Editing Second Triumvirate (section)

==== Antony in the east ====
While Antony was in Italy, his lieutenant [[Publius Ventidius]] scored major victories against the Parthian invasion of Asia Minor: he defeated Labienus' forces and presumably had him killed. He also won the [[Battle of Amanus Pass]] against Phranipates, the Parthian [[satrap]] of Syria, killing the satrap and forcing the Parthians to retreat beyond the [[Euphrates]]. All of these victories were won before the autumn of 39&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=21}}

Antony wintered in Athens and returned eastward in the spring of 38&nbsp;BC. With the defence of the provinces largely complete, he prioritised reorganisations in the eastern provinces and client states. Among other boundary adjustments, he gave Cleopatra portions of eastern Cilicia and Cyprus with which to harvest timber to build a fleet. He also started to publicly identify with the god [[Dionysus]].{{sfn|Pelling|1996|pp=21–22}} But before he moved further east he was drawn back to [[Brundisium]] by Octavian to discuss a worsening situation in Italy; when Octavian did not arrive promptly, he issued a public rebuke and sailed east for Syria, where he found Ventidius' victories uninterrupted.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=23}} Ventidius was relieved of command by Antony and then returned to Rome to celebrate a triumph on 27 November 38&nbsp;BC before dying shortly thereafter.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=24}}