Marcus Brutus begins toplunder thecities ofAsia Minor, in order to obtainmoney andsoldiers. The inhabitants ofLycia refuse tosubmit toRome, and BrutusbesiegesXanthus. After destroying theirsuburbs, the Xanthians withdraw into the heavily fortified city. The Romanlegionaries (2,000 men) force the gate and fight their way into the forum. The citizens make a last stand by the temple ofSarpedon and, as night falls, theRoman army conquers the city.
September – Brutus and Cassius cross theHellespont. They march toDoriscus but further progress is blocked by Saxa's occupation of the Corpili Pass.
Saxa retreats to link up with Norbanus at the Sapaei Pass. The Republicans outflank the enemy, forging an alternate route through the mountains in the north.
Brutus and Cassius advance toPhilippi and buildfortifications. Antony links up with Norbanus and Saxa at Amphipolis, Octavian arrives on alitter 10 days later.
October 3 –First Battle of Philippi: The TriumvirsMark Antony andOctavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's assassinsMarcus Brutus andCassius. The Roman forces including 2,000Spartans, who have just arrived, are routed. Octavian takes refuge in themarsh. Cassius' camp is captured by Antony's men and, wrongly fearing that Brutus is dead, Cassius commits suicide. He orders his freedman Pindarus to kill him. Brutus, fearing the impact on morale, secretly buries his beheaded body onThasos. The Republican navy, in the Adriatic, intercept and destroy the supply ships with two legions of the Triumvirs.
October 23 –Second Battle of Philippi: Brutus' army is defeated by Antony and Octavian. The Triumvirs smash through the weakened Republican centre and take Brutus's right wing in their flank. After the battle, 14,000 legionaries lay down their arms. Brutus flees to the heights of Philippi, where he commits suicide the following day. After the victory, Brutus' body is brought to Antonius' camp, where he casts his purplepaludamentum over his dead body and orders an honourable funeral for his erstwhile comrade. The Republican cause is crushed, and Rome rests in the hands of theSecond Triumvirate.
