What did the ancient Roman civil war acomplish?

Answer 1

There were many civil wars during the centuries' long existence of the Roman Republic, and later when it is referred to as the Roman Empire. Many might be classified as major, others as less than major. One of the most "game changing" civil wars was between Octavian, the nephew & adopted son of the murdered Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony. Antony had been a member of the Second Triumvirate and friend of Caesar along with Octavian and Lepidus. In 42 BC the Triumvirate abolished the Senate controlled army led by Cassius and Brutus. Lepidus, who had been Julius Caesar's military lieutenant was forced to resign. Mark Antony had forged a romantic and military alliance with Cleopatra, the ruling queen of Egypt. By 31 BC, the governing relationship between Octavian and Antony reached an impassable breach. Octavian accused Antony of trying to establish his own kingdom in the eastern part of Rome's empire. Octavian began his actions based on the story that Antony planned to establish Alexandria as the capitol of his new empire with its own Senate and institutions.

Octavian accused Antony of waging war without the proper Senatorial consent, on Armenia and Parthia. He also accused Antony of the "illegal" murder of Sextus Pompeius without charge of guilt in anything. Pompeius' fame was based on his brilliant military campaigns and he was an influential person.

Antony accused Octavius of forging Julius Caesar's will to ensure that he ( Octavian) had been chosen as Caesar's true and proper successor to power over the empire.

Antony and his new wife Cleopatra began preparing for war against Octavian by assembling a large army and naval fleet near Actium. The forces of Antony & Cleopatra consisted of 73,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry and 480 warships.

With his base in Rome, Octavian began to build up his legions for battle. He led a successful propaganda campaign to demonstrate that Antony was a traitor to Rome. In a brilliant maneuver, Octavian had his legions swear an oath of loyalty to him and not the Roman State. This was to ensure that whatever power he had was based on him personally and crush any desenters who may have claimed that he had no legal authority.

By the Spring of 31 BC war was close. Antony held his army at Epirus in Greece. He waited there for any attempt by Octavian to move east into Greece. Octavian sent a small army under the leadership of Agrippa to attempt to cut communication lines between the forces of Antony. Octavian led his main army across the Adriatic Sea and quartered them, after a march from Dyrrhachium, to camp about 5 miles from Actium which was close to Antony's forces.

After minor battles in June to August, the major battle of Actiium in the first days of September was set in motion. Agrippa was in charge of Octavian's fleet of 400 ships. He was outnumbered by Antony's fleet of 500 ships. As a back up Cleopatracommanded an additional 60 ships behind the main fleet. The ensuing sea battle was won by Agrippa. This forced Antony and Cleopatra to escape with what ships they had left to safer waters. The land battles were also a victory for Octavian and Antony's main general, Canidius, fled, leaving his troops to surrender to Octavian. Many of Octavian's legions had fought with Julius Caesar and were seasoned veterans for up to 20 years of service.

Warfare continued throughout the Eastern Mediterranean

By 29 BC Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide and Octavian was the overwhelming victor in this most important civil war. It led eventually to Octavian ruling the entire empire. By 27 BC the Senate elevated Octavian to the title of Augustus. This was the beginning of the emperor era and the end of the Roman Republic. ...

On the positive side the victory of Octavian brought with it almost two centuries of peace and prosperity.

Answer 2

There were several ancient Roman civil wars. Perhaps the most famous one was the conflict between Octavian, the nephew of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony and Cleopatra. This war erupted upon the assassination of Julius Caesar.
When Octavian destroyed the efforts of Mark Antony and Cleopatra to rule the Roman Empire, to major accomplishments came with Octavian's victory. One was the end of all hopes of a Roman republic to ever be restored. Octavian became the first "emperor" of the Roman empire and established the Pax Romana. Octavian was elevated to divinity and became Augustus Caesar. Also, Julius Caesar's closest friend, Mark Antony killed himself as did Cleopatra.