The Battle of Actium was a naval, military engagement of ancient times. It was fought between Mark Antony's fleet and Octavian's Armada, under Marcus Agrippa, in 31 BC, in the Ionian Sea, off the western coast of Greece. It was part of the Roman civil war that broke out when the Second Triumvirate, composed of Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus, broke up. Then Octavian declared war on Cleopatra, the Egyptian Pharaoh, with whom Mark Antony was in love. When the Second Triumvirate got dissolved, Octavian sought support from the Senate in order to conquer Egypt and deal with Mark Antony. The result of the Battle of Actium was a clear victory for Octavian, who was the grand-nephew of Julius Caesar. This great triumph paved the way for Octavian to become the first emperor of Rome, whose throne he took under the name of Augustus.
Mark Antony's relationship with Cleopatra had started in 41 BC, during his stay in Alexandria. Cleopatra was an ambitious woman and hoped that her son by Julius Caesar would one day rule Rome. To have her way paved and gain ascendancy over the Romans, Cleopatra convinced Antony to marry her and to set up his base of operations in Alexandria, Egypt. Antony's actions and his political alienation and detachment from Rome and the Roman people had put a great strain on the Second Triumvirate, which was finally terminated in 33 BC. The following year, rumors that Antony planned to make Cleopatra the queen of Rome, public opinion turned against him. Thus, the Senate sided with Octavian and made him consul, declaring the war on Egypt. As both sides prepared for conflict, Antony and Cleopatra organized a large fleet of more than 500 ships.
Battle of Actium (summary)
Antony and Cleopatra sailed across the Mediterranean and into the Ionian Sea, leaving half of his army in Alexandria. Antony positioned his main force in the harbor of Actium, which is a promontory at the southern entrance to the Ambracian Gulf. Meanwhile, Octavian and his Admiral Agrippa sailed separately for Greece. In 31 BC, when his fleet approached the Greek coasts, Agrippa made fast surprise attacks at critical points, cutting Antony's vital supply lines to Egypt. At the same time, Octavian took an important tactical position north of the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf and opposite Antony's base at Actium.
Agrippa and Octavian blockaded Antony's fleet in the shallow waters of the gulf. With the stranglehold tightening, hunger, disease, and desertion wasted Antony's army. Desperately, Antony smashed through the blockade into the open sea, breaking through Octavian's superior naval forces. However, Antony lost most of his ships and men in the process. Realizing they had lost the battle, Antony and Cleopatra fled to Egypt. Meanwhile, Antony's abandoned forces on the Greek coast surrendered to Octavian. With an army sapped and weakened by the loss at Actium, Antony took his own life, while Cleopatra would also commit suicide a few days later.
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| Antony's warships trying to break through Octavian's blockade. |