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Octavian, Marc Antony, and Lepidus fought each other for leadership of the Roman Republic in the form of a civil war. The power vacuum was caused by the assassination of Julius Caesar.
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The Second Triumvirate was formed of Octavian, Marc Antony and Lepidus.
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The triumvirate divided the Republic into 3 parts; Antony took the east part of the empire, Octavian the west and Lepidus got Africa.
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The Second Triumvirate was renewed, however this time without Lepidus, who went into internal exile in Rome and became the chief priest. This meant the Second Triumvirate was composed of Marc Antony and Octavion.
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The suicides of Marc Antony and his wife Cleopatra left Octavion as the only ruler of the Roman empire.
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Octavion defeated the forces of Marc Antony and Cleopatra in this battle.
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Octavion announced to the senate that he was returning control of the Republic to the Senate, but kept the powerful provinces with strong militaries for himself, leaving the less prominent ones to the control of the senate.
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Octavion was awarded the name Augustus, which was semi-divine, for his work returning the republic to the control of the senate.
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Augustus' new position gave him the power of the rights of the ordinary Roman in addition to his control of the republic through the senate.
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After the death of Lepidus (who had held the position prior to his death), Augustus becomes Pontifex Maximus, making him chief priest and giving him control over the religious beliefs of the Roman Republic. Augustus used his position to portray himself as semi-divine and linked the worship of Rome to his divinity.