About Mark Antony Mark Antony’s name was Marcus Antonius, which is pronounced Mark Antony in the english language. Mark Antony was born around 83 B.E.C. Both …show more content…
his father and grandfather were part of the Roman republic. He had a lack of parental guidance, but received a good education, which focused on skills that would be useful for him with politics. Mark Antony was brave, loyal to his friends, and reckless. When Mark Antony reached the age of 20 years old he was indebted the sum of 250 talens, which for us would be $165,000,000. Plutarch wrote “Antony gave brilliant promise in his youth, they say, until his intimate friendship with Curio fell upon him like a pest. For Curio himself was unrestrained in his pleasures, and in order to make Antony more manageable, engaged him in drinking bouts, and with women, and in immoderate and extravagant expenditures. This involved Antony in a heavy debt and one that was excessive for his years — a debt of two hundred and fifty talents” He lived a wild life, was frequently gambling houses, drinking too much, and involving himself in scandalous love affairs.
Working with Julius Caesar Mark Antony first served with the Roman governor of Syria, which was a province of Rome.
After that Mark Antony worked with Julius Caesar in Gaul. Caesar conquered Gaul for Rome, while Mark Antony assisted him suppressing rebellion against the Romans. After doing this Mark Antony was elected as a tribune that represented the people’s interests. His job was to stand up for the rights and the members who were not in the highest classes of the Roman society. When Mark Antony got elected as a tribune it was towards the end of Caesar’s command with Gaul, which was a rough time. The Senate was taking Caesar to trial, because the Senate thought that Caesar was misusing his power. At this time Caesar needed support from Mark Antony and the other tribunes. Caesar wanted them to look after his interests in Rome. Antony did everything that he was told and commanded to do. The Senate gave his officers special power that preserved the state. Mark Antony went to Caesar when this happened, and gave Caesar power, so that he could claim and defend the power of the Senate. This caused a series of civil wars against Pompey. Mark Antony had to get together a powerful army. Caesar and Mark Antony ended up defeated Pompey, and Caesar made himself consul. While doing this Caesar held king like powers in the direction of the government, and ended up getting assassinated.
Taking over after the assassination
After the assassination there was a war between the people who were for and against Caesar’s …show more content…
assassination. The people who were against Caesar’s assassination were worried about who would lead them. Mark Antony was ready and wanted to take over Caesar’s spot. Octavian, who was Caesar’s nephew also known as his adopted son also wanted to take over. He demanded to be given Caesar’s political power. This caused a lot of trouble between these two men who wanted to be the leaders.
The Second Triumvirate
Mark Antony and Octavian both did all that they could to claim power after Caesar’s assassination. They began to turn against each other, and became enemies. Mark Antony tried to gain a new five year command in Gaul to prove to the people that he could and was able to do what Caesar had done. Meanwhile Octavian attempted and offered a reward for a big unit of 3,000 to 6,000 men from Mark Antony’s military to take his side. Antony’s forces later attacked Decimus Brutus, but instead was attacked by the armies of Octavian and the consuls, which he was defeated and forced to go north. After Antony had left he was strengthening his armies of the Western Roman Empire, and Octavian realized that the Senate was using him, and made an alliance with Mark Antony. This resulted in the formation of the Second Triumvirate. The Second Triumvirate was what had established the parts of Rome where each ruler ruled. Octavian had control of the west and Antony had control of the east. Together they both went to face the army who had killed Caesar. This was the Battle of Philippi. Antony and Octavian won this battle.
The love of Mark Antony and Cleopatra
After the Battle of Philippi Octavian returned to Italy, and Antony went west to put affairs in order in the eastern provinces. Mark Antony needed support from the Egyptian queen, whose name was Cleopatra. As soon as they meant romance followed them. This didn’t last long, because Mark Antony had to return back home and marry Octavian’s sister Octavia. Octavia was Mark Antony’s second wife. Mark Antony had to go west again. Meanwhile he had an affair on his wife Octavia with Cleopatra. Mark Antony became involved with Cleopatra both politically and romantically. Mark Antony depended on Cleopatra for money, and gave her and her family territory and granted titles to them.
Troubles with Octavian
The Second Triumvirate was coming to an end. The people in Rome still supported Mark Antony. They thought that he was a good man and did good things. Crisis still occurred between Mark Antony and Octavian. Octavian was trying to turn public opinion against Mark Antony. By doing this Octavian announced that Octavia and Mark Antony got a divorce, because of his love affair with Cleopatra. Octavian was also starting rumors about Mark Antony. The Romans were starting to turn against him. Some of the Romans didn’t know what to think or do. They weren’t sure if they should or shouldn’t turn against him, because of what he had done. His friends had mixed emotions and didn’t know what to do either. This caused a war against the two men called the Battle of Actium on September 2, 31 B.C.E in Greece. Octavian ended up defeating Mark Antony.
The fall of Mark Antony
After Octavian had defeated Mark Antony and the Battle of Actium, Mark Antony went back to Egypt with Cleopatra. Octavian ended up showing up in Egypt. When Mark Antony found out he ended up committing suicide. The reason why Mark Antony committed suicide, was because the Roman’s had turned against him and, Octavian defeated him. When Cleopatra found out that Mark Antony had Committed suicide she killed herself too. They both were dead. Octavian took over Rome, and became the emperor. He later ended up changing his name to Augustus.
Conclusion
It is apparent that Mark Antony played a big role in the Roman Republic.
He went through many challenges and struggles, both of which he did and did not deserve. He accomplished his work with Caesar, and tried his best to take over him after his assassination. He was ready for the responsibility of taking over Rome, until Octavian jumped in. He had many defeats, and did everything that Caesar told him to do. He was independent and that was good. He was strong, brave, and hard working. Even though Mark Antony had a love affair with Cleopatra and made some mistakes, he was still a pretty good Roman general and politician. We can learn many things from him. Some lessons that we can learn from him are that we should always stay loyal and never give up. Mark Antony didn’t give up and kept fighting to please Caesar and take after him. We can also learn from the consequences that he had to pay for, when he had a love affair with Cleopatra. Mark Antony is very important in Roman history, because he was part of a lot that had happened. The Second Triumvirate and all of those battles that took place were a big part of the Roman Republic and should be remembered. We don’t want to repeat any of these events, because they had a lot of struggle that came with them, but the changing of the Roman republic was a big deal for the Romans and is very
important.