Editing Second Triumvirate (section)

=== Renewal of the triumvirate ===

==== 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}}

==== Octavian in the west ====
The agreement between Sextus Pompey and Octavian, without Antony's presence to balance the two, started to break down in autumn 39&nbsp;BC. That winter, the famine in Italy and pirate raids on grain ships continued. One of Sextus' admirals also defected to Octavian, giving Octavian back the islands of Sardinia and Corsica, along with three legions and sixty ships. Sextus, outraged, declared war.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=24}}

Two large naval battles were fought in the spring of 38&nbsp;BC near [[Cumae]] and near [[Messina|Messana]]. Both resulted in victories for Sextus, but he did not exploit his advantage and allowed Octavian to retire to [[Campania]]. Antony likely sought to maintain the power balance between both Octavian and Sextus for his own advantage. Octavian now requested some support after these defeats. To preserve the balance of power, Antony prepared to move west and provide support. There also was a rebellion in Gaul, which Agrippa put down by the end of 38&nbsp;BC. Agrippa, loyal to Octavian and in light of Octavian's inglorious defeat, tactfully went without a triumph.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=25}}

==== Treaty of Tarentum ====
In the spring of 37&nbsp;BC, Antony sailed for Italy with 300 ships. Denied entrance at Brundisium (the townsfolk suspected an invasion), he docked at Tarentum instead. Octavian travelled there to meet him. Negotiations dragged on until late July or early August. Antony apparently had to be persuaded by his wife Octavia to support Octavian against Sextus.<ref>{{harvnb|Pelling|1996|p=26|ps=, citing {{harvnb|Plut. ''Ant''.|loc=35}}, among others.}}</ref>

They agreed to strip Sextus of his augurate and future consulship. Octavian would wait a year to attack Sextus and would receive 120 ships from Antony in exchange for 20,000 men and 1,000 elite troops.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=26}} The triumvirate also had uncomfortably expired at the end of 38&nbsp;BC. Normal republican practice had magistrates abdicate their offices at the close of their terms; the triumvirs' terms had ended, but they had not abdicated. Nor were any successors appointed. Regardless, the legal position of the triumvirs was of little practical relevance. Making a show of constitutionalism, the triumvirate was then renewed by law for another five years, to expire on the last day of 33&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|pp=26–27}}