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Antony and Octavian defeat Caesar's killers at Philippi

42 BCE, Philippi. An event.

Where and when

42 BCEPhilippi

2,067 years ago

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, Philippi

In two battles in northern Greece, Antony and Octavian beat Brutus and Cassius. Both of Caesar's killers take their own lives.

After a few days had intervened, a second battle was fought, and Brutus, being defeated, slew himself

Plutarch, Life of Antony 22.4Translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1920)Read the full passage (Plutarch, Life of Antony 22.4, opens scaife.perseus.org)

Background: Battle of Philippi, Wikipedia (opens en.wikipedia.org)

Why it matters

Philippi left the triumvirs in control of the Roman Republic, and Republican resistance was definitively crushed there.

Based on Wikipedia: Battle of Philippi

He took his own life in turn, leaving the triumvirate in control of the Roman Republic.

the Republican resistance had been definitively crushed at Philippi

Wikipedia, Battle of Philippi (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-09-14. Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Our line is checked against these sentences only.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. 48 BCE6 years earlier Caesar defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Also about war and empire
  2. 47 BCE5 years earlier Caesar's three words, as Plutarch tells it Also about war and empire
  3. 46 BCE4 years earlier Cato kills himself rather than accept Caesar's pardon Same years
  4. 44 BCE2 years earlier Caesar is stabbed to death in the Senate Same years
  5. 43 BCE1 year earlier Cicero is killed on Antony's orders Same years
  6. 42 BCEThis momentAntony and Octavian defeat Caesar's killers at Philippi
  7. 41 BCE1 year later Cleopatra sails to Antony, in Plutarch Rests on this event
  8. c. 41–40 BCE1 year later Antony's idle days, as Plutarch tells it Same years
  9. 41 BCE1 year later Plutarch on Cleopatra's charm Same years

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