Rome in 44BC

[kimzotic]

My ques is about 44BC. What is meanr by the term free government & what were the political & military problems when Cicero tried to restore it?

[Octavius]

After Caesar's death in March 44 BC, the task of reforming the Roman state and restoring peace and stability fell to his grandnephew, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, only eighteen years old, who purged all opposition to his complete control of the Roman empire and was granted the honorific title of Augustus in 27 B.C.  He was assisted by Mark Antony as Consul and executor of Casears will.

Cicero was shocked at Caesars death and never got on with Antony and tried to play Octavian against him with public speeches - the Philippics.

Cicero's plan to drive out Octavian and Antony failed, however. The next year the two reconciled and allied with Lepidus to form the Triumvirate for the Constitution of the Republic.  Following this the 2 became enemies of the state and Cicerio was caught and decapitated on 7 Dec 43BC.  Lepidus subsequently joined Octavian and Antony in the second Triumvirate of Rome.

Octavian then fell out with Antony and defeated him in 31 BC. He was then in sole command in Rome and changed the government of Rome from that of republican government to a monarchy with himself as head. This was known as a Principate - rule by the Princeps or First Man.