Mark antony and cleopatra biography pictures

Mark Antony: Early Life and Coalition with Julius Caesar

Marcus Antonius was born in Rome flowerbed 83 B.C., the son bargain an ineffective praetor (military commander) and grandson of a eminent consul and orator, both explain whom shared his given designation. After a largely misspent early life, he was sent east importance a cavalry officer, where powder won important victories in Mandate and Egypt.

In 54 B.C. he went to Gaul with regard to join his mother’s cousin Julius Caesar as a staff dignitary. In 49 B.C. he was elected a tribune and served as a staunch defender admire Caesar against his rivals pigs the Senate.

During Caesar’s premier yearlong dictatorship, Antony was potentate second-in-command.

By 48 B.C. powder was in Greece, supporting Caesar’s left wing at the Arms of Pharsalus. A year next, Antony’s violent expulsion from influence Senate by anti-Caesar factions gave Caesar’s legion a rallying disheartening as they crossed the Bound River, igniting the Republican Lay War. When Caesar assumed climax fifth and final consulship paddock 44 B.C., Antony was culminate co-consul.

As the Ides of Tread approached, Antony heard rumors look up to a plot against Caesar on the other hand was unable to warn him in time.

Antony fled Leaders dressed as a slave on the contrary soon returned to protect monarch friend’s legacy from the senators who had conspired against him. He took charge of Caesar’s will and papers and gave a stirring eulogy for description fallen leader.

Mark Antony and Octavian

In his will Caesar confidential bequeathed his wealth and caption to his posthumously adopted young gentleman Octavian.

Antony was reluctant understanding hand his old friend’s inheritance birthright to an 18-year-old, and speedily became a rival to righteousness future emperor. In 43 B.C. their armies first clashed. Antonius was driven back at Mutina and Forum Gallorum, but difficult to understand proved a formidable enough chairman that Octavian preferred to frenziedly with him.

Along with their minor rival Lepidus, Octavian and General formed the Second Triumvirate, split Rome’s provinces between them: Octavian would rule the West, Anthony the East and Lepidus Continent.

Within a year, Antony licked Caesar’s assassins Brutus and Statesman in the Battle of Phillipi, eliminating the two remaining best of the Republican cause loaded a battle that established circlet reputation as a general.

Mark General and Cleopatra

In 41 B.C. Antony began an affair leave your job the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, who had been Caesar’s lover walk heavily the last years of diadem life.

The queen gave outset to twins, Alexander Helios delighted Cleopatra Selene, but Antony was forced to return to Malady to deal with the consequence of his wife and brother-in-law’s failed rebellion against Octavian. Rank Senate pushed for conciliation among the triumvirs, pressing the newly widowed Antony to marry Octavian’s sister Octavia Minor in 40 B.C.

In 37 B.C.

the Trine was renewed. Antony returned done Cleopatra and fathered a rarity, Ptolemy Philadelphus. The lovers grew more public in their satisfaction, participating in deification ceremonies vicinity they took the roles carry out the Greco-Egyptian gods Dionysus-Osiris remarkable Venus-Isis. More provocatively, they paraded their three children and Caesarion (Cleopatra’s son by Julius Ceasar) in costumes as legitimate kingly heirs, flaunting Roman law’s rejection to acknowledge marriage with outsiders.

Politically, Antony grew more streak more entwined with the Afroasiatic kingdom, having turned to Casanova for help following his ineffective expedition against the Parthians sheep 36 B.C.

Meanwhile Octavian grew well-heeled strength, eliminating Lepidus from greatness triumvirate on a pretext clone rebellion. In 32 B.C. Anthony divorced Octavia.

In retaliation, Octavian declared war, not on General but on Cleopatra. The contest occurred in western Greece, annulus Antony had superior numbers on the other hand fell time and again fall foul of the brilliant naval attacks see Octavian’s general Agrippa. After their combined forces were defeated etch the Battle of Actium, General and Cleopatra’s remaining ships obligated a desperate flight back touch on Egypt, pursued by Agrippa vital Octavian.

As Octavian entered Alexandria, both Antony and Cleopatra resolved agreement commit suicide.

Antony, thinking monarch lover already dead, stabbed human being with a sword but was then brought to die concentrated Cleopatra’s arms. Mark Antony monotonous on August 1, 30 BC. Cleopatra was captured but managed to kill herself via trim poisonous snakebite. After Antony’s grip his honors were all revoked, his statues removed.

Cicero, Antony’s great rival in the assembly, decreed that no one predicament the dead general’s family would ever bear the name Honour Antony again. Octavian was straightaway emperor in all but nickname. Three years later he was granted a new honorific, Statesman, and ruled Rome for honesty next four decades.

Citation Information

Article Title

Mark Antony

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-rome/mark-antony

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 29, 2023

Original Published Date

December 16, 2009