Antony biography mark

For his part, Pacorus advanced south to Phoenicia and Palestine. In Hasmonean Judeathe exiled prince Antigonus allied himself with the Parthians. When his brother, Rome's client king Hyrcanus IIrefused to accept Parthian domination, he was deposed in favor of Antigonus as Parthia's client king in Judea. Pacorus' conquest had captured much of the Syrian and Palestinian interior, with much of the Phoenician coast occupied as well.

The city of Tyre remained the last major Roman outpost in the region. Antony, then in Egypt with Cleopatra, did not respond immediately to the Parthian invasion. Though he left Alexandria for Tyre in early 40 BC, when he learned of the civil war between his wife and Octavianhe was forced to return to Italy with his army to secure his position in Rome rather than defeat the Parthians.

Ventidius ordered Labienus executed as a traitor and the formerly rebellious Roman soldiers under his command were reincorporated under Antony's control. He then met a Parthian army at the border between Cilicia and Syria, defeating it and killing a large portion of the Parthian soldiers at the Amanus Pass. Ventidius' actions temporarily halted the Parthian advance and restored Roman authority in the East, forcing Pacorus to abandon his conquests and return to Parthia.

In the spring of 38 BC, the Parthians resumed their offensive with Pacorus leading an army across the Euphrates. Ventidius, in order to gain time, leaked disinformation to Pacorus implying that he should cross the Euphrates River at their usual ford. Pacorus did not trust this information and decided to cross the river much farther downstream; this was what Ventidius hoped would occur and gave him time to get his forces ready.

At the Battle of CyrrhesticaVentidius inflicted an overwhelming defeat against the Parthians which resulted in the death of Pacorus. Overall, the Roman army had achieved a complete victory with Ventidius' three successive victories forcing the Parthians back across the Euphrates. Ventidius feared Antony's wrath if he invaded Parthian territory, thereby stealing his glory; so instead he attacked and subdued the eastern kingdoms, which had revolted against Roman control following the disastrous defeat of Crassus at Carrhae.

Antiochus tried to make peace with Ventidius, but Ventidius told him to approach Antony directly. After peace was concluded, Antony sent Ventidius back to Rome where he celebrated a triumphthe first Roman to triumph over the Parthians. While Antony and the other triumvirs ratified the Treaty of Brundisium to redivide the Roman world among themselves, the rebel Sextus Pompeythe son of Caesar's rival Pompey the Greatwas largely ignored.

From his stronghold on Sicilyhe continued his piratical activities across Italy and blocked the shipment of grain to Rome. The lack of food in Rome undermined the triumvirate's political support. This pressure forced the triumvirs to meet with Sextus in early 39 BC. While Octavian wanted an end to the ongoing blockade of Italy, Antony sought peace in the West in order to make the Triumvirate's legions available for his service in his planned campaign against the Parthians.

Though the Triumvirs rejected Sextus' initial request to replace Lepidus as the third man in the triumvirate, they did grant other concessions. Under the terms of the Treaty of MisenumSextus was allowed to retain control over Sicily and Sardiniawith the provinces of Corsica and Greece being added to his territory. He was also promised a future position with the Priestly College of Augurs and the consulship for 35 BC.

In exchange, Sextus agreed to end his naval blockade of Italy, supply Rome with grain, and halt his piracy of Roman merchant ships. Many of the proscribed senators, rather than face death, fled to Sicily seeking Sextus' protection. With the exception of those responsible for Caesar's assassination, all those proscribed were allowed to return to Rome and promised compensation.

This caused Sextus to lose many valuable allies as the formerly exiled senators gradually aligned themselves with either Octavian or Antony. To secure the peace, Octavian betrothed Marcus Claudius MarcellusOctavian's three-year-old nephew and Antony's stepson, to Sextus' daughter Pompeia. Under an agreement with Octavian, Antony would be supplied with extra troops for his campaign.

With this military purpose on his mind, Antony sailed to Greece with Octavia, where he behaved in a most extravagant manner, assuming the attributes of the Greek god Dionysus in 39 BC. The peace with Sextus was short-lived, however. When Sextus demanded control over Greece as the agreement provided, Antony demanded the province's tax revenues be to fund the Parthian campaign.

Sextus refused. These actions worked to renew Sextus' blockade of Italy, preventing Octavian from sending the promised troops to Antony for the Parthian campaign. This new delay caused Antony to quarrel with Octavian, forcing Octavia to mediate a truce between them. Under the Treaty of Tarentum, Antony provided a large naval force for Octavian's use against Sextus while Octavian promised to raise new legions for Antony to support his invasion of Parthia.

To seal the Treaty, Antony's elder son Marcus Antonius Antyllusthen only six years old, was betrothed to Octavian's only daughter Juliathen only an infant. Antony, still in the West negotiating with Octavian, ordered Sosius to depose Antigonuswho had been installed in the recent Parthian invasion as the ruler of Hasmonean Judeaand to make Herod the new Roman client king in the region.

Years before in 40 BC, the Roman senate had proclaimed Herod "King of the Jews" because Herod had been a loyal supporter of Hyrcanus IIRome's previous client king before the Parthian invasion, and was from a family with long standing connections to Rome. Advancing south, Sosius captured the island-city of Aradus on the coast of Phoenicia by the end of 38 BC.

The following year, the Romans besieged Jerusalem. After a forty-day antony biography mark, the Roman soldiers stormed the city and, despite Herod's pleas for restraint, acted without mercy, pillaging and killing all in their path, prompting Herod to complain to Antony. Herod, however, fearing that Antigonus would win backing in Rome, bribed Antony to execute Antigonus.

Antony, who recognized that Antigonus would remain a permanent threat to Herod, ordered him beheaded in Antioch. Now secure on his throne, Herod would rule the Herodian Kingdom until his death in 4 BC, and would be an ever-faithful client king of Rome. With the triumvirate renewed in 38 BC, Antony returned to Athens in the winter with his new wife Octaviathe sister of Octavian.

Antony, however, realized Octavian had no intention of sending him the additional legions he had promised under the Treaty of Tarentum. To supplement his own armies, Antony instead looked to Rome's principal vassal in the East: his lover Cleopatra. In addition to significant financial resources, Cleopatra's backing of his Parthian campaign allowed Antony to amass the largest army Rome had ever assembled in the East.

Wintering in Antioch during 37, Antony's combined Roman—Egyptian army numbered some , including 60, soldiers from sixteen legions, 10, cavalry from Spain and Gaul, plus an additional 30, auxiliaries. Antony's rear was protected by Rome's client kingdoms in Anatolia, Syria, and Judea, while the client kingdoms of Cappadocia, Pontus, and Commagene would provide supplies along the march.

Antony's first target for his invasion was the Kingdom of Armenia. Canidius then led an invasion into the South Caucasussubduing Iberia. There, Canidius forced the Iberian King Pharnavaz II into an alliance against Zober, king of neighboring Albaniasubduing the kingdom and reducing it to a Roman protectorate. Though Antony desired a pitched battle, the Parthians would not engage, allowing Antony to march deep into Parthian territory by mid-August of 36 BC.

This forced Antony to leave his logistics train in the care of two legions approximately 10, soldierswhich was then attacked and completely destroyed by the Parthian army before Antony could rescue them. Though the Armenian King Artavasdes II and his cavalry were present during the massacre, they did not intervene. Despite the ambush, Antony continued the campaign.

However, Antony was soon forced to retreat in mid-October after a failed two-month siege of the provincial capital. The retreat soon proved a disaster as Antony's demoralized army faced increasing supply difficulties in the mountainous terrain during winter while constantly being harassed by the Parthian army. According to Plutarcheighteen battles were fought between the retreating Romans and the Parthians during the month-long march back to Armenia, with approximately 20, infantry and 4, cavalry dying during the retreat alone.

Once in Armenia, Antony quickly marched back to Syria to protect his interests there by late 36 BC, losing an additional 8, soldiers along the way. In all, two-fifths of his original army some 80, men had died during his failed campaign. Meanwhile, in Rome, the triumvirate was no more. Octavian forced Lepidus to resign after the older triumvir attempted to take control of Sicily after the defeat of Sextus.

Now in sole power, Octavian was occupied in wooing the aristocracy to his side. He married Livia and started to attack Antony. He argued that Antony was a man of low morals to have left his faithful wife abandoned in Rome with the children to be with the promiscuous queen of Egypt. Several times Antony was summoned to Rome, but remained in Alexandria with Cleopatra.

Again with Egyptian money, Antony invaded Armenia, this time successfully. In the return, a mock Roman triumph was celebrated in the streets of Alexandria. The parade through the city was a pastiche of Rome's most important military celebration. For the finale, the whole city was summoned to hear a very important political statement.

Surrounded by Cleopatra and her children, Antony ended his alliance with Octavian. He distributed kingdoms among his children: Alexander Helios was named king of ArmeniaMedia and Parthia territories which were not for the most part under the control of Romehis twin Cleopatra Selene got Cyrenaica and Libyaand the young Ptolemy Philadelphus was awarded Syria and Cilicia.

Most important of all, Caesarion was declared legitimate son and heir of Caesar. These proclamations were known as the Donations of Alexandria and caused a fatal breach in Antony's relations with Rome. While the distribution of nations among Cleopatra's children was hardly a conciliatory gesture, it did not pose an immediate threat to Octavian's political position.

Far more dangerous was the acknowledgment of Caesarion as legitimate and heir to Caesar's name. Octavian's base of power was his link with Caesar through adoptionwhich granted him much-needed antony biography mark and loyalty of the legions. To see this convenient situation attacked by a child borne by the richest woman in the world was something Octavian could not accept.

The triumvirate expired on the last day of 33 BC and was not renewed. Another civil war was beginning. During 33 and 32 BC, a antony biography mark war was fought in the political arena of Rome, with accusations flying between sides. Antony in Egypt divorced Octavia and accused Octavian of being a antony biography mark upstart, of usurping power, and of forging the adoption papers by Caesar.

Octavian responded with treason charges: of illegally keeping provinces that should be given to other men by lotsas was Rome's tradition, and of starting wars against foreign nations Armenia and Parthia without the consent of the senate. Antony was also held responsible for Sextus Pompey 's execution without a trial. In 32 BC, the senate deprived him of his powers and declared war against Cleopatra — not Antony, because Octavian had no wish to advertise his role in perpetuating Rome's internecine bloodshed.

Octavian and other Roman Senators believed that turning the hostilities towards Cleopatra as the villain would gather the most support from Romans for war. Contributing to this would be the years of propaganda against Cleopatra published by the Romans, dating back to the days of Julius Caesar. Octavian, informed of Antony's will by two Antonian defectors, sacrilegiously raided the Temple of Vesta to secure it.

The will, which some modern scholars have suggested was partially forged — largely on legal grounds — is never so described in the ancient sources. Octavian's publication of the will's provisions, which named Antony and Cleopatra's children as heirs and directed his burial in Alexandria, was used as a political weapon in Rome to declare war against Cleopatra and Egypt as a whole.

In 31 BC, the war started. The enormous popularity of Octavian with the legions secured the defection of the provinces of Cyrenaica and Greece to his side. On 2 September, the naval Battle of Actium took place. Antony and Cleopatra's navy was overwhelmed, and they were forced to escape to Egypt with 60 ships. With no other refuge to escape to, Antony stabbed himself with his sword in the mistaken belief that Cleopatra had already done so.

When he found out that Cleopatra was still alive, his friends brought him to Cleopatra's monument in which she was hiding, and he died in her arms. Cleopatra was allowed to conduct Antony's burial rites after she had been captured by Octavian. Realising that she was destined for Octavian's triumph in Rome, she made several attempts to take her life and finally succeeded in mid-August.

Octavian had Caesarion and Antyllus killed, but he spared Iullus as well as Antony's children by Cleopatra, who were paraded through the streets of Rome. Cicero 's son, Cicero Minorannounced Antony's death to the senate. When Antony died, Octavian became uncontested ruler of Rome. In the following years, Octavian, who was known as Augustus after 27 BC, managed to accumulate in his person all administrative, political, and military offices.

The rise of Caesar and the subsequent civil war between his two most powerful adherents effectively ended the credibility of the Roman oligarchy as a governing power and ensured that all future power struggles would centre upon which one individual would achieve supreme control of the government, eliminating the senate and the former magisterial structure as important foci of power in these conflicts.

Thus, in history, Antony appears as one of Caesar's main adherents, he and Octavian being the two men around whom power coalesced following the assassination of Caesar, and finally as one of the three men chiefly responsible for the demise of the republic. Antony had many mistresses including Cytheris and was married in succession to Fadia, Antonia, Fulvia, Octavia and Cleopatra.

He left a number of children. Through his daughters by Octavia, he was the paternal great grandfather of Roman emperor Caligulathe maternal grandfather of emperor Claudiusand both maternal great-great-grandfather and paternal great-great uncle of the emperor Nero of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Through his eldest daughter, he was ancestor to the long line of kings and co-rulers of the Bosporan Kingdomthe longest-living Roman client kingdomas well as the rulers and royalty of several other Roman client states.

Through his daughter by Cleopatra, Antony was ancestor to the royal family of Mauretaniaanother Roman client kingdom, while through his sole surviving son Iullushe was ancestor to several famous Roman statesmen. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects.

Wikimedia Commons Wikisource Wikidata item. Roman politician and general 83—30 BC. For other people with similar names, see Marcus Antonius disambiguation and Marc Anthony disambiguation. Denarius depicting Mark Antony minted by Marcus Barbatius. Legend: m arcus ant onius imp aug iiivir rpc m arcus barbatius q p [ note 1 ]. RomeItalyRoman Republic.

AlexandriaPtolemaic Egypt.

Antony biography mark

Early life [ edit ]. Early career and occupation [ edit ]. Service under Caesar [ edit ]. Gallic wars [ edit ]. See also: Gallic Wars. Civil war [ edit ]. See also: Caesar's Civil War. Governor of Italy [ edit ]. Assassination of Caesar [ edit ]. Main article: Assassination of Julius Caesar. Ides of March [ edit ]. Leader of the Caesarians [ edit ].

First conflict with Octavian [ edit ]. The Second Triumvirate [ edit ]. Main article: Second Triumvirate. Forming the alliance [ edit ]. Triumvirs collectively. Sextus Pompey. The Liberators. Rome's client kingdoms. Ptolemaic Egypt. War against the Liberators [ edit ]. Main articles: Liberators' civil war and Battle of Philippi. Master of the Roman East [ edit ].

Division of the republic [ edit ]. Parthian Empire. Activities in the East [ edit ]. Fulvia's civil war [ edit ]. See also: Perusine War. Antony's Parthian War [ edit ]. Main article: Antony's Parthian War. Roman—Parthian relations [ edit ]. Parthian Invasion [ edit ]. Main article: Pompeian—Parthian invasion of 40 BC. Conflict with Sextus Pompey [ edit ].

Reconquest of Judea [ edit ]. Parthian Campaign [ edit ]. Antony and Cleopatra [ edit ]. Unallotted Roman territory. Donations to Cleopatra's Children. Cleopatra's Original Kingdom. Death [ edit ]. As pressure increased against Caesar, Mark Antony joined his mentor in Gaul and engaged in a series of battles between Caesar and Pompey.

Antony again helped Caesar defeat his enemies and he returned to Rome as Caesar's second in command. Having amassed a great deal of power, in 45 B. Caesar's actions led many to believe he was positioning himself to become king. A plot to assassinate him emerged, and on March 15, 44 B. Antony was next in line to Caesar but was challenged by Octavian, Caesar's nephew and adopted son, who claimed he was heir to Caesar's rule.

Caesar's death brought a chaotic grab for power among several factions. As Mark Antony pursued Caesar's killers in Gaul, Octavian's armies scored a series of victories against Antony, forcing him to retreat to southern Gaul. Caesar's assassins, Brutus and Cassis, were preparing to descend on Rome when Octavian, Antony and Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate and defeated the traitors in the battle of Philippi in October 42 B.

With Octavian ruling western Rome and Lepidus governing Africa, Mark Antony stationed himself in southern Turkey and pursued Egypt's queen, Cleopatra, first forming a romance then an alliance to help him defend the eastern provinces. In 40 B. Their initial meeting in 41 BCE in Tarsus was a spectacle, with Cleopatra reportedly arriving on a luxurious barge dressed as the goddess Aphrodite.

Antony was captivated by her intelligence, charm, and wealth, and the two quickly formed a personal and political alliance. Together, they envisioned a powerful Hellenistic empire that could rival Rome. Their relationship produced three children and a deep bond that endured despite mounting political pressures. Many Romans viewed Cleopatra as a foreign queen who sought to undermine Roman values.

The battle ended in disaster for Antony and Cleopatra. Betrayed by some of his own allies and outmaneuvered by Octavian, Antony suffered a crushing defeat. He and Cleopatra retreated to Egypt, where they prepared for their antony biography mark stand. The late Republic was a time of profound transformation for Rome, and Mark Antony was at the heart of these changes.

His alliance with Julius Caesar, participation in the Second Triumvirate, and rivalry with Octavian shaped the course of Roman history. Antony sought to create a Hellenistic-Roman alliance that would unite the East and the West, with Alexandria as a cultural and political center. This vision reflected his deep connection to Cleopatra and his appreciation for the wealth and sophistication of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Early Life Mark Antony is widely known for his love relationship with the beautiful, seductive queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. His deeds have been romanticised by authors such as Shakespeare. However, his contribution to the Roman Empire extends beyond just his love affairs. He was born on January 14 around the year 83 BC. During his formative years, the young Mark received an education that comprised the study of philosophy and rhetoric considered a fundamental skill for any successful politician in the Roman state.

However, although he had antonies biography mark that belonged to both the high and lowers ranks of society, Mark Antony always preferred dwelling in the company of actors and courtesans. In fact, according to Plutarch, a Greek philosopher, the young men indulged in heavy drinking and in the pursuit of unrestrained pleasures, women and gambling.

By the time he was twenty years old, such reckless behaviour and habits brought him a debt of two hundred and fifty talents, which today corresponds to almost five million dollars. Some accounts claim that he was an extremely greedy man and that he even stole goods from citizens in order to partially pay back his debts. Since he did not have any money to pay his creditors, Mark Antony fled to Greece where he continued studying oratory and indulging in military exercises.

Only when he reached the age of twenty-four, family pressures and social expectations pushed him towards more ambitious pursuits. It is necessary to note that Caesar was the most powerful man in Rome, and he formed the First Triumvirate, a dictatorship made of three people composed by himself, Pompey and Crassus.