• Establishment of a Principate Impact of Death of Caesar, Early Career of Octavian, Second Triumvirate and Civil War - When Caesar was killed on the Ides of March in 44 BC, Octavian was studying and undergoing military training. - Mark Antony had shared the consulship with Caesar and immediately after his assassination; Antony took initiative and gained the support of Lepidus and his troops, as well as obtaining the possession of Caesar’s money. - Caesar had adopted his great-nephew Octavian as his son and main heir. - Upon Octavian’s arrival in Rome, Antony had attempted to block Octavian’s adoption as being legitimate as well as refusing to hand over Caesar’s money. - Octavian burrowed money and sold his property to make sure that the 75 denarii which was promised in Caesar’s will was delivered to the Roman plebs. This gained him great popularity. - Mark Antony later charged that Octavian had earned his adoption by Caesar through sexual favours, though Suetonius describes Antony's accusation as political slander. - Cicero devised a plan to use Octavian for his own benefits and said “Praise him. Honour him. Then get ride of him!” - Cicero began to attack Antony in a series of speeches; with opinion in Rome turning against him and his year of consular power nearing its end, Antony attempted to take control of Gaul, which had been assigned as part of his province. Octavian meanwhile built up a private