Editing Second Triumvirate (section)

=== Perusine War, 41–40 BC ===
{{see also|Perusine War}}
{{Location map|Italy
|caption     = Location of [[Perusia]] ([[Perugia]] in Italian) on a map of modern Italy.
|coordinates = {{coord|43|6|44|N|12|23|20|E|display=inline,title}}
|relief      = yes
}}
[[Image:Lucius Antonius.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.8|Coin depicting [[Lucius Antonius (brother of Mark Antony)|Lucius Antonius]].]]

The veterans' demands for lands in Italy – in the midst of a famine, which itself was exacerbated by Sextus Pompey's naval blockade of Italy, – caused protests and unrest throughout the Italian countryside.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=14}} Antony's brother, [[Lucius Antonius (brother of Mark Antony)|Lucius Antonius]], serving as consul for 41&nbsp;BC, and Antony's wife [[Fulvia]] fanned the flames of this unrest to undermine Octavian.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|pp=14–15}} They spread propaganda indicting Octavian's regime with stomping on citizen rights and favouring Octavian's veterans over Antony's. Although there was little truth behind these charges, they were largely able to build up support for a militant rising against Octavian.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|pp=15–16}}

Antony attempted to remain largely aloof to the goings-on, probably so he could exploit the outcome, but his supporters in Italy were largely uninformed of his intentions and readied for conflict. The consul Lucius, in the summer of 41&nbsp;BC, occupied Rome with an army; however, he was beaten back by Octavian's forces and besieged in [[Perusia]]. Unsure of Antony's intentions, the pro-Antony governors in the two Gauls and in southern Italy stood by. Eventually, Perusia was captured: Octavian let Lucius Antonius and Fulvia go and spared Lucius' soldiers when Octavian's own soldiers interceded; Octavian, however, sacked the town, massacred its councillors, and had it burnt to the ground.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=16}}

After the death of one of the pro-Antony governors in Gaul in the summer of 40&nbsp;BC, Octavian occupied the province. He also gained the support of the legions in southern Italy. Antony, concerned, hurried back to Italy from the east that same summer with substantial forces.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=17}}