Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius was born in Rome on the 14th of January 83 BC. His father, Marcus Antonius Creticus, held a reputation for incompetence and corruption among Roman contemporaries. Cicero described him as a man who possessed power but lacked the ability to use it effectively. This father died in Crete in 71 BC while attempting to defeat Mediterranean pirates without achieving any significant progress. Antony's mother Julia later married Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura, an eminent member of the old patrician nobility. Lentulus exploited his political success for financial gain yet remained constantly in debt due to his extravagance. He became a major figure in the Catilinarian conspiracy and was executed by order of consul Cicero in 63 BC. Plutarch recorded that Antony spent his teenage years wandering through Rome with friends gambling and drinking. He became involved in scandalous love affairs during this period. Cicero charged that Antony had a homosexual relationship with Gaius Scribonius Curio. Such slander was popular at the time to discredit political opponents. By age twenty, Antony had amassed enormous debts. He fled to Greece in 58 BC to escape his creditors. There he studied philosophy and rhetoric at Athens.
Antony joined the military staff of Aulus Gabinius in 57 BC as commander of the cavalry. This appointment marked the beginning of his military career. Gabinius was the Proconsul of Syria who had consented to the exile of Cicero. Antony achieved his first military distinctions after securing victories at Alexandrium and Machaerus. In 55 BC Gabinius intervened in Egypt to restore Ptolemy XII Auletes to his throne. The deposed king provided a ten thousand talent bribe for Roman support. Antony convinced Gabinius to act against the senate's orders but with Pompey's approval. They defeated frontier forces and attacked palace guards who surrendered before battle commenced. Two thousand Roman soldiers known as Gabiniani were garrisoned in Alexandria. Antony claimed years later to have met Cleopatra when she was fourteen years old during this campaign. Later Caesar dispatched Antony to Rome to begin his political career. He received election as quaestor for 52 BC. Antony returned to Gaul to command Caesar's cavalry during victory at the Battle of Alesia. He commanded two legions containing approximately seven thousand five hundred soldiers. Antony became one of Caesar's top generals and second only to him in reputation.
Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March the 15th of March 44 BC. Antony went with Caesar to the senate meeting but was waylaid by Trebonius at the door of the Theatre of Pompey. Lucius Tillius Cimber presented Caesar with a petition while other conspirators struck out at the dictator. Caesar fell down the lower steps of the portico where men continued stabbing him until he died from blood loss. Around sixty or more men participated in the assassination. Antony escaped Rome dressed as a slave fearing a bloodbath among supporters. When no violence occurred he soon returned to Rome. As sole consul Antony seized the state treasury. Calpurnia gave him Caesar's personal papers and custody of extensive property. This marked him as Caesar's heir and leader of the Caesarians. Lepidus marched over six thousand troops into Rome on the 16th of March to restore order. Antony preferred a peaceful solution since most people wanted a settlement. The senate ratified all actions taken by Caesar and pardoned his assassins. On the 20th of March Antony presided over Caesar's funeral. He recited a eulogy enumerating Caesar's deeds and publicly read his will. Antony then seized the blood-stained toga from Caesar's body and presented it to the crowd. The assembly turned into a riot burning several buildings in the Forum.
Octavian arrived in Rome in May 43 BC to claim his inheritance from Caesar. Antony had amassed political support but Octavian could rival him as leading member of the Caesarian faction. In November 43 BC Octavian Lepidus and Antony met near Bononia. They agreed to establish a three man dictatorship known as the Second Triumvirate. The group governed the Republic for five years sharing military command among themselves. Antony received Gaul while Lepidus took Spain and Octavian Africa. They jointly governed Italy. Before marching against Brutus and Cassius they issued proscriptions against enemies in Rome. Two thousand equites were executed and one third of the senate died. Cicero was killed on the 7th of December after Antony forced Octavian to give him up. The confiscations helped replenish the state treasury depleted by civil war. New taxes especially on the wealthy funded the imminent war. By January 42 BC the proscription had ended lasting two months. It traumatized Roman society though less bloody than Sulla's earlier purge. Senators who swore loyalty kept their positions. On the 1st of January 42 BC the senate officially deified Caesar as The Divine Julius.
In summer 42 BC Octavian and Antony sailed for Macedonia with nineteen legions. Their army contained approximately one hundred thousand regular infantry plus supporting cavalry. The liberatores commanded an equal number of legions but not at full strength. Brutus and Cassius held defensive positions along the via Egnatia west of Philippi. Antony arrived shortly and positioned his army south of the road. He offered battle several times but the enemy refused to leave their stand. A pitched battle occurred on the 3rd of October 42 BC when Antony tried to outflank them through marshes. Antony commanded the right flank opposite Cassius while Octavian remained in camp due to sickness. Antony defeated Cassius capturing his camp while Brutus overran Octavian's troops. Cassius believed he lost completely and committed suicide. Brutus assumed sole command preferring a war of attrition. His officers were dissatisfied forcing him to give battle again on the 23rd of October. Antony routed Brutus' forces leading to his suicide the next day. Over fifty thousand Romans died in the two battles. Antony treated losers mildly while Octavian dealt cruelly with prisoners even beheading Brutus' corpse.
Antony spent winter 41 BC in Athens ruling generously towards Greek cities. He attended religious festivals including initiation into the Eleusinian Mysteries. Beginning in 41 BC he traveled across the Aegean Sea to Anatolia leaving Lucius Marcius Censorius as governor. Upon arrival in Ephesus Antony was worshiped as Dionysus born anew. He demanded heavy taxes from Hellenic cities yet exempted those loyal to Caesar. In October 41 Antony requested Cleopatra meet him at Tarsus in Cilicia. She arrived aboard her magnificent ship inviting Antony to a grand banquet. Antony ordered execution of Arsinoe who had been granted sanctuary at Ephesus. They spent winter 41 BC together in Alexandria. Cleopatra bore Antony twin children Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene II in 40 BC. A third child Ptolemy Philadelphus arrived in 36 BC. Antony granted formal control over Cyprus to Cleopatra as gift for loyalty. Some ancient authors claimed Antony led a carefree life of luxury in Alexandria. This made him target of Octavian's propaganda in Rome.
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Common questions
When and where was Mark Antony born?
Marcus Antonius was born in Rome on the 14th of January 83 BC. His father Marcus Antonius Creticus held a reputation for incompetence and corruption among Roman contemporaries.
How did Mark Antony die according to historical records?
The provided script text does not state when or how Mark Antony died. The narrative ends with him spending winter 41 BC together in Alexandria after granting formal control over Cyprus to Cleopatra as gift for loyalty.
What role did Mark Antony play during the assassination of Julius Caesar?
Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March the 15th of March 44 BC while Antony went with Caesar to the senate meeting but was waylaid by Trebonius at the door of the Theatre of Pompey. As sole consul Antony seized the state treasury and later presided over Caesar's funeral on the 20th of March.
Who were the members of the Second Triumvirate formed by Mark Antony?
In November 43 BC Octavian Lepidus and Antony met near Bononia to establish a three man dictatorship known as the Second Triumvirate. They governed the Republic for five years sharing military command among themselves with Antony receiving Gaul while Lepidus took Spain and Octavian Africa.
When did Mark Antony defeat Brutus and Cassius at Philippi?
A pitched battle occurred on the 3rd of October 42 BC when Antony tried to outflank them through marshes. Antony defeated Cassius capturing his camp while Brutus assumed sole command before Antony routed Brutus' forces leading to his suicide the next day on the 23rd of October.