Battle of Actium
Octavian's fleet defeated Antony and Cleopatra off the western coast of Greece on 2 September 31 BC, and the Roman Republic ended with it. The war had been prepared politically for years. Octavian had obtained and published what he said was Antony's will, which left bequests to his children by Cleopatra and asked for burial in Alexandria, and had it declared that Antony was giving Roman territory to a foreign queen. Rome then declared war on Cleopatra rather than on Antony, which allowed everyone to pretend it was not a civil war. Antony had the larger fleet and army and wintered at Actium, where Agrippa's ships cut his supply lines through the summer, and disease and desertion did the rest. The battle itself was an attempt to break out rather than a fight for victory. Antony's heavy ships tried to get past the northern flank into open water; the fleet's centre and left were held; and Cleopatra's squadron, held in reserve with the treasure, went through the gap and sailed south, with Antony following in a lighter ship. Most of his fleet surrendered, and his army did the same within a week. They reached Alexandria and held out until the following August, when Octavian arrived and both killed themselves. Egypt became Octavian's personal possession and the empire's granary, ending three centuries of Ptolemaic rule. Octavian returned to Rome, closed the gates of the temple of Janus, and was named Augustus four years later. The date became the official beginning of a new age. Augustus counted his regnal years from it, founded a city called Nikopolis on the site, and had the campaign written up until the flight of Cleopatra's squadron looked like desertion rather than a plan.
- Category: Military
