Final answer:
Virgil, as a supporter of the Roman Republic, feared the centralization of political power when Octavius Caesar (Augustus) defeated Mark Anthony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 32 BCE.
Step-by-step explanation:
Virgil, as a supporter of the Roman Republic, feared the centralization of political power when Octavius Caesar (Augustus) defeated Mark Anthony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 32 BCE. This battle marked the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire under Augustus. Virgil's fear was rooted in the transformation of the Republic into an empire, with a single ruler holding absolute power. He saw this centralization of political power as a threat to the ideals of the Republic, such as the balance of power and the participation of citizens in decision-making.