Marcus Antonius (Marc Antony)

Marcus Antonius, or Marc Antony (lived 14 January 83—1 August 30 BC), was a Roman politician and general who played a critical role in transforming the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. Marc Antony was a relative and close supporter of Julius Caesar, the uncle of Octavian (later named Caesar Augustus). After Caesar’s assassination, Marc Antony and Octavian, with a third general named Lepidus, ruled Rome and defeated Julius Caesar’s assassins (Brutus and Cassius) in battle. They divided the Roman Republic among themselves, with Marc Antony taking Egypt, which was ruled by Cleopatra VII Philopator (Cleopatra). Relations were strained, and Lepidus was expelled. Because of Marc Antony’s love affair with Cleopatra (in spite of being married to Octavian’s sister), as well as other factors, Antony and Cleopatra were declared traitors. In 31 BC, Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra in the battle of Actium. After this, Antony and Cleopatra fled to Egypt, where they committed suicide, leaving Octavian the sole ruler of Rome and its first Emperor. Octavian was then given the title Augustus.