Marc Antony

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Marc Antony

• By Lauren Carley and Jessica Solimando

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Early Life

• Born in Rome in 83 B.C. to Marcus Antonius
  Creticus and Julia Caesaris
• His distant cousin was Julius Caesar
• His parents were lax with rules spent much of
  his early life wandering Rome with his comrades
  and brothers
• Enjoyed gambling and drinking excessively as a
  young man
• Was involved in many scandalous love affairs

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• drinking bouts, love affairs, and reckless
  spending ---Plutarch, describing Antonys early
  lifestyle
• Left for Greece to study rhetoric marked a
  turning point in his life and behavior.
• Upon reaching Greece, he joined the army and
  became distinguished for his courage and
  leadership fought in Alexandria, making a good
  name for himself in Egypt and, perhaps, meeting
  Cleopatra, who would have been 14 years old at
  the time.

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Antony and Caesar

• Soon after, he joined Caesars cavalry, where
  they met and Antony was further admired for his
  military capabilities.
• Fought for Caesars interests in the civil war
  and became his most important general.
• Helped destroy Pompeys army, aiding in Caesars
  gain of power.
• Chosen as Caesars co-consul in 44 B.C.
• It is thought that it may have been Antonys idea
  to offer Caesar the crown, although he refused it
  publicly every time.

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• He also may have been asked to join the
  conspirators against Julius Caesar, but, if he
  was asked, he declined.
• Caesar was murdered on March 15 (Ides of March)
  while Antony was distracted outside the Senate
  House.
• Fearing for his safety after Caesars
  assasination, he disguised himself as a slave
  after biding his time temporarily he sent his son
  to Brutus as a hostage and met in person with the
  conspirators.

Julius Caesar
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Later Life

• Brutus made another big mistake (the first being
  allowing him to live) in allowing Antony to speak
  at Caesars funeral, causing Antony to gain much
  popular support and strength to such a point that
  all the conspirators eventually fled Rome for
  fear of their lives.
• Formed the second triumvirate with Octavian
  (Augustus) and Lepidus in 43 B.C.
• They "...divided the rule of the whole world
  between them as easily as if it had been a family
  inheritance." Plutarch.

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Antony and Cleopatra

• Antony met Cleopatra when his wife, Fulvia, died
  in 40 B.C.
• He married Octavia, Octavians sister, in 37 B.C.
  but chose to live in Alexandria as the
  acknowledged lover of Cleopatra, where they had
  children together.
• The senate deprived Antony of his powers, and the
  following year Octavians forces defeated Antony
  and Cleopatra in the battle at Actium.
• After Antonys suicide in 30 B.C. Cleopatra
  killed herself. ?