Marcus Antonius (l. 83-30 BCE, known popularly as Mark Antony) was a Roman general and statesman best known for his love affair with Cleopatra VII (l. c.69-30 BCE) of Egypt. As Julius Caesar's friend and right-hand man, he gave the funeral oration after Caesar's assassination which turned the tide of popular opinion against the assassins.
More about: Mark AntonyServer Costs Fundraiser 2024
Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Please donate and contribute to covering our server costs in 2024. With your support, millions of people learn about history entirely for free every month.
$3926 / $18000
Definition
Timeline
-
83 BCE - 30 BCELife of Mark Antony, Roman general and statesman.
-
c. 69 BCE - 12 Aug 30 BCELife of Cleopatra VII of Egypt.
-
43 BCE - 36 BCESecond Triumvirate: Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus (official approval by the Roman Senate). Mass proscriptions including Cicero.
-
42 BCEOctavian and Antony defeat Republicans under Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi (Greece).
-
41 BCECleopatra and Mark Antony meet at Tarsus.
-
41 BCE - 31 BCEMark Antony of Rome allied with Cleopatra VII of Egypt.
-
41 BCECleopatra meets Mark Antony in Tarsus. The Roman needs the Egyptian queen in his war against the Parthian Empire, and returns the rule of old Ptolemaic territories to her.
-
40 BCEMark Antony attacks Brundisium in southern Italy.
-
39 BCEMark Antony sacks Samos.
-
36 BCEMark Antony gives Crete as a gift to Cleopatra.
-
34 BCEMark Antony celebrates an unofficial triumph in Alexandria following his victories in Armenia.
-
31 BCEMark 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.
-
2 Sep 31 BCEThe Battle of Actium. Octavian defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII.
-
1 Aug 30 BCEAfter Octavian has declined to negotiate, Cleopatra reportedly commits suicide; Mark Antony stabs himself, only later finding Cleopatra still lives, and dies.
