Triumvirate
a coalition of three applied to two great coalitions of the men in office or authority; specifically three most powerful individuals in the Roman empire for the time being. The first of these was effected in the year 60 B. C., between Julius Cæsar, Pompey, and Crassus, who pledged themselves to support each other with all their influence. This coalition was broken by the fall of Crassus at Carrhæ in Mesopotamia; which ended with the death of Pompey, soon after which the civil war broke out, and establishment of Julius Cæsar as perpetual dictator. After his murder, and after the battle of Mutina, 43 B. C., 44 B. C., the civil war again broke out; Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus coalesced, thus forming the second triumvirate.
They divided the provinces of the em- Italy, and Antony the East. pire; Octavius taking the West, Lepidus military highroad. The trocha played an