How did Egypt’s treasure help Octavian become sole ruler of the Roman world?

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Augustus Portrait of the emperor Augustus, marble, Roman, c. 14–37 ce; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Height 27.94 cm.

The seizure of Cleopatra’s treasure was a pivotal factor in Octavian’s rise to become the sole ruler of the Roman world. Following the Battle of Actium and the subsequent capture of Egypt, Octavian gained control over the vast wealth of the Ptolemaic kingdom.12

This influx of capital provided Octavian with the necessary resources to pay off his veterans, a critical step in securing the loyalty of his military forces and consolidating his political power. By eliminating his rivals and annexing Egypt under his direct control, he effectively ended the era of civil conflict and established the foundation for the Roman principate, a system that granted him absolute control over the state.1