The Perusine War 41–40 BC: Socio-Political and Military Aspects

The Perusine War is an episode in the last cycle of civil wars in Rome before the establishment of the Principate, when in 41-40 B.C. Lucius Antony and Fulvia (the brother and the wife of Mark Antony) fought against Octavian (future Caesar Augustus) and were forced to capitulate in the town of Perusia. Nevertheless, the accounts of the military operations of this war in the ancient authorities are fragmentary and confused. The research considers the essence of the maneuvers which preceded the siege of Perusia. What emerges is that in the early beginning of the war Lucius marched on Rome and took it, but after Octavian's troops approached, he left the city with the intention of joining Antony's lieutenants in Gaul (Pollio and Ventidius), who were marching from Gaul to Italy through the Alps. However, the generals of Octavian (Salvidienus and Agrippa) managed to surround consul and thwart his plan. Lucius, closely pursued by Salvidienus and Agrippa, flung himself into Perusia, where he was besieged by Agrippa, Salvidienus and Octavian. In sum, the investigation of the armed action of the Perusine conflict enables to reconstruct in full the military maneuvers of the warring parties on the basis of unclear and scattered references given by sources.