Mark Antony

Marcus Antonius was a relative and supporter of Julius Caesar, serving as one of his generals during the Gallic conquest and the civil war, later administering Italy while Caesar crushed opponents abroad. After Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, he joined Lepidus and Octavian to form the Second Triumvirate, defeating the Liberatores at Philippi in 42 BC and claiming Rome's eastern provinces, including Egypt. Assigned to the Parthian campaign, he began an affair with Cleopatra VII that produced three children, even as he married Octavian's sister Octavia in 40 BC to avoid civil war. Lepidus was expelled in 36 BC; disagreements with Octavian split the alliance by 33 BC and erupted into open conflict when Rome declared war on Cleopatra and branded Antony a traitor. Defeated at Actium in 31 BC and again at Alexandria, he and Cleopatra both took their own lives on 1 August 30 BC. Octavian, now sole master of Rome, became Augustus three years later - the Republic's last act written in Antony's blood.