Augustus formed the Second Triumvirate
After Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BCE (by a group led by Brutus and his ally Cassius), a number of ambition-driven factions fought for ultimate control of Rome. Being Caesar's successor, 19-year-old Octavian had to be cautious. Marcus Antonius, also known as Marc Antony, and Marcus Lepidus were opponents he had to deal with. The passing of Julius Caesar had been used by both men to consolidate their positions of power in Rome.
In 43 BCE, Augustus formed and joined the Second Triumvirate amidst all of this political scheming and a very brutal political climate. With the help of the triumvirate, Octavian was able to reconcile Lepidus and Antony. With the help of those supporters, Octavian was able to track out the perpetrators of his great-uncle Julius Caesar's murder using Proscriptions.
At the Battle of Philippi in Macedonia in 42 BCE, Augustus led the Second Triumvirate to victory over their adversaries (Brutus and Cassius) with his almost 30 legions. As they faced defeat, Cassius and Brutus killed themselves.
The triumvirs then divided the Roman Republic's provinces among themselves, thus acting as tyrants. Gaul and the Hispanic province were taken by Augustus (present-day Portugal and Spain). After moving to the east, Antony fell in love with Queen Cleopatra VII. Lepidus seized North Africa as his own territory.
