41 BCE - 31 BCE: Mark Antony of Rome allied with Cleopatra VII of Egypt.

31 BCE: Mark Antony and Cleopatra move to Greece, where they are isolated by Octavian's admiral Agrippa; although they are able to win a tactical victory and break out of their isolated position at Actium, the campaign is a distaster and Octavian is able to achieve control of the east.

31 BCE: The Battle of Actium. Octavian defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII.

30 BCE: After Octavian has declined to negotiate, Cleopatra reportedly commits suicide; Mark Antony stabs himself, only later finding Cleopatra still lives, and dies.

30 BCE: Cleopatra kills herself rather than be taken to Rome by Octavian. Her son Caesarion is later executed and her children with Antony taken to Rome.

27 BCE: Octavian is given extraordinary powers and the name Augustus by the Roman Senate.

19 BCE: Augustus is given supreme powers by the Roman Senate.