Mark Anthony

  • Marcus Antonius (4Jan 83-1 Aug 30 BCE) was one of Rome’s most brilliant Military Generals and a very capable Administrator.
  • He was pivotal in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.

Early Career (57-54 BCE)

  • Born in Rome, he spent his early years enjoying life in Rome where he became involved with the Politician and Demagogue Publius Clodius Pulcher.
  • Clodius’ benefactor was Crassus, who had a political connection with Julius Caesar, which would later bring Mark Anthony and Caesar together.
  • Mark Anthony began his rise to prominence when he was invited to join the former Consul, Aulus Gabinius, who was now Proconsul of Syria, as his Cavalry Commander.
  • Mark Anthony distinguished himself by suppressing a rebellion against the Roman supported High Priest of Judaea, Hyrcanus II, allowing Gabinius to return him to Jerusalem in 56 BCE.
  • Mark Anthony also accompanied Gabinius when he intervened in Egypt in 55 BCE and restored Ptolemy XII to his throne as a Roman Client King.

Military and Civil Career under Julius Caesar (54 BCE onwards)

  • In 54 BCE, through the political connections of Publius Clodius Pulcher, Mark Anthony joined Julius Caesar as a senior officer in the Gallic Wars. A year later, Caesar arranged for Mark Anthony to become a Quaestor in Rome (52 BCE), but he returned to lead a cavalry cohort at the Battle of Alesia (52 BCE). As Caesar and Pompey drew apart, Mark Anthony remained an officer with Caesar until 50 BCE.
  • When he returned to Rome Caesar appointed him a priest with the College of Augurs and also made him Tribune of the Plebs in 49 BCE.
  • Using his influence he attempted to placate the Roman Senate controlled by Pompey, and arrange for Caesar’s return to Rome. However, on the 7th January 49 BCE, he was forcibly evicted from the Senate and had to flee for his life whilst the Senate declared Caesar an outlaw.
  • On the 10th January, Caesar Crossed the Rubicon with Mark Anthony as his second in command beginning the Great Roman Civil War (49-46 BCE).
  • Mark Anthony became Caesar’s top General and political second in command in Rome until 46 BCE when he fell in to disfavour with Caesar and lived in Rome as a private citizen with no political appointments.
  • By 44 BCE he was back in favour and was elected Consul along with Caesar. After Caesar became Dictator for life, Anthony publicly presented him with a Diadem, the symbol of kingship. Although Caesar declined the offer, his enemies in the Senate understood the Republic was over and decided to proceed with the Assassination of Julius Caesar (15th March), but left Mark Anthony untouched.
  • On the 17th March, as the remaining Consul, Mark Anthony proposed to the Senate a peaceful solution in order to prevent another civil war between the two factions. On the 19th March, Caesar’s Will was read out proclaiming his heir to be the 19 year old Octavian.
  • At Caesar’s Public Funeral on the 20th March, Mark Anthony was invited to give the eulogy. However, he used the opportunity to denounce the assassins in public, a riot ensued and the assassins were forced to flee Italy, triggering the next civil war.

Second Triumvirate (43-33 BCE)

  • On the 26 November 43 BCE Mark Anthony formed the Second Triumvirate along with Octavian and Marcus Lepidus for a five year term. They were later re-elected for another five year term.
    • Julius Caesar‘s assassins, Brutus and Longinus, then took over the eastern Provinces including Macedonia, Asia and Syria.
    • 42 BCE Battle of Philippi where Octavian and Mark Anthony challenged and defeated them.
    • 40 BCE September ‘Treaty of Brundisium’: the three Triumvirs divided the Provinces between them. Octavian was given the West, Mark Anthony the East, and Lepidus Hispania and Africa.
    • 40 BCE Sextus Pompey, who had escaped after the Battle of Munda in 45 BCE, had built a powerful army and navy in Sicily, had his navy invade Sardinia.
    • 39 BCE Sextus Pompey signed the Pact of Misenum with the Triumvirs, leaving Mark Anthony free to fight the Parthians.
    • 37 BCE Octavian failed to take Sicily at the naval Battle of Messina, and was defeated again in early 36 BCE.
    • 36 BCE Agrippa, Mark Anthony‘s General, finally defeated Sextus Pompey’s Navy at sea, and Marcus Lepidus raised 14 Legions in Africa to defeat Sextus Pompey on land.
  • The Three Triumvirs Fall Out:
    • 36 BCE Octavian then stripped Lepidus of his title as Triumvir.
    • Mark Anthony established himself in the East with Queen Cleopatra VII in Alexandria, Egypt, lived openly with her, and they had three children together.
    • 33 BCE The Triumvirate expired.

Civil War with Octavian (33-30 BCE)

  • Octavian and Mark Anthony draw apart, each seeking to consolidate power before eliminating the other.
  • Mark Anthony resides in Egypt with Queen Cleopatra VII.
  • After 33 BCE Mark Anthony continued to style himself ‘Triumvir’, despite the Triumvirate having expired.
  • July 32 BCE Octavian obtained Mark Anthony’s Will and outraged the Romans when he published it in Rome. In it Mark Anthony bequeathed generous donations to his illegitimate children with Queen Cleopatra VII, and requested his body be buried in Alexandria, Egypt, infuriating the Roman Senate.
  • In 32 BCE, to avoid the conflict looking like a Civil War with Mark Anthony, Octavian moved the Roman Senate to declare War on Queen Cleopatra VII and Egypt.
  • In response, Mark Anthony and Queen Cleopatra VII then moved their Armies and Fleet to Actium, threatening to invade Italy.

Battle of Actium (2 Sep 31 BCE)

  • Octavian destroyed the Fleet of Mark Anthony and Queen Cleopatra VII, who escaped back to Egypt, followed closely by Octavian with his Armies.
  • When Octavian arrived in Egypt on 1 August 30 BCE, Mark Anthony’s Armies in Egypt mutinied and joined Octavian.
  • Mark Anthony and Queen Cleopatra VII subsequently committed suicide and Octavian had Mark Anthony and Cleopatra buried together in a now long lost tomb in Egypt.

Octavian becomes Rome’s first Emperor

  • Caesarion, Queen Cleopatra VII‘s son by Julius Caesar, after briefly being declared Pharaoh, was killed by Octavian when he entered Alexandria.
  • Cleopatra’s three children by Mark Anthony were spared and returned to Rome with Octavian.
  • Octavian was then declared Pharaoh of Egypt.
  • Egypt was retained as the personal Property of all future Roman Emperors, who also kept the title of Pharaoh.
  • Octavian was now the undisputed Leader of the Roman World and became Augustus, the first Roman Emperor.
  • History would have been very different if Mark Anthony had won the Battle of Actium. He would have been the first Roman Emperor instead of Octavian, and Cleopatra would have been the first Roman Empress.

 

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