Battle of Actium

The Battle of Actium was a naval battle of the Roman Civil War between Mark Antony and Octavian. It was fought on September 2, 31 BC, near the Roman colony of Actium in Greece (near the modern-day city of Preveza), on the Ionian Sea. The fleet of Octavian was commanded by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and the fleet of Antony supported by the fleet of his wife, Cleopatra, queen of Egypt. The battle was won by the forces of Octavian, whose victory led him to become the Princeps Augustus, later considered to be the first Roman Emperor: for this reason the date of the battle is often used to mark the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.

Related Topics:
Naval battle - Roman Civil War - Mark Antony - Octavian - September 2 - 31 BC - Actium - Greece - Preveza - Ionian Sea - Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa - Cleopatra - Egypt - Princeps - Augustus - Roman Emperor - Roman Republic - Roman Empire

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The two fleets met outside the gulf of Actium, each perhaps over 200 strong (the totals given by ancient authorities are conflicting and probably exaggerated). Antony's heavy octeres endeavoured to close and crush the enemy with their artillery; Octavian's light and mobile craft, probably quinqueremes, made skillful use of skirmishing tactics. During the engagement Cleopatra suddenly withdrew her squadron and Antony slipped away behind her. His flight escaped notice, and the conflict remained undecided, until Antony's fleet was set on fire and thus annihilated.

Related Topics:
Gulf of Actium - Octeres - Artillery - Quinquereme

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A year after the battle, Antony and Cleopatra both committed suicide.

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An account of the battle appears in Virgil's Aeneid.

Related Topics:
Virgil - Aeneid

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