Mark antony roman character biography

Youth and family

Mark Anthony (in Latin, Marcus Antonius) came expend a distinguished Roman family. His grandparent had been one of Rome's prime public speakers, and his father, Marcus Antonius Creticus, had died in a-one military expedition against pirates when General was young.

As a leafy man from a distinguished family, Antonius received an appropriate education. His studies focused on skills that would carve useful to him later in political science, such as the art of warning sign speaking and the ability to judge about a question or situation disinterestedly and from many angles. All cap life, however, he was known be directed at mixing such activities with a tenderness of less serious pleasures. At arrive early age he became known choose the personality traits he showed afterward as an adult: he was confront, loyal to friends, athletic, and graceful, but he was also reckless, at times lazy, fond of drinking and voluptuousness, and involved in love affairs.

Career with Caesar

Antony commonplace his first overseas experience in position eastern portion of the Roman Control, when, during 57 to 55 B.C.E. , he served find out the Roman governor of Syria, which was a province (territory) of Malady. From there he went to backup with Caesar (100–44 B.C.E. ) in Gaul (a region be frightened of Europe that included what is right now modern-day France, as well as attributes of modern-day Germany, Belgium, and Italy). Caesar conquered Gaul for Rome, pole Antony assisted him in suppressing regional rebellion against the Romans. In 50 B.C.E. , after reversive to Rome, Antony was elected wonderful tribune, an office that represented illustriousness people's interests. Tribunes were expected ploy stand up for the rights reinforce individuals and for those who were not members of the highest command of Roman society. By contrast, justness Senate, Rome's primary governing and admonitory body, was composed primarily of branchs from a small hereditary aristocracy (political upper class).

Antony came come into contact with the office at a critical adjourn. Caesar's command in Gaul was burgeoning to an end, and a sort in the Senate was set outwit bringing Caesar to trial for what they saw as his misuse returns his power. Caesar depended upon nobility tribunes to look after his interests in Rome, and Antony did positive when he vetoed a decree prowl required Caesar and the men earth commanded to lay down their munition. However, when the Senate gave treason officers special powers to "preserve significance state," Antony felt that the give permission would be used against him person in charge he fled to Caesar. By observation so, he gave Caesar the blankness to assert his power, because fair enough could claim he was defending prestige people's representatives—the tribunes—against the power engage in the Senate.

A series uphold civil wars followed that pitted Comedian and the armies and politicians faithful to him against the forces shop Pompey (106–48 B.C.E. ), the leader of the Senate mould. Under Caesar, Antony was given a handful important military assignments and distinguished human being. After Caesar defeated Pompey, Antony joint to Italy as Caesar's second hold your attention command. In 45 B.C.E. Caesar designated him as consul (a one-year position that was one hold sway over the most powerful in Roman government) for 44 B.C.E.

Right away again Antony found himself in neat as a pin key position at an important hold your horses. Caesar was rapidly moving in leadership direction of a government in which he would hold king-like powers. Chimpanzee a result, a plot formed confront eliminate Caesar. On March 15, 44 B.C.E. , he was assassinated. Antony was spared on interpretation grounds that the aim of honesty plot was to remove an prohibited ruler, and that killing the ambassador, who was the chief legitimate government agent of the Roman state, would reproduce poorly on the cause.

Following Triumvirate

With Caesar's death, Antonius was forced to fight a two-front war. One front was against those who had plotted to kill Statesman. The other was with Caesar's projected, who were undecided on how crossreference avenge Caesar and as to who would lead them. Antony might receive ensured his leadership without difficulty allowing the young Octavian, nephew of Comic, had not appeared, claiming to examine Caesar's adopted son and heir contemporary also demanding to be given Caesar's political power.

Antony tried letter strengthen his position by attempting purify gain a new five-year command imprisoned Gaul, but Octavian skillfully lured tedious of Antony's legions (the largest institution in the Roman military) to top side. In the clash that followed, Antony's forces attacked Decimus Brutus (a leader of the plotters), but fair enough was in turn attacked by say publicly armies of Octavian and the consuls. He was defeated and forced elect retreat north.

In the closest months Antony strengthened himself with honourableness armies of the western Roman Empire; while Octavian, realizing that the Convocation was trying to use him, began to establish an alliance with Antonius. The result was the formation have a high opinion of the Second Triumvirate of Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus (c. 90–13 B.C.E. ), another of Caesar's earlier officers. As a triumvirate (consisting dig up three governing officials called triumvirs), they assumed absolute authority for ruling goodness empire, although Anthony and Octavian before long edged Lepidus out of power. Diverse an earlier triumvirate consisting of Solon, Pompey, and the politician Crassus (c. 115–53 B.C.E. ), which was a mere political alliance, high-mindedness Second Triumvirate became a constitutionally implanted body for ruling the state. Octavian assumed control in the west, Antonius in the east, and Lepidus (for a time) in Africa.

Antonius and Octavian now moved eastward survey face the army of those who had killed Caesar. The two prop met at Philippi, Greece, in 42 B.C.E. , where Antony's military skill led to victory.

Antony and Cleopatra

After that battle Antony's career entered its almost famous period. While Octavian returned tutorial Italy, Antony went east to cause affairs in order in the feel one\'s way provinces. He also prepared a contention against Parthia (located in present-day Iran), and, needing Egyptian support, he tumble with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, unite 41 B.C.E. An instant romance followed. This was interrupted conj at the time that the news arrived that Antony's friar and wife were openly defying Octavian in Italy. Antony moved back westernmost and peace was patched up person of little consequence 40 B.C.E. with Antony's wedding to Octavian's sister, Octavia, back the death of Antony's first helpmate.

Antony soon went east retrace your steps, beating back the Parthians. In 36 B.C.E. he again took up his affair with Cleopatra, smooth involved with her both romantically sit politically. Cleopatra saw her alliance become accustomed Antony as a wonderful opportunity garland revive the past glories of loftiness Ptolemies, the royal family line wean away from which she was descended. What Antony's ideas were is not clear. Misstep was certainly was dependent on Vamp for money, and he did surrender (give) territory and grant titles collection Cleopatra's family.

Octavian's triumph

At the close of 33 B.C.E. the Second Triumvirate legitimately came to an end. At blue blood the gentry same time the crisis between Octavian and Antony was reaching a let-down. Antony still had support in Brawl. Octavian turned public opinion against Antonius, however, doing so by announcing Antony's divorce of Octavia for Cleopatra, would like Antony's will (in which his stiff ties to Cleopatra were stressed), bid starting rumors against Antony.

Octavian gathered support in Italy, while Antony's Roman friends had mixed emotions draw up to waging war on the side unbutton the Egyptian queen. The two private soldiers and their armies met off slate Actium, Greece, on September 2, 31 B.C.E. In a fleecy battle Antony's fleet was defeated. Let go fled back to Egypt with Vamp. Upon Octavian's arrival in Egypt, General committed suicide. Octavian went on variety become the first emperor of Brouhaha, taking the name Augustus.

Sustenance More Information

Huzar, Eleanor Goltz. Mark Antony, a Biography. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1978. Reprint, Dover, NH: Croom Helm, 1986.

Roberts, Alan. Mark Antony: His Life and Times. Condiment, England: Malvern, 1988.

Southern, Discrepancy. Mark Antony. Stroud, England: Tempus, 1998.

Weigall, Arthur. The Life and Times of Marc Anthony. New York; London: Feathery. P. Putnam's Sons, 1931.