What was the Roman triumvirate?

The Roman triumvirate was a political alliance between three powerful men in the Roman Republic: Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus. The First Triumvirate was formed in 60 BC to support Caesar's campaign for consul. The alliance was successful and Caesar was elected consul, after which he used his position to advance the political interests of the triumvirs. In 59 BC, Caesar was given the governorship of Cisalpine Gaul and Transalpine Gaul, and he used this position to conquer most of Gaul. Pompey and Crassus also benefited from the alliance, with Pompey gaining control of the Mediterranean Sea and Crassus becoming the richest man in Rome.

The First Triumvirate was dissolved in 54 BC when Crassus was killed in battle against the Parthians. Pompey and Caesar then emerged as rivals for control of the Roman Republic. In 49 BC, Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with his army and marched on Rome, beginning the Roman Civil War. Pompey was defeated at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC and fled to Egypt, where he was assassinated. Caesar was then declared dictator of Rome and held the position until his assassination in 44 BC.

The Second Triumvirate was formed in 43 BC between Julius Caesar's adopted son, Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. The goal of the Second Triumvirate was to avenge the death of Julius Caesar and defeat the assassins who had killed him. The triumvirs proscribed their enemies and executed them, including Cicero and Brutus. The triumvirs also divided the Roman Republic into three parts, with Octavian taking the west and parts of North Africa, Antony taking the east, and Lepidus taking Africa. The Second Triumvirate was dissolved in 33 BC, after Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium. Octavian then became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.