Mark Antony and Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt was defeated at the Battle of Actium on 2 September 31BC. The Battle of Actium was the decisive confrontation of the Final War of the Roman Republic, a naval engagement between Octavian and the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. After Caesars assassination in 44 BC, Antony joined forces with Marcus Lepidus, one of Caesars generals, and Caesars adoptive son Octavian in a three-man dictatorship known as the Second Triumvirate. The Triumvirate defeated Caesars murderers, at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC and divided government of the Republic between themselves. Antony was assigned Romes eastern provinces, including Romes client kingdom of Ptolemaic Egypt ruled by Queen Cleopatra. Antony soon embarked on having a love affair with Cleopatra, straining political ties to Rome. Civil war between Antony and Octavian was averted in 40 BC when Antony married Octavians sister Octavia. Despite his marriage, Antony continued his love affair with Cleopatra, later divorced Octavia and married Cleopatra, dividing his eastern provinces amongst Cleopatras children, which is called the Donations of Alexandria. As a result the Roman Senate, at Octavians direction, declared war on Cleopatra and proclaimed Antony a traitor. Thus began the last civil war of the Roman Republic, ending with Octavians victory at Actium in Greece. After their defeat both Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony fled back to Alexandria and committed suicide in the August of 30 BC. With Antony dead, Octavian was left as the undisputed master of the Roman world and would assume the title Augustus and would reign as the first Roman Emperor. The photo is of coins depicting Mark Antony and Queen Cleopatra VII.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 16:41:34 +0000
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