Editing Second Triumvirate (section)

=== Parthia and Sicily, 36&nbsp;BC ===
[[Image:Denarius Sextus Pompeius-Scilla.jpg|thumb|[[Denarius]] of Sextus Pompey, minted for his victory over [[Augustus|Octavian]]'s fleet. On the obverse is the Pharus of [[Messina]], on the reverse the monster [[Scylla]].]]

Preparations for war continued apace. Agrippa, serving as consul in 37&nbsp;BC, built a large harbour (the ''[[portus Julius]]'') to train and supply troops against Sextus in Sicily.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=27}} In the east, Roman client [[Herod the Great|Herod]] retook most of Judaea; even better for the Romans, the Parthian threat disappeared amid a dynastic struggle when [[Orodes II]] abdicated in favour of his chosen successor [[Phraates IV]], who promptly murdered his father, all of his brothers, and his own son, precipitating a revolt.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=28}}

Amid a general reorganisation of the east which again strengthened client kingdoms – among a number of changes, Cleopatra received [[Crete]] and [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]], – Antony fathered a son with Cleopatra and publicly acknowledged his paternity of two twins born in 40&nbsp;BC. This may have been related to strengthening Antony and Cleopatra's positions in Egypt and building popular support there; even if so, the relationship was unpopular in Italy and Antony should have known this.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=30}}

==== Parthian campaign ====

Antony demanded the return of Crassus' eagles from Phraates; Phraates, needing to ensure his own position, refused.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=31}} Antony struck north towards [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Armenia]], where he was joined by detachments from allied kings and a Roman governor. With sixteen legions and many auxiliaries, he drove south into Persia.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=32}} Moving quickly without his siege engines, he arrived to Phraata, the Parthian capital, but then discovered that his slow-moving siege engines had been intercepted and destroyed. He was then abandoned by [[Artavasdes II of Armenia|Artavasdes]], the Armenian king; Antony, while successful in some defences, was unable to effectively counter the swift Parthian cavalry.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=33}}

Abandoning the siege, he was forced into a difficult retreat with few supplies and harried by Parthian archers. Over 27 days, the army returned after a famous display of resilience and valour, to Armenia. Reaching an agreement with Artavasdes, Antony continued to retreat through the winter until he reached [[Cappadocia]].{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=33}} In total, he lost around a third of his entire army.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=34}}

The failure of the Parthian campaign fatally damaged Antony's military prestige and power. If it had been successful, it would clearly placed him above Octavian; but after its failure, Antony's fortunes turned for the worse.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=34}}

==== Sicily ====
[[File:S Pompée aureus Sicile C des M.jpg|thumb|Sextus Pompey, depicted on an [[aureus]] minted {{Circa|36&nbsp;BC}}.]]
[[File:War with Sextus Pompeius part 2 en.png|thumb|Troop movements during the joint campaign against Sextus.]]

Agrippa prepared exhaustively for Octavian's campaign against Sicily.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=34}} Octavian also was able to secure support from Lepidus in Africa, who possibly had plans of his own. In July 36&nbsp;BC, Octavian and Lepidus launched a three-pronged attack on Sicily with Octavian's forces landing in the north and east while Lepidus landed in the south.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=34}}

Initially, Octavian's naval forces were beset by storms. Lepidus' forces, however, successfully effected a landing in his theatre and placed one of Sextus' lieutenants under siege in [[Lilybaeum]]. In the north and east, there were naval battles: Octavian was personally defeated off [[Taormina|Tauromenium]] while Agrippa was victorious off [[Milazzo|Mylae]]. Even so, Sextus' forces were stretched thin and Octavian was able to effect landings of 21 legions onto the island. A decisive naval battle ended the campaign, with Agrippa defeating Sextus near [[Battle of Naulochus|Naulochus]] on 3 September 36&nbsp;BC. Sextus, able to muster only 17 ships, fled for Antony in the east.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=35}}

Lepidus, buoyed by victory, attempted to suborn Octavian's troops. After accepting the surrender of Sextus Pompey's legions, he attempted to negotiate with Octavian to exchange Sicily and Africa for his old provinces of Narbonensis and Spain. Octavian, walking into Lepidus' camp almost unaccompanied, secured the loyalty of the soldiers; defeated, Lepidus was then stripped of membership in the triumvirate and his provincial commands. Kept in his property, life, and the title of ''[[pontifex maximus]]'', Lepidus was forced into exile and retirement.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=36}}