On the 27th of November 43 BC, a law known as the lex Titia transformed three men into rulers with absolute authority. Mark Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian received powers to make or repeal legislation without senate approval. They could issue judicial punishments without due process or right of appeal. The law allowed them to appoint all other magistrates in the Roman world. This legal framework exceeded the power held by ordinary consuls. Ancient records on the Capitoline Fasti listed the triumvirs above the consuls. Their term was set for five years initially before renewal in 37 BC. The trio divided the Roman world into three sets of provinces under their control.
Proscriptions And Purges
The triumvirs issued a declaration stating that Julius Caesar's clementia had been a failure. Appended to this statement was a death list containing names of political enemies. Plutarch recorded figures ranging from 200 to 300 men proscribed across different accounts. Livy mentioned 130 senators while Florus gave 140 senators. Appian described 17 names added first followed by two rounds adding 130 and 150 others. Cicero appeared on the death lists along with his brother Quintus and nephew. Persons on these lists faced property confiscation sold to raise funds for the state. Freelance assassins received cash rewards for aiding in the killings. Some victims escaped to Macedonia or Sicily while others pleaded successfully for clemency. The triumvirs seized eighteen rich Italian towns and redistributed them to their soldiers.