Antony, Mark

Antony, Mark (about 83-30 BC), Roman soldier and statesman, b. Alexandria, Egypt.

Mark Antony served with his friend, Julius Caesar, in Gaul (France) and in 48 BC he helped Caesar to beat Pompey in the Battle of Pharsalus. This made Caesar the sole ruler of Rome.

Four years later Caesar was murdered. Mark Antony drove the murderers from the city, but afterwards he quarrelled with Caesar's adopted son, Octavian (Augustus Caesar).

Civil war followed and then Antony agreed to rule with Octavian and Aemilius Lepidus. He looked after the eastern part of the Roman Empire from Alexandria and there met and fell in love with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. They began to ignore messages from Rome and war was declared upon them.

Octavian defeated Antony in a sea battle at Actium (Greece) in 31 BC.

In Alexandria, Antony was told Cleopatra had killed herself. He took out his sword and killed himself by deliberately falling upon it.

Inc. ROBINSON (editor) Plutarch: Ten Famous Lives