Marcus Brutus begins to
plunder the
cities of
Asia Minor, in order to obtain
money and
soldiers. The inhabitants of
Lycia refuse to
submit to
Rome, and Brutus
besiegesXanthus. After destroying their
suburbs, the Xanthians withdraw into the heavily fortified city. The Roman
legionaries (2,000 men) force the gate and fight their way into the forum. The citizens make a last stand by the temple of
Sarpedon and, as night falls, the
Roman army conquers the city.
September – Brutus and Cassius cross the
Hellespont. They march to
Doriscus but further progress is blocked by Saxa's occupation of the Corpili Pass.
Saxa retreats to link up with Norbanus at the Sapaei Pass. The Republicans outflank the enemy, forging an alternate route through the mountains in the north.
Brutus and Cassius advance to
Philippi and build
fortifications. Antony links up with Norbanus and Saxa at Amphipolis, Octavian arrives on a
litter 10 days later.
October 3 –
First Battle of Philippi: The Triumvirs
Mark Antony and
Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's assassins
Marcus Brutus and
Cassius. The Roman forces including 2,000
Spartans, who have just arrived, are routed. Octavian takes refuge in the
marsh. Cassius' camp is captured by Antony's men and, wrongly fearing that Brutus is dead, Cassius commits suicide. He orders his freedman Pindarus to kill him. Brutus, fearing the impact on morale, secretly buries his beheaded body on
Thasos. The Republican navy, in the Adriatic, intercept and destroy the supply ships with two legions of the Triumvirs.
October 23 –
Second Battle of Philippi: Brutus' army is defeated by Antony and Octavian. The Triumvirs smash through the weakened Republican centre and take Brutus's right wing in their flank. After the battle, 14,000 legionaries lay down their arms. Brutus flees to the heights of Philippi, where he commits suicide the following day. After the victory, Brutus' body is brought to Antonius' camp, where he casts his purple
paludamentum over his dead body and orders an honourable funeral for his erstwhile comrade. The Republican cause is crushed, and Rome rests in the hands of the
Second Triumvirate.