Essays on Mark Antony

Mark Antony was born Marcus Antonius in Rome in 83 BC. Mark Antony was a Roman politician and general, known for his romantic and political alliance with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt. He was an relative and supporter of Julius Caesar and the main rival of his successor Octavian.

In 49 B.C. Mark Antony was elected a tribune and served as a staunch defender of Caesar, to whom he was related on his mother’s side. Mark Antony served with Caesar for much of the concluding phase of Caesar’s conquest of central and northern Gaul. On March 15, 44 BC, Caesar was killed in the Roman Senate, and Octavian, Antony and Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate and defeated the traitors in the battle of Philippi in October 42 BC.

The queen of Egypt, Cleopatra had an affair with Antony and subsequently they had three children. After the “Donations of Alexandria,” a war of propaganda between Antony and the Octavian began. In late 32 BC, Octavian declared war on Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Octavian’s forces defeated combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra in the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. When they fled to Egypt, Octavian pursued them. Cleopatra retired to her mausoleum as Antony went off to fight his last battle.

As Octavian entered Alexandria, both Antony and Cleopatra resolved to commit suicide. On August 1, 30 BC, Antony heard a false rumor that Cleopatra had committed suicide, and he fell on his sword. Cleopatra committed suicide on 12 August 30 BC.