Editing Second Triumvirate (section)

=== Antony turns east ===
In the aftermath of Philippi, Antony moved to reorganise the wealthy eastern provinces. His provinces and legions were also adduced: retaining Transalpine Gaul, he took Narbonensis from Lepidus, though he gave up Cisalpine Gaul to Italy. Octavian's assignment was less easy: he would have the privilege of settling the veterans of Philippi in Italy and carrying on the war against Sextus Pompey in Sicily. Lepidus, however, not sharing in the glory, gave Spain to Octavian in return for Africa only.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=9}} This new strategic position placed Antony at the head of an enormous advantage. His position in the east allowed him enormous resources with which he could overwhelm the west as Sulla had. His position in Gaul gave him easy access to Italy, just as Caesar had before [[Caesar's civil war|his civil war]]. Moreover, while Antony would be in the east, his trusted lieutenants controlled the Gallic provinces. This strategic position placed him firmly at the head of the triumvirate.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|pp=9–10}}

Antony moved first against [[Parthian Empire|Parthia]], which had aided the ''liberatores'' and was harbouring the Pompeian commander [[Quintus Labienus]], (son of [[Titus Labienus]] who had served with Caesar during the [[Gallic Wars|Gallic wars]] and fought against him during the [[Caesar's civil war|civil war]]).{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=10}} In the preparations for war, however, Antony found most of the east largely sucked dry by the previous armies of [[Publius Cornelius Dolabella (consul 44 BC)|Dolabella]], Cassius, and Brutus, and so was gentle with the areas that Brutus and Cassius had pillaged. He also displayed favour for great cultural centres and toured the eastern provinces seeking to buttress popular support.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|pp=10–11}}

Moving down the Mediterranean coast, Antony confirmed a number of rulers – in spite of their previous support for the ''liberatores'' or for Parthia – in Palestine and called Cleopatra to attend to him in Cilicia.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|pp=11–12}} Cleopatra quickly entered into an affair with Antony, which proved useful to her: Antony helped her secure her throne with the death of her sister [[Arsinoe IV|Arsinoe]] and against other Ptolemaic claimants. While ancient writers speculated on Antony being manipulated by the Egyptian queen, it is more likely in this period he was merely attempting to strengthen Cleopatra's position in Egypt as part of his policy of favouring strong allied monarchs. Regardless, he left her in the spring of 40 to embark on a campaign against Parthia.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=12}}

The Parthians, in the winter of 41 BC, knowing that Antony was preparing an offensive, struck first. Invading Asia Minor and Syria under the command of [[Pacorus I|Pacorus]] and [[Quintus Labienus]] in the early spring of 40&nbsp;BC, the Parthian forces were largely unchallenged: Pacorus moved south for Palestine while Labienus moved west through Cilicia for Ionia.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=13}} Antony at the time was wholly distracted from the Parthian invasion due to the [[Perusine War]].{{sfn|Pelling|1996|pp=13–14}}