Marcus Antonius ('''Mark Antony ''' in English) lived from 83-30 BC. He was a close friend of [[Julius Caesar]] and , but at first did little to pursue Caesar's killers. He became part of a the [[second triumvirate]], together with [[Octavian ]] and [[Lepidus]], after Caesara few years later. Soon it was just Antony and Octavian, and hostilities began to rise. Octavian's death.He allied sister Octavia had been given to Antony in marriage to cement their political bond, but he abandoned her to take up with [[Cleopatra]] and was defeated by in [[Egypt]]. Away from [[Rome]], Octavianhad the opportunity to stir up discension in the senate unopposed. Soon Rome fear of Cleopatra reached a fever pitch. The senate declared war on Cleopatra, but not on Antony. Nevertheless Antony joined Cleopatra's fleet at side and a civil war started. The decisive battle of the war was the [[Battle of Actium]], which ended a sea fight where Cleopatra fled while the civil war battle was going on and ushered in the monarchyAntony pursued her. Their side lost. Following her to Egypt, Antony was misinformed that Cleopatra had committed suicide, and took his own life.
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