Philippi had been fought and lost.

The "Liberators" were crushed.

The struggle between the Republicans and the Monarchists had come to an end.

But, instead of being united, the Roman world was more than ever divided; and the chance of making an actual territorial gain at the expense of the tryant power appeared fairer than it had ever been before.

Three rivals now held divided sway in the Roman State; each of them jealous of the other two, and anxious for his own aggrandizement.