Category:Mark Antony (subject)
Mark Antony / Marcus Antonius was a Roman politician, general and ruler.
Overview
Mark Antony was born in 83 BCE, a member of the influential gens Antonia.
He began his military career in 57 BCE, under Aulus Gabinius, proconsul of Syria. He took part in the campaigns against Aristobulus II in Judea. As the commander of a Gallic cavalry regiment, Antony achieved important victories at Alexandrium and Machaerus.
Mark Antony was now ready for a brilliant political and military career, which he pursued as a supporter and loyal friend of his mother's cousin Julius Caesar.
After Caesar's assassination, Mark Antony formed a political alliance with Octavian (the future Emperor Augustus) and Lepidus, which is known to historians today as the Second Triumvirate. The alliance led to the defeat of Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BCE. The victors divided Rome's possessions among themselves: Octavian returned to Rome, Lepidus ruled over Hispania and the province of Africa, and Antony went on to govern the East.
Now in Egypt, Mark Antony formed an alliance with Cleopatra. The two became lovers. The Parthians invasion in 40 BCE provided Antony the opportunity to strengthen his political power in the East with a series of successful military campaigns. Ventidius and Herod were among the generals who under Mark Antony's command defeated the Parthians and restored and expanded Roman rule in the region.
In 34 BCE Mark Antony and Cleopatra felt strong enough to challenge the authority of Octavian who in the meantime had consolidated his power in the West by defeating Lepidus. Octavian with the support of his general Marcus Agrippa promptly reacted. The showdown ended in 31 BCE with the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra in the naval Battle of Actium and the invasion of Egypt in 30 BCE. Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide; their older children were executed, while the littlest one were spared to be paraded in heavy golden chains in the streets of Rome during Octavian's triumphal procession. Herod the Great was quick in submitting to the power of Octavian after the Battle of Actium and was confirmed as King of Judaea.
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