Battle of Philippi The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Wars of the Second Triumvirate between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian ( of the Second Triumvirate ) and the forces of Julius Caesar ' s assassins Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus in 42 BC , at Philippi in Macedonia . The Second Triumvirate declared this civil war to avenge Julius Caesar ' s murder . The battle consisted of two engagements in the plain west of the ancient city of Philippi . The first occurred on the first week of October ; Brutus faced Octavian , while Antony ' s forces were up against those of Cassius . At first , Brutus pushed back Octavian and entered his legions ' camp . But to the south , Cassius was defeated by Antony , and committed suicide after hearing a false report that Brutus had also failed . Brutus rallied Cassius ' remaining troops and both sides ordered their army to retreat to their camps with their spoils , and the battle was essentially a draw , but for Cassius ' suicide . A second encounter , on 23 October , finished off Brutus ' s forces , and he committed suicide in turn , leaving the triumvirate in control of the Roman Republic . Prelude . After the murder of Caesar , Brutus and Cassius ( the two main conspirators , also known as the Liberatores and leaders of the Republicans ) had left Italy and taken control of all Eastern provinces ( from Greece to Syria ) and of the allied Eastern kingdoms . In Rome the three main Caesarian leaders ( Antony , Octavian and Lepidus ) , who controlled almost all the Roman army in the west , had crushed the opposition of the senate and established the second triumvirate . One of their first tasks was to destroy the Liberators ’ forces , not only to get full control of the Roman world , but also to avenge Caesar ’ s death . The triumvirs decided that Lepidus would remain in Italy , while the two main partners of the triumvirate ( Antony and Octavian ) moved to Northern Greece with their best troops ( a total of 28 legions ) . They were able to ferry their army across the Adriatic and sent out a scouting force of eight legions ( commanded by Norbanus and Saxa ) along the via Egnatia , with the aim of searching for the Liberators ' army . Norbanus and Saxa passed the town of Philippi in eastern Macedonia and took a strong defensive position at a narrow mountain pass . Antony was following , while Octavian was delayed at Dyrrachium because of his ill - health ( which would accompany him throughout the Philippi campaign ) . Although the triumvirs had been able to cross the sea with their main force , further communications with Italy were made difficult by the arrival of the Republican admiral Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus , with a large fleet of 130 ships . The Liberators did not wish to engage in a decisive battle , but rather to attain a good defensive position and then use their naval superiority to block the triumvirs ’ communications with their supply base in Italy . They had spent the previous months plundering Greek cities to swell their war - chest and had gathered in Thrace with the Roman legions from the Eastern provinces and levies from allies . With their superior forces they were able to outflank Norbanus and Saxa , who had to abandon their defensive position and retreat west of Philippi . Thus , Brutus and Cassius could position holding the high ground along both sides of the via Egnatia , about 3 . 5 km west of the city of Philippi . The south position was anchored to a supposedly impassable marsh , while on the north to impervious hills . They had plenty of time to fortify their position with a rampart and a ditch . Brutus put his camp on the north while Cassius on the south of the via Egnatia . Antony arrived shortly and positioned his army on the south of the via Egnatia , while Octavian put his legions north of the road . Opposing forces . The Triumvirs ' army included nineteen legions ( other legions had been left behind ) . The sources report specifically the name of only one legion ( IV legion ) , but other legions present included the VI , VII , VIII , X Equestris , XII , III , XXVI , XXVIII , XXIX , and XXX , since their veterans participated in the land settlements after the battle . Appian reports that the triumvirs ’ legions were almost at full complement . Furthermore , they had a large allied cavalry force ( 13 , 000 horsemen with Octavian and 20 , 000 with Antony ) . The Liberators ' army had seventeen legions ( eight with Brutus and nine with Cassius , while two other legions were with the fleet ) . Only two of the legions were at full strength , but the army was reinforced by levies from the Eastern allied kingdoms . Appian reports that the army mustered a total of about 80 , 000 foot - soldiers . Allied cavalry included a total of 17 , 000 horsemen , including 5 , 000 bowmen mounted in the Eastern fashion . This army included the old Caesarean legions present in the East ( probably with XXVII , XXXVI , XXXVII , XXXI and XXXIII legions ) ; thus most of these legionaries were former Caesarean veterans . However , at least the XXXVI legion consisted of old Pompeian veterans , enrolled in Caesar ' s army after the Battle of Pharsalus . The loyalty of the soldiers who were supposed to fight against Caesar ’ s heir was a delicate issue for the Liberators . ( It is important to emphasize that the name " Octavian " was never used by contemporaries : he was simply known as " Gaius Iulius Caesar " ) . Cassius tried in all ways to reinforce the soldiers ’ loyalty both with strong speeches ( " Let it give no one any concern that he has been one of Caesar ' s soldiers . We were not his soldiers then , but our country ' s " ) and with a gift of 1 , 500 denarii for each legionary and 7 , 500 for each centurion . Although ancient sources do not report the total numbers of men of the two armies , it seems that they had a similar strength . Modern historians put the total at about 100 , 000 legionaries on each side . The First Battle of Philippi . Antony offered battle several times , but the Liberators were not lured to leave their defensive stand . Thus , Antony tried to secretly outflank the Liberators ' position through the marshes in the south . With great effort he was able to cut a passage through the marshes , throwing up a causeway upon them . This manoeuvre was finally noticed by Cassius who tried a countermove by moving part of his army south into the marshes and making a transverse dam , trying to cut off Antony ’ s outstretched right wing . This brought about a general battle on October 3 , 42 BC . Antony ordered a charge against Cassius , aiming at the fortifications between Cassius ' s camp and the marshes . At the same time , Brutus ' s soldiers , provoked by the triumvir ’ s army , rushed against Octavian ’ s army , without waiting for the order of attack ( given with the watchword " Liberty " ) . This surprise assault had complete success : Octavian ’ s troops were put to flight and pursued up to their camp , which was captured by Brutus ’ s men , led by Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus . Three of Octavian ’ s legionary standards were also taken , a clear sign of disbandment . Octavian was not found in his tent : his couch was pierced and cut to pieces . Most ancient historians say that he had been warned in a dream to beware of that day , as he had himself written in his memoirs . Pliny bluntly reports that Octavian went hiding into a marsh . However , on the other side of the via Egnatia , Antony was able to storm Cassius ’ fortifications , demolishing the palisade and filling up the ditch . Then he easily took Cassius ’ s camp , which was defended by only a few men . It seems that part of Cassius ’ s army had advanced south : when these men tried to come back they were easily repulsed by Antony . Apparently the battle had ended in a draw . Cassius had lost 9 , 000 men , while Octavian had about 18 , 000 casualties . However , the battlefield was very large and clouds of dust made it impossible to make a clear assessment of the outcome of the battle , so both parts were ignorant of each other ' s fate . Cassius moved to the top of a hill , but could not see well what was happening on Brutus ’ s side . Believing that he had suffered a crushing defeat he ordered his freedman Pindarus to kill him . Brutus mourned over Cassius ’ s body , calling him " the last of the Romans " . However , he avoided a public funeral , fearing its negative effects on the army morale . Alternative sources credit the avarice of Brutus ' troops as the factor that undid their definitive victory on October 3 . Premature looting and gathering of treasure by Brutus ' s advancing forces allowed Octavian ' s troops to re - form their line . In Octavian ' s future reign as Emperor , a common battle cry became , " Complete the battle once begun ! " The Second Battle . On the same day as the first battle of Philippi , the Republican fleet was able to intercept and destroy the triumvirs ' reinforcements ( two legions and other troops and supplies led by Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus ) . Thus , the strategic position of Antony and Octavian became quite serious , since the already depleted regions of Macedonia and Thessaly were unable to supply their army for long , while Brutus could easily receive supplies from the sea . The triumvirs had to send a legion south to Achaia to collect more supplies . The morale of the troops was boosted by the promise of further 5 , 000 denarii for each soldier and 25 , 000 for each centurion . On the other side , however , the Liberators ’ army was left without its best strategic mind . Brutus had less military experience than Cassius and , even worse , he could not obtain the same sort of respect from his allies and his soldiers , although after the battle he offered another gift of 1 , 000 denarii for each soldier . In the next three weeks , Antony was able to slowly advance his forces south of Brutus ’ s army , fortifying a hill close to Cassius ’ s former camp , which had been left unguarded by Brutus . To avoid being outflanked Brutus was compelled to extend his line to the south , parallel to the via Egnatia , building several fortified posts . Brutus ' s defensive position was still secure , holding the high ground with a safe line of communication with the sea . He still wanted to keep the original plan of avoiding an open engagement while waiting for his naval superiority to wear out the enemy . Unfortunately , most of his officers and soldiers were tired of the delaying tactics and demanded another attempt at an open battle . Probably both Brutus and his officers feared the risk of having their soldiers deserting to the enemy if they did not keep their ascendancy on the troops . Plutarch also reports that Brutus had not received news of Domitius Calvinus ' defeat in the Ionian Sea . Thus , when some of the eastern allies and mercenaries started deserting , Brutus was forced to attack on the afternoon of October 23 . As he said " I seem to carry on war like Pompey the Great , not so much commanding now as commanded . " The battle resulted in close combat between two armies of well - trained veterans . Arrows or javelins were largely ignored ; instead , the soldiers packed into solid ranks and fought face - to - face with their swords , and the slaughter was terrible . In the end , Brutus ’ s attack was repulsed , and his soldiers routed in confusion , their ranks broken . Octavian ' s soldiers were able to capture the gates of Brutus ’ s camp before the routing army could reach this defensive position . Thus , Brutus ’ s army could not reform , which made the triumvirs ’ victory complete . Brutus was able to retreat into the nearby hills with the equivalent of only 4 legions . Seeing that surrender and capture were inevitable , Brutus committed suicide . The total casualties for the second battle of Philippi were not reported , but the close quarters fighting likely resulted in heavy losses for both sides . Aftermath . Plutarch reports that Antony covered Brutus ' s body with a purple garment as a sign of respect . Although they had not been close friends , he remembered that Brutus had stipulated , as a condition for his joining the plot to assassinate Caesar , that the life of Antony be spared . Many other young Roman aristocrats lost their lives in the battle or committed suicide after the defeat , including the son of great orator Hortensius , and Marcus Porcius Cato ( the son of Cato the Younger ) , and Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus ( the father of Livia , who became Octavian ’ s wife ) . Some of the nobles who were able to escape negotiated their surrender to Antony and entered his service ( among them Lucius Calpurnius Bibulus and Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus ) . Apparently , the nobles did not want to deal with the young and merciless Octavian . The remains of the Liberators ’ army were rounded up and roughly 14 , 000 men were enrolled into the triumvirs ' army . Old veterans were discharged back to Italy , but some of the veterans remained in the town of Philippi , which became a Roman colony ( " Colonia Victrix Philippensium " ) . Antony remained in the East , while Octavian returned to Italy , with the difficult task of finding sufficient land on which to settle a large number of veterans . Despite the fact that Sextus Pompeius was controlling Sicily and Domitius Ahenobarbus still commanded the republican fleet , the republican resistance had been definitively crushed at Philippi . The Battle of Philippi marked the highest point of Antony ' s career : at that time he was the most famous Roman general and the senior partner of the Second Triumvirate . Quotes . Plutarch famously reported that Brutus experienced a vision of a ghost a few months before the battle . One night he saw a huge and shadowy form appearing in front of him ; when he calmly asked , " What and whence art thou ? " it answered " Thy evil spirit , Brutus : I shall see thee at Philippi . " He again met the ghost the night before the battle . This episode is one of the most famous in Shakespeare ’ s play Julius Caesar . Plutarch also reports the last words of Brutus , quoted by a Greek tragedy " O wretched Virtue , thou wert but a name , and yet I worshipped thee as real indeed ; but now , it seems , thou were but fortune ' s slave . " Augustus ’ s own version of the Battle of Philippi : " I sent into exile the murderers of my father , punishing their crimes with regular tribunals , afterwards , when they made war to the Republic I twice defeated them in battle " . " Qui parentem meum [ interfecer ] un [ t eo ] s in exilium expuli iudiciis legitimis ultus eorum [ fa ] cin [ us , e ] t postea bellum inferentis rei publicae vici b [ is a ] cie " . Res Gestae 2 . Popular culture . The battle figures in Shakespeare ' s " Julius Caesar " ( background of the story in Acts 4 and 5 ) , in which there is only one battle , though the information is mostly accurate . A fictionalised account of the battle is depicted in the sixth episode of the second season of the HBO television series " Rome " ( there is but a single battle and both Cassius and Brutus fall in battle instead of being suicides , though Brutus ' death is a lone , suicidal attack on the triumvirs ' advancing forces ) . P . G . Wodehouse makes at least five references in his novels to " Meeting at Philippi " in " Mike " , " Thank You Jeeves " , " Uncle Fred In The Springtime " , " A Damsel in Distress " and the " Inimitable Jeeves "