The last battle and death of Mark Anthony. Mark Antony - biography, personal life Mark Antony and Caesar

Mark Anthony and Cleopatra

Seducing Julius Caesar to receive support and protection after the death of the Roman dictator Cleopatra turned her attention to Mark Antony, intending to create an alliance with him that could resist Rome

After the assassination of Caesar on the day called the Ides of March, in 44 BC. in the Senate chamber known as Curia Pompeii, Cleopatra unsuccessfully tried to get their illegitimate son recognized as heir Caesar. In the end she and the minor Caesarion had to leave for Alexandria, leaving Rome divided between the legal heir of Caesar Guy Octavian And Mark Antony.

Death of Brutus

In 42, Octavian and Antony avenged Caesar's death by killing his killer at Philippi. Marcus Junius Brutus. They then decided to divide powers: Octavian retained the western part, and Antony received the eastern provinces - the richest of the territories controlled by Rome - with the obligation to wage war against the Parthians.

The connection between Antony and Cleopatra

After returning to Egypt, Cleopatra disposed of (possibly poisoned) her brother-husband Ptolemy XIV and continued to rule the country with her son Ptolemy XV Caesarion. At that time, Egypt was the strongest power in the East, and Mark Antony, who had previously met Cleopatra in Rome, invited her to a meeting in the city of Tarsus with the intention of gaining Egypt as an ally. The queen and the military leader became lovers and spent the winter together in Alexandria, where Cleopatra became pregnant.

Octavia

Relations between Octavian and Antony have deteriorated noticeably since the battle of Phillipi, and in order to somehow maintain peace, Antony married Octavian's sister Octavia in Brundisia (Brindisi) in 40 BC. Octavia gave birth to two daughters to Antony, but after 37 she did not see him again, as he was constantly busy in the east.

The Authority of Mark Antony

In the east, Mark Antony's influence continued to grow, the provinces under his control flourished, and Antony became more and more powerful. In 40 BC Cleopatra gave birth to twins for him, Cleopatra Selene II And Alexandra Helios and he made an alliance with her. Cleopatra became pregnant again and gave birth to Antony another son in 36 BC Ptolemy Philadelphus.

Mighty Alliance

Rome considered the union of Cleopatra and Antony a very serious threat. Antony had acquired too much power, and Cleopatra needed an influential man to protect her throne. The queen continued to try to get Caesarion recognized as the rightful heir of Julius Caesar, and eventually their alliance could become dangerous enough to challenge Rome.

Antony divorces Octavia

In 35 BC. Antony officially dissolves his marriage to Octavia and marries Cleopatra. In Alexandria he creates a strategic base from which he could control the East. In 34, he undertook a successful campaign in Armenia, which expanded the territories under his control and made him even more powerful.

Rome is angry

Anthony celebrated the victory over Armenia in Alexandria, which aroused the indignation of Rome. Antony incurred even more anger after he divided his territories between his and Cleopatra’s children. The Senate declared Antony enemy of Rome and that he was seduced by a witch. Cleopatra was blamed for all the troubles, but the worst was yet to come.

Last will

Octavian ordered the theft of Mark Antony's will, which shocked Rome even more. Caesarion is in it recognized as Caesar's legal heir, and Antony after his death should be buried in Alexandria, and not in Rome. His and Cleopatra's children should succeed him and rule in its eastern provinces. Antony clearly rejected his Roman heritage and was now seen as Rome's greatest enemy. For this he was deprived of his Roman possessions, and Octavian declared war on Antony and his Foreign Queen.

Octavian sent a fleet of four hundred ships under the command of Mark of Vipsania Agrippa. On September 2, 31 BC, Octavian's ships met the Egyptian fleet at the cape Share on the west coast of Greece. Antony and Cleopatra's fleet was no match for the Roman fleet, and they fled back to Egypt with only sixty ships remaining from the battle. This victory made Octavian the master of the existing world.

Death of Antony and Cleopatra

Octavian's troops arrived in Alexandria in 30 BC. After the defeat of the Egyptian army, a desperate Antony stabbed himself to death, throwing himself on his sword. Octavian moved to the palace where the captive Cleopatra was kept. He did not want any reconciliation, and the queen had no choice but to follow Anthony’s example, thereby maintaining her dignity. There are countless legends about Cleopatra's death, but it is believed that she put her hand into a basket with a poisonous snake.

The last queen of Egypt

With the death of Cleopatra, the Ptolemaic dynasty ended, and Egypt became a Roman province. According to one version, Cleopatra's son Caesarion was killed, it is believed he was strangled. Octavian took the rest of the queen's children with him to Rome, where they were given to his sister Octavia to be raised. Both princes apparently died, and in subsequent years he gave Cleopatra Selene an impressive dowry and married her to the king of Numidia Yuba II, giving the spouses the province of Mauretania.

Anthony (Mark) - triumvir, son of the praetor and grandson of the rhetorician Anthony, relative of Caesar through his mother Julia, b. in 83 BC. In his youth he led a very absent-minded life; pressed by creditors, he fled to Greece, where he began to listen to philosophers and rhetoricians, but soon the proconsul of Syria, Gabinius, entrusted him with the post of chief of cavalry. In the campaign against Aristobulus in Palestine as well as in Egypt, where he contributed to the accession to the throne of Ptolemy Aulet, A. showed a lot of courage and skill. In 54 he arrived in Gaul to Caesar and, with the assistance of the latter, received a quaestor in 52. He held this position under Caesar until 50, in which he returned to Rome. There he became the people's tribune and augur. A supporter of Caesar, A. at the beginning of January 49 stood up for him in the Senate, as a tribune, together with his colleague Cascius Longinus. But their intervention was unsuccessful; moreover, they were personally in danger and were forced to flee the city and hide in Caesar’s camp. This circumstance gave Caesar a pretext for declaring war. When Caesar set out from Italy, he handed over to A. command of the troops concentrated there; from Italy A. led a strong detachment to Illyria, where Caesar was waiting for him. At the Battle of Farsad, A. commanded the left flank. After the battle, he and part of the army returned to Rome. Having become a dictator, Caesar appointed him as his magister equitum, but upon Caesar’s return to Rome, relations between them became strained, since A. aroused the dictator’s displeasure. Soon A. married Fulvia, the widow of Clodius. When Caesar returned from Spain, A. again acquired his favor, became a consul in 44, along with Caesar, and tried to persuade the people to recognize Caesar as king, but in vain. Soon after this, Caesar was killed, but Anthony was saved from the same fate by the intercession of Brutus. Taking advantage of the turmoil, A. took possession of the state treasury, as well as Caesar’s fortune and papers; then he entered into an alliance with Lepidus, who, having brought into the city part of the army that was stationed under his command near Rome and a hot speech delivered over the body of Caesar, during which he opened the bloody veil of the dictator before the people, so inflamed the mob that they were seized with thirst revenge and she rushed to the houses of the murderers. The latter had to flee, and then Anthony for some time became the unlimited ruler of Rome. But he, like others, did not sufficiently appreciate Octavian, Caesar’s adopted son and heir, who later turned out to be a dangerous rival for him.

At first A. tried to get around him. But when the people assigned Octavian, instead of Macedonia, Cisalpine Gaul and most of Transalpine Gaul, A. began to openly quarrel with him, accusing his rival of an attempt on his life with the help of hired killers. Octavian took advantage of the absence of A., who came to meet the legions that he had called from Macedonia, gathered a significant army from Caesar’s veterans and, at the same time, achieved that part of A.’s legions betrayed their leader and went over to his side. Then A. retired to Cisalpine Gaul and set out to take away this province from Decimus Brutus, one of the conspirators who ruled it by appointment of Caesar; for this purpose, he besieged Brutus in Mutina, where he fled. At this time, Octavian discovered the talent of a subtle diplomat: he declared himself a supporter of the republic and joined the Senate party led by Cicero. The latter made a thunderous speech against Anthony and the Senate took a number of measures against him as against an enemy of the state, although before the battle of Mutina Anthony had not yet been directly declared such. Octavian was entrusted with the command of the army sent against A. and he, together with both consuls - Hirtius and Pansa, went into the field. In mid-April. 43 A., not far from Mutina (Modena), defeated Pansa, but was then, in turn, defeated by Girtius. A few days later, Octavian, together with Hirtius, inflicted a decisive defeat on A., so that the latter had to flee (the so-called Mutino War). In these battles, both consuls paid with their lives. A. fled through the Apennines to Etruria, where Venudius with 3 legions came to his aid. From here he went through the Alps to Southern Gaul, which was ruled by Lepidus. The latter sided with A., pretending that the troops forced him to do so. Pollio and Plancus followed his example. A significant army gathered under the banners of A. and he, leaving 6 legions in Gaul, moved to Italy at the head of 17 legions and 10,000 horsemen.

Then Octavian took off his mask. The imaginary defender of republican freedom entered into negotiations with A. and Lepidus in the islet of the Lavino River, not far from Bologna, a famous agreement took place, by which the ancient world was divided between three usurpers. They then moved to Rome, where this deal had to be sanctioned by the people, who were forced to establish a triumvirate for five years. Along with the triumvirs, murders and robberies swept across Italy. They condemned to death many hundreds of rich and respected citizens, among whom Appian, the most reliable historian of those days, numbers about 300 senators and 2000 horsemen. Their names were made public and a reward was placed on each head. By the way, A. ordered Cicero’s head and right hand to be thrown into public disgrace, and they were exhibited on the very platform from which he so often won victories. After the people proclaimed the triumvirs the rulers of the state for many years and everything necessary for the war was prepared, A. and Octavian moved in 42 to Macedonia, where their opponents Brutus and Cascius concentrated a strong army. In the bloody battle of Philippi, A. fought against Cassius; the latter, seeing that happiness had betrayed him, ordered the slave to kill himself. After 20 days, a second battle took place, and here victory leaned on A.’s side, and Brutus, in despair, followed the example of his noble comrade. Here A. and Octavian concluded a special agreement between themselves directed against Lepidus. Then, A. went to Greece, where, showing respect for Greek morals and customs, he gained universal favor, especially among the Athenians. From here he arrived in Asia, where he intended to raise money to pay the soldiers' salaries. From Cilicia, he sent a command to the Egyptian queen Cleopatra to justify her hostility towards the triumvirs. She appeared in person, and the matter ended with A. becoming completely entangled in the nets of the beautiful queen. He followed her to Alexandria and there endless amusements so distracted him from the affairs of government that only the news of the victorious invasion of the Parthians and Octavian's quarrel with his wife Fulvia and brother Lucius Antony made him wake up. The war that broke out in Italy between Octavian and Lucius Antony ended with the victory of the former, before Antony had time to break free from the spell of court festivities. The death of Fulvia facilitated reconciliation, and the new union was sealed by A.'s marriage to Octavia, Octavian's sister.

Then (40) a new division of the Roman world took place in Brundusium. A. received the East, Octavian received the West. The powerless Lepidus, according to the treaty of Philippi, was given Africa. A treaty was concluded with Sextus Pompey, who dominated the Mediterranean Sea, at Mesen, which granted him Sicily, Sardinia and the Peloponnese. After this, A. returned to the East, where his legate Ventidius fought a victorious war with the Parthians. The newly arising disagreements between A. and Octavian were settled in Tarentum (37) with the active mediation of Octavia, and the triumvirate was extended for the next 5 years. Upon returning to Asia, A. again indulged in unbridled pleasures; neglecting the interests of the state, he squandered provinces and entire kingdoms at the feet of Egypt. queen, and the Roman regions gave it to children. In 36 he undertook a campaign against the Parthians, but without success; returning from there with the greatest losses, in 34 he cunningly captured the king of Armenia Artavasdes, whom he accused of treason and celebrated this dubious victory with a magnificent triumph in Alexandria. Octavian, who during this time managed to induce Sextus Pompey and finally eliminate Lepidus, took advantage of A.'s behavior and aroused the indignation of the Romans against him. War between the two rivals became inevitable and both sides began to prepare for it. A. wasted time in endless celebrations; incessant amusements in Ephesus, Athens, and the island of Samos distracted him from his affairs, while Octavian strove towards his goal with unwavering persistence. A. broke up with Octavia openly. This act caused general indignation, since the noble Octavia was respected by everyone, but the arrogance of the foreign queen was hated by everyone, and it ended with Rome declaring war on the Egyptian queen; A. had already been declared deprived of all positions, among other things, and the consulate, which he should have been given the following year. Both sides concentrated their forces and in the naval battle of Actium in 31, A. lost his dominance over the world. He followed Cleopatra, who fled shamefully. For seven days in a row, his ground forces waited in vain for their leader and finally surrendered to the winner. A. went to Libya, where he formed a significant army, on which he placed his last hope. But his army went over to Octavian’s side; his grief was so great that it was with difficulty that he was kept from committing suicide. He returned to Egypt, where at first he led a solitary life, but suddenly again indulged in amusements in the company of Cleopatra. Their celebrations were interrupted by the news of the approach of Octavian (31 AD). to X.P.), who rejected all A.’s proposals for peace. When he appeared at the gates of Alexandria, A. again regained his former courage: at the head of his cavalry, he made a victorious sortie and repelled the enemies. But then, the betrayal of the Egyptian fleet and his own cavalry, the defeat suffered by his infantry, and the fundamental fear of being betrayed by Cleopatra herself again deprived him of courage. The news of Cleopatra's death, which she herself spread, made him make up his mind and he threw himself on his sword. Thus perished this man, undoubtedly gifted with brilliant abilities, a powerful orator, a skillful ruler who knew how to captivate the hearts of people, but lacking a strong will, a slave to his passions and yet capable of decisions and deeds full of energy. His abilities were stronger than his character, which was a combination of the most opposite elements and, therefore, devoid of integrity and unity.

The history of the ancient world is one of the most interesting pages in the chronicle of mankind. Its last stage was Ancient Rome - a state that existed for almost a thousand years.

Interest in the history of this ancient country is due to the fact that, having expanded from a city into a vast structure in area, it went through many phases of development. Many names are associated with this ancient state, and one of them is Mark Antony.

Ancient Rome

As a result of the conquests of the 3rd-1st centuries BC, it turned into a world power. Ambition, murder, conquest, unsurpassed power in the development of technology at that time - all this became the cornerstone in the foundation of the empire. Gaius Julius Caesar, the most powerful ruler of Rome, played a significant role in this. This ambitious politician and general, realizing that the path to glory lay on the battlefield far beyond the borders of the empire, was able to almost double the size of the state.

As a man inclined to power, he was able to establish imperial rule in Rome. His thirst for conquest required the implementation of the most daring projects. And in this only his closest comrades, one of whom was Mark Antony, could help him. Rome in the era of Caesar turned from an anarchic state into a powerful empire. And his devoted comrade-in-arms, Mark Antony, played a significant role in this, a photo of whose bust can be seen in any school history textbook.

Closest Companion

The son of Praetor Anthony of Crete and Caesar's relative Julia, this future commander and politician was born in 82 BC. His youth cannot be called calm and measured. Mark Antony led a very disorderly and wasteful life. At one point, he was even forced to flee from his creditors to Greece, where he studied science and philosophy for some time. But after some time the young man realized that all this was alien to him. Military affairs is what Mark Antony decided to devote himself to.

Biography

He was born on the fourteenth of January 82 BC into one of the famous families in Rome, which belonged to the ruling elite. His father, Mark Anthony of Crete, or Kretik, came from a very ancient family, which, according to legend, went back to the son of Hercules Anton.

Anthony's ancestors always held high positions in Rome. His grandfather even achieved the rank of consul, and later censor.

Childhood

In the family of the future commander, in addition to himself, there were two more sons. He, like many offspring of noble families, received an excellent education at home. He was always predicted to have a wonderful future. In addition, Mark Antony, whose biography is described in most detail by Cicero, was always in excellent physical shape and excelled in military preparatory and gymnastic training. This was considered the most important component in the education of young noble Romans.

Youth

Mark Antony, whose adolescence occurred during a relatively calm time for the empire, strove, like other young nobles, for free self-expression. Since at this time all military campaigns took place far from the capital, noble youth spent all their time in Rome instead of serving in the army. Mark Antony tried to imitate his distant ancestor Hercules: he let his beard grow, began to gird his tunic at the hip, fastened a sword to his belt and wrapped himself in a heavy cloak.

At that time, he was greatly influenced by Gaius Curio, the son of the consul. According to biographers, it was he who turned the future to women, drinking and unaffordable luxury.

Despite his noble origins, Anthony already had a completely damaged reputation in his youth. Therefore, his relatives could not agree on his marriage to a girl from any noble family. As a result, he entered into his first marriage with the daughter of a wealthy freed slave, Quintus Gallus. However, this family was not destined to have a long history: by 44 BC. e. his wife died.

Far from home

The father of Julius Caesar's comrade-in-arms and future commander, Mark Antony Sr., left huge debts after his death, which fell on his son's shoulders. But since he led a very wild life, he had nothing to pay him with. Wanted by creditors, he fled to Greece. Here Anthony studied for some time with philosophers and famous rhetoricians. But soon, realizing that military affairs was closer to him, he abandoned the humanities. Soon, Mark Antony was appointed commander of the cavalry by the Syrian proconsul Gabinius. A warrior by nature, he distinguished himself in campaigns both against Aristobulus in Judea and in Egypt, where he assisted Ptolemy XII Auletes in every possible way and helped him ascend the throne.

Under the leadership of Caesar

The names of these two politicians and commanders are inextricably linked with each other. In 54 BC. e. Antony, having arrived to Caesar in Gaul, with his help acquired the quaestor. And five years later, already as a tribune, together with Cassius Longinus he was able to support the latter in the Senate. But this did not have the expected result, so Anthony, like other Caesarians, had to flee the city.

The war has begun. Gaius Julius handed over to Anthony the troops concentrated in Italy. At the Battle of Pharsalus, Anthony fought on the left flank. Upon returning to Rome, he was appointed by Caesar magister equitum - commander of the cavalry. And in the fiftieth year, with the support of his patron, he became. Having shown himself to be an active supporter of the latter and taking advantage of his undivided trust, at the beginning of the Civil War he received the position of propraetor and began to head the Roman administration in the absence of the emperor.

Death of a patron

However, the fact that Caesar essentially proclaimed himself dictator for life and king of Rome led to his isolation and rejection by others. The Senate was literally saturated with discontent with tyranny. Even Caesar's protégé, Brutus Mark, was persuaded to betray.

And finally, in March forty-four BC. e. forty conspirators, motivated by the ideas of freedom, carried out their plan. Gaius Julius Caesar was stabbed to death with daggers. But his death did not lead to the triumph of justice and the restoration of the republic, as the conspirators wanted.

Famous speech

Caesar's funeral was scheduled for March twentieth. Since the deceased had no close relatives left in Rome, and Gaius Octavius - his adopted son - was in Greece at that time, Marcus Brutus, as city praetor, decided that Antony should deliver the funeral speech. Although the conspirators and Caesarians outwardly managed to maintain the appearance of reconciliation, the crowd was nevertheless heated, which Caesar’s student and ally took advantage of. Mark Antony, which called for the punishment of the murderers, was completed by the display of the dictator's bloody toga.

After this, as the speaker sought, the ceremony was disrupted: the Romans, having collected all the wooden things from the surrounding shops, made a funeral pyre right in the Forum, after which they rushed in search of the conspirators.

After Caesar

Knowing that the same fate awaited him as his patron, Mark Antony managed to escape from Rome. He later returned and took possession of the dictator's treasury and archives. The mass unrest that broke out with his direct assistance led to the fact that the conspirators were forced to leave the capital of the empire. For a very short period, Mark Antony became the sole ruler. He even managed to carry out a number of reforms and approve new laws.

Power struggle

However, after a short time, the Senate decided to oppose Anthony to Guy Octavian, whom Caesar named his heir shortly before the murder. Gradually, the dictator's comrade-in-arms began to lose his influence. And when in the Mutinsk War in 43 BC. e. his troops were defeated, he had to flee to the south. Here the commander Mark Antony persuaded Marcus Lepidus, the proconsul of Gaul and Near Spain, to an alliance. Having recruited a significant army, he moved to Italy. As a result, the warring parties, having agreed, formed a triumvirate - a “union of three.” Gaius Antony, Lepidus and Mark Antony became the supreme rulers in Rome, having eliminated their main political opponents - Cassius and Brutus, who killed Caesar, in the battle of Philippi.

The power of the three did not last long: in 1942, they and Octavian, having concluded an agreement among themselves, removed Lepidus. Then Mark Antony, who had received the eastern part of the Roman Empire in the partition, began to reorganize his provinces. He traveled to Greece, Bithynia, and Syria.

last love

He was greeted with honors everywhere. And she just didn’t deign the commander any attention. Stung, Mark Antony ordered her to come to Tarsus. But when the mistress in the costume of Venus, surrounded by sea nymphs, facies and cupids, on a huge ship with scarlet sails and a gilded stern, sailed at dusk to the sounds of the most tender music, the seasoned commander and reveler, the brave man and favorite of women was smitten its splendor. And instead of angry threats, he came with an invitation to dinner.

Cleopatra and Mark Antony retired on a ship covered with rose petals. The feast lasted four days, and then they headed to her capital residence. The Roman commander was ready to give this seductress the whole world.

Entertainment and orgies continued throughout the winter in the Egyptian capital. The ruler completely withdrew from the affairs of the state. The “Alexandrian courtesan,” who did not leave her lover for a minute, turned into a sweetly passionate bacchante. She indulged his every instinct, drank with him, expressed himself cynically, and responded with abuse. Cleopatra and Mark Antony spent every day in entertainment: their life became a real theater of pleasure with constantly updated scenery. Sometimes lovers, dressed as commoners, walked the streets, starting fights and practical jokes.

The ruler thought only about Cleopatra. He began to give her away to the children of the earth, ordered coins to be minted with the profile of his beloved, and her name to be stamped on the shields of his legionnaires.

The price of love

The Romans, deeply outraged by such actions, began to grumble. In 32 BC. e. Octavian spoke in the Senate. His diatribe was directed against Mark Antony. He, having published his will, in which the Roman commander ordered to bury himself in Egyptian soil, practically called the latter a traitor. But the last straw was the point in which Mark Antony named the son of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar as his heir, recognizing for him not only Egypt, but also other lands with which he endowed his mistress.

The will had the effect of a bomb exploding. Octavian, on behalf of the Senate, announced

War against the Roman Empire

The army of Cleopatra and Antony was more numerous. This was precisely the reason for their defeat: they hoped for it too much and lost. The Egyptian queen, who had no experience, was to command the fleet. In the decisive battle in early September 31 BC. e., not far from the Greek Actium, she, not understanding her lover’s strategy, abandoned him at the decisive moment, ordering him to retreat. The Romans managed to win a complete victory.

In despair, Cleopatra and Mark Antony held a farewell feast. Egypt has never seen such rampant orgies.

Death

When Octavian approached Alexandria, the queen, wanting to soften him, sent messengers to him with generous gifts. And she locked herself in the chambers and began to wait. The servants, misunderstanding such seclusion, informed Anthony that his mistress had died by committing suicide. Hearing this, the commander stabbed himself with a dagger. He died for several more hours in the arms of Cleopatra.

Meanwhile, the Romans captured Alexandria. The queen's attempts to negotiate with Octavian were unsuccessful. Her charms had no effect on the latter, although he was famous for his adventures.

Cleopatra no longer had any illusions about her future: she had to walk in shackles around Rome behind Octavian’s chariot. But the proud “Alexandrian courtesan” avoided shame: the faithful servants managed to give her a basket of fruit, under which they hid a very poisonous snake. So on August 30, 30 BC, the love story of Mark Antony and Cleopatra ended.

Descendants

Chroniclers described this Roman commander, Caesar's comrade-in-arms, as a man with a distinguished, handsome appearance. The main traits of his character are intelligence and generosity, wit and spiritual openness, ease of manner and politeness. All these qualities, according to Plutarch, paved the way for him to the brilliant heights of power. It was they who invariably increased his power, even despite numerous mistakes and errors. But all historians call his main weakness Cleopatra, who stood in his way and ruined his life.

Mark Antony had seven children. Two sons from his first wife Fulvia, a daughter and Antony the Younger from Octavia, Octavian’s sister, and three offspring from the Egyptian queen. She gave birth to twins - Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, as well as the younger one - Ptolemy Philadelphus.

History knows at least two more of his namesakes, who, according to some information, are considered distant descendants. This is Marcus Antonius Aurelius, who was from 161 to 180. He was a philosopher, a representative of late Stoicism and a follower of Epictetus. He even left to his descendants a twelve-volume work entitled “To Himself.”

Another namesake, Mark Antony Sempronianus Romanus Africanus, is better known in Roman historiography under the name Gordian I. He was also an emperor and ruled the empire in 238.

Nevertheless, Gordian is known as the man who created the amphitheater of Mark Antony, in which games were held that were not inferior in cruelty to those that took place in the Colosseum.

(born c. 83 BC - died 30 BC)
Ancient Roman commander. In 43 BC. e. together with Octavian and Lepidus formed the 2nd triumvirate. He defeated the troops of Brutus and Cassius (42 BC) and gained control of the eastern regions of the Roman state.

Most people know Mark Antony thanks to his connection with the famous Queen of Egypt Cleopatra - the last representative of the glorious Ptolemaic dynasty. And few people know that Mark Antony was a talented commander, and at one time one of the most influential statesmen in Rome. But to rise to the level of his contemporaries Julius Caesar and Octavian Augustus, he lacked the ability to subordinate passions to political calculation and state interests.

Mark Antony was born in 83 BC. e. in an old aristocratic family, which had long taken part in political life and was well acquainted with all the ensuing consequences. Anthony's grandfather, an ardent supporter of Sulla, was killed by order of the consul Gaius Marius. The father received the nickname of Crete for conducting military operations in Crete, but did not possess his son’s military talents. The future commander's mother, Julia, was a relative of Julius Caesar, which likely contributed to his career.

At first, nothing in the young man suggested any special talents. Anthony, like many patricians, spent his youth in drunkenness and carousing, eventually fell into debt and was expelled from home by his father. The “Prodigal Son” sided with the people’s tribune Clodius, who, with his armed bands, ruled as he wanted in the People’s Assembly and the Forum. Anthony was impressed by such actions, consistent with his ardent character and desire to shock his elders - the stern patricians of the old school.

However, ambition soon began to appear in him. Anthony realized that in Rome, with his reputation, he could not achieve a high position, and went to Greece to study rhetoric in the hope that his former way of life would be forgotten over time. However, Anthony did not like painstaking studies. Soon he left them and entered military service with the Syrian consul Gabinius. The young warrior quickly won the sympathy of the soldiers, sharing with the legionnaires all the difficulties of camp life, not disdaining to eat from the same cauldron with them and generously distributing gifts.

Gabinius appointed Antony commander of the cavalry and sent him to suppress the uprising in Judea. Here the young patrician finally found his place. He immediately attracted attention with his personal courage and ability to command: during the siege of one of the cities, he was the first to climb the wall and carried the soldiers along with him; with a small detachment of legionnaires, he defeated a much more impressive enemy army.

After some time, Gabinius was sent to Egypt to help King Ptolemy XIII cope with the rebellious people. And here Anthony managed to show his best side. Going forward, he and his cavalry occupied the city of Jelusium, located at the mouth of the Nile, and then managed to bypass the enemy troops from the rear and defeat them. It was he who persuaded Ptolemy to show mercy to the vanquished and paid tribute to the leader of the rebels, Archelaus, who died in the last battle. Anthony ordered his body to be found and buried with honors. By this he attracted the sympathy of the Egyptians: during the time of Cleopatra there was no resistance to the presence of Anthony’s troops in Egypt.

Returning to Rome, Antony became close friends with Julius Caesar. He favored him, and after a military campaign in Gaul, he generously endowed the young commander with booty, making him rich. The name of Anthony in Rome had a new sound, and now nothing prevented him from engaging in political activities. His election as a tribune of the people allowed the military leader to launch energetic activities in support of Caesar. Therefore, when the future dictator was expelled from Rome by Pompey's supporters, Antony had to follow him.

However, Caesar soon returned with an army and captured Rome. And then Anthony significantly helped the dictator in the war with Pompey.
With a small army, Caesar crossed the sea to Macedonia, and Antony remained in Brundisium to transport the main forces. But the enemy fleet suddenly blocked the exit from the harbor. Then Anthony sent part of the army to Caesar by land, through Illyria, and put the remaining legionnaires on ships and, thanks to the swiftness of the actions, managed to break into the open sea, taking advantage of the enemy’s confusion. Thanks to this, Caesar received reinforcements at the decisive moment.

Many times in battles, Anthony saved the situation, inspiring the troops by his own example. Caesar highly appreciated the courage, courage and devotion of the military leader. Having received unlimited power in Rome, he made Anthony the sovereign ruler of Italy during his absence. And then the ruler returned to his old ways.

The carousing began. More than once Anthony was seen drunk on the streets of the city, in the theater or at parties in the company of actors, musicians and courtesans. From here it was not far to abuse of anger. The ruler refused to repay debts and pay for his purchases, sometimes quite significant. He was afraid of offending the interests of moneylenders, so he did his best to prevent the passage of a law on the abolition of debt obligations in the Senate. When its initiator Dolabella, a prominent supporter of Caesar's party, rebelled, Antony crushed the resistance in a bloody battle in the forum. Caesar, who returned to Rome, was very dissatisfied and removed his former favorite from himself. But Anthony again began to behave with dignity, and soon the dictator forgave him.

During the Ides of March, Caesar's assassins intended to deal with Anthony. He was saved only by the intercession of Decimus Brutus, who soon had to regret it.
After the death of Caesar, Antony was able to quickly seize the initiative. First of all, he went to the dictator’s wife, Calpurnia, and took her husband’s papers and cash from her. Then, convening a meeting of the Senate, Antony did everything to ensure that all the decisions made under Caesar were “confirmed. To gain time, Anthony secured an amnesty for the conspirators, but a few days later at the dictator’s funeral he shook Caesar’s bloody toga, calling on the Romans to take revenge. The crowd rushed to burn the houses of the deceased's opponents. The conspirators, including Brutus and Cassius, fled the city in fear.

For some time, Anthony occupied a dominant position in Rome. However, he had no shortage of rivals. A fierce struggle for power began, although Caesar in his will named his adopted great-nephew Gaius Octavian as heir.

Arriving in Rome, Octavian, despite his young age, immediately showed character. He demanded that Anthony return the money taken from Calpurnia. He refused and even insulted the heir. Then Octavian, who quickly advanced into the political field and became praetor of the Senate; led a fierce struggle against his adoptive father's former comrade-in-arms. In the battle of Mutina, Antony was defeated, but Octavian did not dare to pursue.

Together with the remnants of his army, Anthony made the most difficult transition through the Alps. The legionnaires suffered from fatigue, hunger and thirst. Along with them, Anthony also bravely endured the hardships of the campaign. Finally, the exhausted army managed to reach Gaul, where Lepidus was governor. Under his command were 7 legions that remained loyal to Caesar.

Dressed in mourning clothes, Antony went to Lepidus’s camp to the soldiers and won them over to his side. Lepidus had to conclude an alliance with Antony. By this time, Octavian had already become consul - the youngest ruler of Rome in the entire history of the city. Lepidus and Antony entered into an alliance with him, known as the “second triumvirate.”

Leaving Lepidus in charge of Rome and Italy, Antony and Octavian moved against Brutus and Cassius. In October 42, they defeated the army of Caesar's assassins in two battles at Philippi. The losers committed suicide, and Anthony, who remembered that Brutus had saved his life at one time, ordered him to be buried with great honors.

Now the commander, who played a decisive role in the victory (Octavian was defeated by Brutus), became the most famous person in Rome. He received control of the richest Roman provinces in the East.

Having reached the heights of power, Anthony did not change at all. The commander indulged in pleasure with the same passion. He felt like the earthly embodiment of the god Dionysus, constantly surrounded by musicians, dancers, actors - hangers-on greedy for money. Anthony's generosity knew no bounds. He easily distributed privileges and freedoms to entire cities, without caring at all about the opinion of the Romans on this matter.

The governor felt like the uncrowned king of the East and, of course, sought to expand his influence. Among the eastern countries, he was especially attracted to Egypt, where Queen Cleopatra ruled, who must have made a great impression on him fifteen years ago during her stay in Rome.

Since the time of Caesar, the power of the queen has been maintained only thanks to Rome. During the civil war, she tried not to join either side, waiting for the outcome of the struggle. Under this pretext, Anthony sent one of his friends to Egypt demanding that he come for an explanation.

Cleopatra thought through her behavior to the smallest detail. To retain power, she needed to conquer the most powerful of the Romans at that moment. She arrived in the Cilician city of Tarsus on a luxurious ship with purple* sails and silver-bound oars. The queen herself reclined in a gilded tent dressed as Aphrodite. Boys with fans, dressed as erotes, stood around.

Anthony invited the queen to dinner, but she preferred to call him to her place, and the intrigued military leader obeyed. Completely fascinated by this legendary woman, he found himself in her power and thereby predetermined his fate. The queen subtly flattered her lover, calling him an emperor, a hunter “of cities, kingdoms and continents.”

First of all, with the help of Antony, Cleopatra eliminated her sister Arsinoe, whose rivalry she was afraid of. Then a series of continuous feasts and elaborate celebrations began. The queen was inexhaustible in her inventions. One of the most famous is the night visits to Alexandria. Cleopatra dressed as a maid, and Antony dressed as a slave. Together they made fun of the townspeople, and sometimes got into violent fights.

In the arms of Cleopatra, Anthony completely forgot about his duties. A sense of duty was clearly not one of his virtues. When in 41-40 BC. e. Rome fought the so-called Perusian War in the west of the empire, unleashed by his first wife Fulvia; the best of the Roman commanders chose to remain in Egypt, leaving Octavian to deal with the situation himself. But when the Parthians captured almost all of Western Asia, Anthony still had to return to Italy. In September 40 BC. e. he met with Octavian in Brundusium. Here they concluded an agreement according to which Octavian would rule the western part of the empire, and the entire east would go to Anthony.

In addition, to strengthen the alliance, Antony had to marry Octavian's sister, Octavia. The girl was beautiful and was known as one of the smartest women in Rome. For some time, she managed to turn her husband away from Cleopatra, who by that time already had two children from Anthony - Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. However, this did not last long. At the end of 37 BC. e. the commander again went to the East to crush the Parthian kingdom. In the war with the Parthians, he hoped for help from Egypt. On the way, Anthony sent his wife to Italy, and, having landed in Syria, he immediately summoned Cleopatra to him and soon declared her his legal wife. As a wedding gift, the commander, without asking the opinion of his compatriots, presented her with territories belonging to Rome on the Phoenician coast, Fr. Cyprus, the coast of Cilicia, lands in Crete and Judea. True, he still did not send a letter to Octavia demanding a divorce.

However, the Parthian War ended in complete failure for the governor of the East. In the autumn of 31 BC. e. his troops suffered a catastrophic defeat at the walls of Gazaka-Vera in Media-Anthropatene. The main cause of the disaster was the lack of siege engines that were stuck somewhere along the way. To save the army from complete defeat, Anthony had to lead the army along roads inaccessible to cavalry, high in the mountains. On the way, 24 thousand legionnaires and 4 thousand horsemen died from cold, hunger and skirmishes with the enemy. Anthony sent a report of victory to Rome. However, the true state of affairs soon became known there too.

The Romans were outraged by the behavior of their former idol. All attempts by Octavian to return his son-in-law to the family ended in failure. Severely offended, Octavian convinced himself and others that the governor, having contacted Cleopatra, had become an enemy of Rome. The basis for this was the will of Anthony, left with the Vestals. In it, he expressed a desire to be buried in Alexandria after his death, recognized his children from Cleopatra as legitimate, and most importantly, declared the queen’s eldest son, Caesarion, the legitimate son of Julius Caesar. Now even well-meaning compatriots believed that Anthony had been bewitched by Cleopatra and had lost his mind.

After Antony ordered Octavia and her children to leave his home in Rome, both sides began to prepare for war. According to contemporaries, Antony and Octavian “plunged their compatriots into the disasters of internecine war, one out of love for a woman, the other out of offended pride.”

According to Plutarch, Antony even followed Cleopatra’s lead in developing a war strategy. Instead of withdrawing his troops from Egyptian territory and giving battle in Macedonia, as many close associates advised, he, following the queen, insisted on the defense of Egypt.

Thus, the Egyptians were in an extremely disadvantageous position. It was necessary to defend from the sea a line stretching from Cyrene to Corcyra. As a result, the talented Roman naval commander M. Vipsanius Agrippa drove Antony's ships into the Actian Bay.

At the Battle of Actium, which took place on September 2, 31 BC. e., Antony had a significantly larger number of ships than Octavian. However, his heavy fortress ships were very clumsy. Therefore, the Roman fleet, distinguished by its great maneuverability, was in a more advantageous position. The Roman ships broke the enemy's oars and rammed their ships with sharp bows covered with copper sheathing.

The battle was still going on, but suddenly Cleopatra ordered sixty Egyptian ships to break through. The light sailing ships headed by the queen quickly coped with the task and began to move away towards the Peloponnese. Anthony left the flagship, boarded a pentera and rushed after it, leaving the remaining ships with 19 legions on board to the mercy of fate. He managed to catch up with the queen only at Cape Tenara, already in Greece.

Antony's abandoned comrades continued to fight all day until Octavian took his ships to the open sea. In the morning, he announced to his opponents about the betrayal of the commander. The legionnaires could not believe what had happened for a long time. They were deeply devoted to Anthony, the generous and courageous man who shared food and water with them. For seven days they waited for the commander to return, hoping that he would return with help, and then surrendered to Octavian.

In the spring of 30 BC. e. Octavian's troops simultaneously invaded Egypt from the east and west, and soon the Roman cavalry found itself under the walls of Alexandria. Here Antony won his last victory. Intoxicated with success, he presented the bravest of the warriors to the queen and awarded him golden armor. However, the very next day he ran over to the Romans. The legionnaires did not feel the same love for the military leader. And no one wanted to lay down their heads for Cleopatra. Shortly before this, 4 legions left the army, going over to the side of the enemy. A little later they were followed by cavalry, and with only infantry it was pointless to defend the city.

Residents of Alexandria were also ready to surrender the city. They were especially impressed by the rumor that Anthony had been abandoned by his patron god Dionysus. He was allegedly seen leaving the city gates towards the enemy camp.

At this time, Cleopatra locked herself in her tomb, having previously collected all her jewelry there. Soon rumors of her death spread throughout the palace. Anthony ordered the slave Eros to stab him. But Eros himself threw himself on the sword with the words: “The slave showed me how to die.” Antony also plunged the sword into himself, but was only seriously wounded. Having learned about this, Cleopatra ordered him to be taken to her on a stretcher, but refused to open the door. The unfortunate man had to be dragged into the tomb through the window. With the words that life had raised him to such a height that there was nothing to be sad about, Anthony died in the arms of the queen.

As for Cleopatra, despite all her precautions, the Romans managed to enter the tomb through the same window through which Antony was raised, and took the queen prisoner. She made an attempt to charm Octavian, but achieved nothing. When it became clear that he intended to lead her around Rome chained to a triumphal chariot, the queen ordered a poisonous snake to be delivered to her secretly from the guards in a fruit basket and died from its bite. Egypt came into the possession of Octavian.

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* - The Romans associated the color purple with power.

Mark Antony

Mark Antony.

Anthony Mark (c. 83 - 30 BC) - Roman commander, triumvir (from 43), tribune of the people (49), was consul with Julius Caesar(44). Committed suicide after being defeated by Octaviana in battle off Cape Aktii .

Anthony Mark (lat. Antonius, 83–30 BC) - Roman military leader and politician. In 44 BC. e. together with Caesar he was consul. After Caesar's death, he entered into an alliance with Octavian. They divided the territory of the Roman Empire. Anthony ruled Egypt together with his mistress - the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. After the Senate declared war on Cleopatra and the defeat of the Egyptian fleet at Cape Actium (31 BC), Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide.

Greidina N.L., Melnichuk A.A. Antiquity from A to Z. Dictionary-reference book. M., 2007.

Anthony Mark (c. 82-30 BC). Better known as Mark Antony; descendant of a noble family during Republican Rome; represented the interests of Julius Caesar - with the 49th tribune of the people in Rome, during the civil war - one of the commanders, and from the age of 44 - consul. After the assassination of Caesar, he tried to become his successor, for which he was passionately criticized by Cicero. Together with Octavian and Lepidus, he concluded a triumvirate (the official name is “a college of three to streamline the republican system”) to jointly fight against Brutus and Cassius, the killers of Caesar, whose troops were defeated in 42. After this, Antony becomes the ruler of the eastern part of the empire. Despite his marriage to Octavian's sister, he married the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII, whose transfer of annexed lands to Armenia as a gift aroused the displeasure of Rome and made a conflict with Octavian inevitable. In 31, Antony's fleet was defeated at Cape Actium, since Cleopatra, in the midst of the battle, sailed to Egypt, and Antony rushed after her, leaving the flotilla. When Octavian's troops entered Alexandria Anthony committed suicide.

Shakespeare created the dramas Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra based on this plot.

Who's who in the ancient world. Directory. Ancient Greek and Roman classics. Mythology. Story. Art. Policy. Philosophy. Compiled by Betty Radish. Translation from English by Mikhail Umnov. M., 1993, p. 22.

In ancient times, it was impossible not to notice some announcements, for example, the announcement of the start of war with your state. Especially if you are in this state - Emperor Mark Antony himself. And such announcements need to be answered adequately. However, nowadays there are too many advertisements on the Internet that are not worth your attention. They need to be sorted and only those that are truly valuable are selected. But how to do this routine work - choosing what is important among the stream? The answer to this question is obvious. On this site there is a special service that allows you, as they say, to “filter the market” automatically and separate important from dubious and unreliable advertisements.

Anthony Mark (Marcus Antonius) (c. 83-30 BC) - triumvir since 43. Commander. He first advanced as a cavalry commander during the war in Palestine and Egypt (57-55). In 54 he joined Julius Caesar and took part in the Gallic campaigns. In 49 he was elected tribune of the people; during the civil war he actively supported Caesar and after Battle of Pharsalus 48 was appointed magister equitum (cavalry commander). In 44 he was consul with Caesar, and after the assassination of Caesar, he first took a conciliatory position towards his murderers and the Senate; in the interests of senators, he passed a law prohibiting dictatorship in perpetuity. But soon Antony’s relations with the Senate became strained, especially because of Antony’s claim to rule Gaul (he relied on Caesar’s troops and veterans). The opposition of the Senate nobility against Anthony was led by Cicero, who was secretly supported by Caesar's heir, Octavian Augustus. Things came to an open rupture, and the Senate sent troops against Antony (to Gaul). In 43, near the city of Mutina, Antony was defeated (see Mutino War), but then, under pressure from the troops, prominent Caesarians united, and Antony entered into an alliance with Octavian and Lepidus (the second triumvirate). The power of the triumvirs was sanctioned by the popular assembly, and with the help of proscriptions they dealt with their political opponents. In 42, at Philippi (Macedonia), Anthony, together with Octavian, defeated the troops of Brutus and Cassius. With the subsequent division of the provinces between the triumvirs, he received control of the eastern region of the Roman state. During his stay in the East, Anthony made several unsuccessful campaigns against the Parthians, but in 34 he annexed Armenia to the Roman possessions. Anthony behaved in the East like an autocrat; Having become close to the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, he gave her and her children huge possessions. This policy led to a rift between the triumvirs and restored public opinion in Rome against Antony. The Senate declared war on Cleopatra. In 31, at the Cape of Actium, the Egyptian fleet was defeated, and when Octavian’s army entered Egypt (30), Anthony, unable to provide serious resistance, committed suicide.

S. L. Utchenko. Moscow.

Soviet historical encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1973-1982. Volume 1. AALTONEN – AYANY. 1961.

Sources: Cicero, Letters... (translated from Latin), (vol.) 1-3, M.-L., 1949-51; Caesar, Notes... on the Gallic War, trans. from Lat., M.-L., 1948; Plutarch, El. biographies, trans. from Greek, M.-L., 1941; Appian, Citizen wars, trans. from Greek, L., 1935.

Literature: Mashkin N. A., Principate of Augusta, M.-L., 1949; Lindsay J., Marc Antony, his world and his contemporaries, L., 1936.

Politician and military leader

Mark Antony (82-30 BC) - Roman politician and commander. He began his military service in 58 at the headquarters of the governor of Syria. Under the command of Aulus Gabinius, Mark Antony led the cavalry. In 54 he left for Gaul, where he fought under the command of Julius Caesar. In 52, Anthony became a quaestor, in 49 - a tribune of the people.

With the beginning of the Civil War of 49-45. Caesar transferred the legions stationed in southern Italy to Mark Antony. In the spring of 48, Antony transported them to Epirus, where he united with Caesar under the walls of Dyrrachium. At the battle of Pharsalus, he led the right flank of Caesar's army. After Caesar's return to Rome, Antony became one of the dictator's main confidants. In 47 he held the position of chief of cavalry, and in 44 he shared a consulate with Caesar.

After the death of Caesar, the situation in Rome became significantly more complicated. The Senate sided with the Republicans and opposed Antony to Octavian, whom Caesar made his heir shortly before his death. The ranks of the Caesarians were fragmented. In the Mutina War (44-43), Mark Antony was defeated and fled to Narbonen Gaul to Marcus Lepidus. In November 43, Lepidus reconciled Antony with Octavian. All three formed a triumvirate alliance, thus seizing supreme power in the Roman state. The main goal of the triumvirs was to fight the murderers of Julius Caesar.

In the summer of 42, the army commanded by Mark Antony crossed into the Balkans and defeated the Republicans at the Battle of Philippi.
Having received the eastern part of the empire during the division of the provinces, Mark Antony left for Greece. Throughout 41, he put things in order in the provinces of Asia, Bithynia, Cilicia and Syria. An Egyptian queen arrived at his court in Tarsus. Cleopatra, and Anthony was so carried away by her that in the winter of 41/40. spent with her in Alexandria, the capital of Egypt. At this time, the Parthians invaded Syria, and a new civil war broke out in Italy between Octavian and Mark Antony's brother Lucius. Things did not come to a break between the triumvirs, and in 40 Octavian and Mark Antony demonstratively reconciled in Brundisium. The reconciliation was accompanied by the conclusion of a dynastic marriage (Octavian gave his sister Octavia as his wife to Antony) and the exchange of troops. Antony provided Octavian with ships for the war against Sextus Pompey, and he himself received legions from him for the war with the Parthians. The powers of both in the provinces were extended.

In 39, the commander Publius Ventidius Basho defeated the Parthians in Syria and drove them back beyond the Euphrates. In 36 Mark Antony went on the offensive. His army, consisting of 16 legions, invaded Media-Atropatene from Armenia. Under Fraaspe, the Parthians struck back and forced Anthony to retire to Syria for the winter with heavy losses. In 34, the Roman army again invaded Armenia. The Armenian king Artavazd II was captured, which gave Anthony grounds to celebrate his triumph magnificently in Alexandria. Cleopatra received Cyprus, part of Cilicia, Syria and Palestine as a gift from him.

Meanwhile, in Rome, Antony's opponents accused him of embezzlement of state property. In 32, things came to an open break between Antony and Octavian. The latter declared war on Cleopatra, although in fact he planned to fight Antony. Accepting the challenge, Antony stationed an army of 80,000 in the Balkans. Here, in the Ambracian Gulf, was the Egyptian fleet. Octavian's commander Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa completely seized the initiative. In the fall of 31, he defeated Mark Antony's fleet at the Battle of Actium. Abandoning the army, Anthony fled to Egypt with Cleopatra. In 30, Roman troops led by Octavian invaded Egypt and approached Alexandria. Seeing his cause lost, Mark Antony committed suicide.

Book materials used: Tikhanovich Yu.N., Kozlenko A.V. 350 great. Brief biography of the rulers and generals of antiquity. The Ancient East; Ancient Greece; Ancient Rome. Minsk, 2005.

Plutarch on Mark Antony:

“He had a beautiful and representative appearance. An excellently shaped beard, a wide forehead, and a hooked nose gave Anthony a courageous appearance... He tried to reinforce his appearance with his clothes: every time he had to appear in front of a large crowd of people, he girded his tunic with very hips, fastened a long sword to his belt and wrapped himself in a heavy military cloak. Even what the rest seemed vulgar and intolerable - boasting, endless jokes, an unpleasant passion for drinking, the habit of sitting down with a diner or greedily swallowing a piece from a soldier's table while standing, all this instilled in the soldiers a truly amazing love and affection for Anthony. And there was nothing repulsive in his love pleasures - on the contrary, they created new friends and supporters for Anthony, for he willingly helped others in such matters and was not at all angry when they laughed over his own adventures.Antony's generosity, the latitude with which he bestowed gifts on soldiers and friends, first opened up for him a brilliant path to power, and then, when he rose to the top, invariably increased his power, despite countless mistakes and errors that undermined his power and They even threatened to knock it over."

For a more detailed description of Anthony by Plutarch, see here - Plutarch of Chaeronea. Anthony.

From Brockhaus and Efron

Literature:

Mashkin N. A., Principate of Augusta, M.-L., 1949;

Lindsay J., Marc Antony, his world and his contemporaries, L., 1936.