ forces managed to break through Octavian’s lines, giving them brief  belief that that victory might be possible. However, Cassius was facing Antony, and his position began to collapse. In the confusion, and with poor communication across the battlefield, Cassius was wrongly led to believe that all was lost.

A single misunderstanding changed everything. Believing he was defeated, Cassius chose to take his own life. Did he feel that he had failed Rome, or that Rome had already been lost long?

Brutus was still alive and completely unaware at first of Cassius’ death, he tried to continue. There perhaps was still a belief that he could still salvage something from the chaos. But the second battle, fought later that same month, brought a decisive end. Antony’s forces proved stronger, and Brutus’ army began to break.

He was faced with the reality of his defeat, Brutus made the same decision as Cassius. Rather than be captured and paraded, he chose to end his life. 

The Battle of Philippi did not just mean the defeat of two men. It also was the end of the Roman Republic as they had known it. 

It leaves me wondering, when people believe they are fighting for something greater than themselves, how do they know when to stop?

Image info:

Brutus and his companions after the battle of Philippi

Date: 1900

Author: Weston, W H; Plutarch; Rainey, W