Empire - S01:E02 - Der Wille

The rise of Octavius who succeeds Julius Caesar and tangles with Marc Anthony for control of the Roman empire and finally went on to become the emperor Augustus.

Disguised as simple slaves, Tyrannus and Octavian search for allies in the countryside, but are captured at the court of General Magonius and taken to Arkham, where the men are forced to train as gladiators. As a former gladiator, Tyrannus manages to hold his own and defeat Magonius, inspiring the other captured men to revolt and escape. He and Octavian see a group of horsemen coming towards them, but are relieved to find that they are led by Mark Antony.

Antony takes Octavian and Tyrannus to his villa, although Tyrannus is suspicious of their host, especially because he tries to separate him from Octavian. Antony invites a group of citizens loyal to Julius Caesar to the villa and Octavian explains his plan for a Roman empire to them, but their reactions are mixed. Tyrannus is still sceptical, but travels to Cyprus to check on the welfare of his family.

Antony has Octavian bitten by a snake and left for dead. He claims that the murderers were consuls whom he summarily executed while banishing Brutus and Cassius. The former soldier Agrippa, charged with disposing of Octavian's body, takes him to the vestal virgin Camane, who heals him.

Octavius gives up the beautiful vestal virgin Camane so that he can devote himself to the role of Emperor of Rome. Tyrannus, the former slave and gladiator, joins Octavius' forces in the fight against the power-hungry Marc Antony, with the fate of Rome and the western world at stake.