When did the Battle of Actium take place?
The two fleets met outside the Gulf of Actium on the morning of the 2nd of September. The battle occurred in 31 BC when Antony commanded around 140 ships against Octavian's 260.
The two fleets met outside the Gulf of Actium on the morning of the 2nd of September. The battle occurred in 31 BC when Antony commanded around 140 ships against Octavian's 260.
Octavian won the Battle of Actium with a fleet of 260 Liburnian vessels that outmaneuvered Antony's larger quinqueremes and quadriremes. Antony arrived with roughly 500 ships but could not man all of them due to desertion and disease.
Cleopatra killed herself on the 12th of August 30 BC following her defeat at the Battle of Actium. She died in the arms of Mark Antony who had stabbed himself upon mistakenly believing false rumors claiming she had committed suicide.
Octavian won because his smaller Liburnian vessels could outmaneuver Antony's heavier ships in heavy surf while Agrippa developed the harpax device for grappling enemy ships more easily. Antony lost control when Cleopatra's fleet retreated to open sea causing his forces to follow without engaging the enemy.
The victory enabled Octavian to consolidate power over Rome and its dominions by adopting the title Princeps meaning first citizen. In 27 BC the Senate awarded him title Augustus marking the transition from republic to empire and ending the Hellenistic Period.