Print Page | Close Window

Mark Antony

Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: General History
Forum Name: Rate Historical Figures
Forum Discription: Talk about the historical figures and rate them!
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32326
Printed Date: 28-Mar-2024 at 09:33
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.56a - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Mark Antony
Posted By: TheAlaniDragonRising
Subject: Mark Antony
Date Posted: 02-Sep-2012 at 09:44
I recently was pointed in the direction of a series called Rome by my fiancée, and very enjoyable it was. On the series I was reminded of Mark Antony, for which at times was a little disparaging of the man, and his abilities. However, television series aside, Mark Antony seems to have been a larger than life character with supporters, as well as those not too keen. Here we have a short biography that you may want to read, or not. However you may want to vote on his qualities, and comment about him.

Mark Antony


Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) was born in  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMrome.htm - Rome  in 83 B.C. He was related on his mother's side to  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcaesar.htm - Julius Caesar . He was from a prominent noble family and served under Caesar in  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaul - Gaul  (53-50 B.C.).

Mark Antony went to Rome to become tribune of the plebs in 49 B.C. He was expelled from the senate and fled back to the  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMarmy.htm - Roman Army . The following year he led the left-wing of Caesar's army at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharsalia - Pharsalia . After defeating  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompey - Pompey , he was left to govern Italy during Caesar's absence in  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_Province - Africa .

When  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcaesar.htm - Julius Caesar  returned to  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMrome.htm - Rome  he appointed 300 of his supporters as members of the  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Senate - Senate . Although the Senate and Public Assembly still met, it was Caesar who now made all the important decisions. By 44 BC Caesar was powerful enough to declare himself dictator for life. Although in the past Roman leaders had become dictators in times of crisis, no one had taken this much power.

Caesar began wearing long red boots. As the ancient kings used to wear similar boots, rumours began to spread that Caesar planned to make himself king. Caesar denied these charges but the Roman people, who had a strong dislike of the  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Kingdom - kingship system , began to worry about the way Caesar was dominating political life.

Rumours began to spread that  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcaesar.htm - Julius Caesar  planned to make himself king.  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMplutarch.htm - Plutarch  wrote: "What made Caesar hated was his passion to be king." Caesar denied these charges but the Roman people, who had a strong dislike of the kingship system, began to worry about the way Caesar made all the decisions. Even his friends complained that he was no longer willing to listen to advice. Finally, a group of senators decided to kill Caesar.

Even some of Caesar's closest friends were concerned about his unwillingness to listen to advice. Eventually, a group of 60 men, including  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Junius_Brutus - Marcus Brutus , rumoured to be one of Caesar's illegitimate sons, decided to assassinate Caesar.

Plans were made to carry out the assassination in the  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Senate - Senate  just three days before he was due to leave for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia - Parthia . When  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcaesar.htm - Julius Caesar  arrived at the Senate a group of senators gathered round him.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servilius_Casca - Publius Servilius Casca  stabbed him from behind. Caesar looked round for help but now the rest of the group pulled out their daggers. One of the first men Caesar saw was Brutus and was reported to have declared, "You too, my son." Caesar knew it was useless to resist and pulled his toga over his head and waited for the final blows to arrive.

At Caesar's funeral, Mark Antony was chosen to give the eulogy. During his speech, he removed the toga from Caesar's body to show the crowd the stab wounds, pointing at each one naming with men who had struck the blows. However,  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcicero.htm - Cicero  later commented: "Caesar subjected the Roman people to oppression... Is there anyone, except Mark Antony who did not wish for his death or who disapproved of what was done?... Some didn't know of the plot, some lacked courage, others the opportunity. None lacked the will."

Mark Antony also published Caesar's will which revealed that he had left 300 sesterces to every man in http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMrome.htm - Rome . Caesar also stated in his will that his impressive gardens were to become parks for the people who lived in the city. This action helped Mark Antony to gain political influence over the people of Rome.

At various periods between 49 and 47 Mark Antony administered Italy when  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcaesar.htm - Julius Caesar  was absent. He was therefore well-placed to assume leadership of the Caesar faction in Rome. Mark Antony allied himself with  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aemilius_Lepidus_%28triumvir%29 - Marcus Aemilius Lepidus  in a joint bid for power. However, they were challenged by Caesar's great nephew and adopted son,  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMaugustus.htm - Octavian . The three men met on an island in a river near Mutina and formed the Second Triumvirate. In doing so, they brought an end to  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMrepublican.htm - Republican Rome . When the Senate attempted to regain control, Antony and Octavian had 130 of them murdered. Their property was seized and given to those willing to support the new rulers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Junius_Brutus - Marcus Brutus  and  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Cassius_Longinus - Gaius Cassius  were defeated by Mark Antony and  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMaugustus.htm - Octavian  at the  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Philippi - Battle of Philippi  in October 42 BC. After the battle Octavian returned to Rome and Mark Antony went on to govern the east, whereas  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aemilius_Lepidus_%28triumvir%29 - Marcus Aemilius Lepidus  went on to govern  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispania - Hispania  and the province of  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_Province - Africa .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulvia - Fulvia , Mark Antony's wife, was also active in Roman politics. To solidify the political alliance, Fulvia offered her daughter,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clodia_Pulchra - Clodia , to Octavian. Clodia became his wife but she was later returned when Octavian married http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scribonia - Scribonia . According to  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMsuetonius.htm - Suetonius , Octavian's marriage with Clodia was never consummated and that she was returned in "mint" condition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulvia - Fulvia  saw this as an insult to her family and she decided to take action. Together with Mark Antony's brother,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Antonius_%28brother_of_Mark_Antony%29 - Lucius Antonius , she raised eight legions in Italy to fight against  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMaugustus.htm - Octavian . The army occupied Rome for a short time, but eventually retreated to  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perusia - Perusia . Octavian besieged Fulvia and Lucius Antonius in the winter of 41 - 40 B.C., starving them into surrender. Fulvia was exiled to  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicyon - Sicyon . Lucius Antonius, was sent by Octavian to  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispania - Hispania  as governor. To show his commitment to his partner, Mark Antony divorced Fulvia and married Octavian's sister  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_Minor - Octavia .

It was while he was in  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt - Egypt  that Mark Antony met  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcleopatra.htm - Cleopatra . Like  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcaesar.htm - Julius Caesar  before him, Mark Antony soon fell in love with the Queen of Egypt. They formed a close alliance as Mark Antony set about reorganizing the eastern provinces.

In 40 B.C. the  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia - Parthians  invaded Roman territory, occupying  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria - Syria , advancing into  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatolia - Asia Minor  and installing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigonus_the_Hasmonean - Antigonus  as puppet king in  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea - Judaea . Mark Antony sent his general  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publius_Ventidius_Bassus - Publius Ventidius  to oppose this invasion.

Octavian now agreed for Mark Antony to retaliate by invading  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia - Parthia . However, the rebellion in  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_revolt - Sicily  of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextus_Pompeius - Sextus Pompeius  kept the army promised to Mark Antony in Italy. This caused a dispute with Octavian but a new treaty was signed in  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taranto - Tarentum  in 38 BC.

Mark Antony returned to Egypt and persuaded  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcleopatra.htm - Cleopatra  to lend him the money he needed to form an alliance with  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great - Herod the Great . In 37 BC, Herod and the  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMarmy.htm - Roman Army  took back  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea - Judaea . Herod turned http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigonus_the_Hasmonean - Antigonus  over to Mark Antony, who had him beheaded.

Mark Antony now felt strong enough to invade Parthia. However, with an army of about 100,000 Roman and allied troops but the campaign proved a disaster and after several military defeats Mark Antony was forced to carry out an humiliating retreat.

Octavian now decided to destroy the triumvirate by forming a new alliance with the traditional Republican aristocracy.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aemilius_Lepidus_%28triumvir%29 - Marcus Aemilius Lepidus  was forced to resign and Octavian began attacking Mark Antony for abandoning his faithful wife,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_Minor - Octavia , to be with the promiscuous  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcleopatra.htm - Cleopatra . Octavian claimed that Cleopatra was attempting to gain control of the  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMempire.htm - Roman Empire  by marrying Mark Antony. Cleopatra replied that her son  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesarion - Caesarion , and not Octavian, was Caesar's true heir.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMaugustus.htm - Octavian  responded by declaring war on  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcleopatra.htm - Cleopatra . Although some Roman legions supported Mark Antony, the vast majority took the side of Octavian.

In 31 BC Octavian defeated Mark Antony at the  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Actium - Battle of Actium  on the west coast of  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece - Greece . Mark Antony and Cleopatra were forced to flee to  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria - Alexandria  in  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt - Egypt . When Octavian's troops surrounded Alexandria, Mark Antony committed suicide by falling on his sword.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMcleopatra.htm - Cleopatra  was captured by Octavian who planned to take her back to Rome as his prisoner. However, she was determined not to be humiliated in this way and arranged for a poisonous snake to be smuggled into her room in a large box of figs. Cleopatra then committed suicide by allowing the snake to bite her.

Cleopatra had earlier sent her son  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesarion - Caesarion  into hiding but he was betrayed by his tutor. When Octavian found out where Caesarion was he had him murdered but spared Cleopatra's three children by Mark Antony.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMmarkantony.htm - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMmarkantony.htm



-------------
What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.



Replies:
Posted By: Don Quixote
Date Posted: 02-Sep-2012 at 10:31
I like him as a person. He was loyal to Caesar, even after his death, and legitimized his son; was honest, generous, and pretty much kept his promises; his soldiers loved him. In the end he lost, but, so what, we all lose in death anyway. Octavian used hm, was unfair to him, betrayed him for te Parthian expedition, blamed him for everything so he get rid of him - if success comes at such moral cost usually the better man loses, as Antony did, nd it's not shameful, but honorable. This is my opinion anyway.

-------------


Posted By: Delenda est Roma
Date Posted: 02-Sep-2012 at 10:35
I hold him as pretty low on the ladder. He failed at Actium and Parthia. He revolted and established his oen kingdom with Cleopatra in Egypt. A good general and administrator but nothing really special.

-------------


Posted By: Don Quixote
Date Posted: 02-Sep-2012 at 10:56
He revolted because he was pushed into it - Octavian was pushing him ouf of Rome, he had to be no one or to find some other way - which he did with Cleopatra in Egypt. He was on the run really, because of Octavian's power drive.
And yes, he failed, it happens. I still like him.


-------------


Posted By: Delenda est Roma
Date Posted: 02-Sep-2012 at 11:05
Even if you like someone they have faults :p. anyway he still revolted and started a civil war.

-------------


Posted By: Don Quixote
Date Posted: 02-Sep-2012 at 12:47
He didn't start it, Octavian did, he pressed him out.

-------------


Posted By: Delenda est Roma
Date Posted: 02-Sep-2012 at 13:03
Conflict soon arose, and, as on other occasions, Antony resorted to violence. Hundreds of citizens were killed and Rome itself descended into a state of anarchy. Caesar was most displeased with the whole affair and removed Antony from all political responsibilities. The two men did not see each other for two years. The estrangement was not of long continuance, with Antony meeting the dictator at Narbo (45 BC) and rejecting the suggestion of Trebonius that he should join in the conspiracy that was already afoot. Reconciliation arrived in 44 BC, when Antony was chosen as partner for Caesar's fifth consulship.

He killed quite a few people here and supported Caesar.

Antony, left as sole Consul, surrounded himself with a bodyguard of Caesar's veterans and forced the senate to transfer to him the province of Cisalpine Gaul, which was then administered by Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, one of the conspirators. Brutus refused to surrender the province and Antony set out to attack him in the beginning of 43 BC, besieging him at Mutina.

Used troops to force the senates decision.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Antony#section_1

Again with Egyptian money, Antony invaded Armenia, this time successfully. In the return, a mock Roman Triumph was celebrated in the streets of Alexandria. The parade through the city was a pastiche of Rome's most important military celebration. For the finale, the whole city was summoned to hear a very important political statement. Surrounded by Cleopatra and her children, Antony ended his alliance with Octavian.

He distributed kingdoms between his children: Alexander Helios was named king of Armenia, Media and Parthia (which were never conquered by Rome), his twin Selene got Cyrenaica and Libya, and the young Ptolemy Philadelphus was awarded Syria and Cilicia. As for Cleopatra, she was proclaimed Queen of Kings and Queen of Egypt, to rule with Caesarion (Ptolemy XV Caesar, son of Cleopatra by Julius Caesar), King of Kings and King of Egypt. Most important of all, Caesarion was declared legitimate son and heir of Caesar. These proclamations were known as the Donations of Alexandria and caused a fatal breach in Antony's relations with Rome.

He played his own part in starting the war.




-------------


Posted By: Don Quixote
Date Posted: 03-Sep-2012 at 02:16
Well, what was supposed to do - stay and look like some bozo? Of course,, he was being pushed out of Rome and went to cut his own piece. But he did what Octavian didn't even contemplating doing - te legalized Cesarion, clamed him as a successor of Caesar; this is nobility if I even seen one. What did Octavian do - hunted down cesarion and killed him; how nice for a person who claimed such and such relation to Caesar.

Besides, didn't Caesar also start a Civil war? So what so smaful thing is that to start one anyway, Antony was nor the fisrt nor the last to be involved in one; even though he didn't start t per se. Antony's life was complicated, this doesn't make him a bad person, on the opposite, he behave far more nobly than Octavian.


-------------


Posted By: Delenda est Roma
Date Posted: 03-Sep-2012 at 10:01
Actually he was practically on Caesar's level as I've shown. They were both corrupt, used armed force against the Senate and numerous other things.

-------------


Posted By: okamido
Date Posted: 03-Sep-2012 at 17:51
He really only had one shining moment outside of Caesar's command, and it wasn't necessarily against the cream of the crop when it came to competition. Too sum up his administrative and true military capabilities, one only need to look at his stewardship of Rome while Caesar was away, and the Parthian campaign.
 
Weak


-------------


Posted By: Don Quixote
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2012 at 08:11
Originally posted by Delenda est Roma

Actually he was practically on Caesar's level as I've shown. They were both corrupt, used armed force against the Senate and numerous other things.

Well, this sound to me rather like a compliment, to be on Caesar's level. Only I think that Caesar had less excuse to pass the Rubicon than Antony to go independent. Octavian was singling him out, so there wasn't much other choice.
As foor the coruption - what exactly do you mean?


-------------


Posted By: Delenda est Roma
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2012 at 08:15
Giving and taking bribes, having a mistress, numerous other things.

-------------


Posted By: Don Quixote
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2012 at 08:19
Oh, come on, who wss not having mistresses then or now, how can this be a negative?. At least none off them were pressing women in actual or psychological rapes. Bribes were such a normal part of ancient Roman life that I cannot see them as much of a corruption.Whoever was not taking bribes was killing outright, I'd think this is far worse.

-------------


Posted By: Delenda est Roma
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2012 at 08:26
He also had people assasinated.

-------------


Posted By: Don Quixote
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2012 at 08:28
Who, Caesar or Antony? I think Octavian beats them in this with his hands down.

-------------


Posted By: Delenda est Roma
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2012 at 10:41
He wasn't necessarily better than anyone. Octavian and Caesar both had better reigns than he did in Egypt.

-------------


Posted By: Don Quixote
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2012 at 17:59
Oh, I don't argue about that. My poins is that as a human being Antony was a better man than Octavian. I'm talking about his character, not about his administrative or miltary achievement.

He lost, yes, but he lost nobly; Otavian won on the price of hunting down aand killing the son of the person-he-swore-by, by tking ot his associates one by one, and by humiliating whoever he left alive - and I cannot swallow that. I'd rather have the confused, emotional, spontaneous, making-bad-desicions, but nobler Antony than him.

Which, of course, is only my opinion. As you probably noticed, I'm more interested in the character of people, and of their reactions to life, than in their military prowess. Which doesn't mean than anyone has to agree with me - this is my lane, not anyone else's.


-------------


Posted By: Delenda est Roma
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2012 at 18:10
Of course. I simply prefer those with miliatry and governing talents.

-------------


Posted By: okamido
Date Posted: 07-Sep-2012 at 20:22
Originally posted by Don Quixote

Who, Caesar or Antony? I think Octavian beats them in this with his hands down.
Well actually, Antonius would have been just as adept at this, as he, Octavian and Lepidus, the Triumviri Rei Publicae Constituendae Consulari Potestate, proscribed more than enough Romans to refill the state treasury. Caesar on the other hand, made the mistake of not doing this, and his clementia most likely resulted in his death. Any assassinations that took place on his orders then, would have been quite clandestine, and therefor we have no knowledge on it either way.


-------------


Posted By: okamido
Date Posted: 07-Sep-2012 at 20:23
Originally posted by Delenda est Roma

Of course. I simply prefer those with miliatry and governing talents.
With Antonius, all one has is his meager military attributes, as his governing ability consisted of him spending the state's money in order to pay off his enormous debts.


-------------


Posted By: Delenda est Roma
Date Posted: 07-Sep-2012 at 22:19
Originally posted by okamido


Originally posted by Delenda est Roma

Of course. I simply prefer those with miliatry and governing talents.

With Antonius, all one has is his meager military attributes, as his governing ability consisted of him spending the state's money in order to pay off his enormous debts.


I agree. And his failed Parthian incursion didn't help.

-------------


Posted By: nickherc
Date Posted: 19-Nov-2014 at 07:55
He was a true Roman in spirit. But he was a very bad politician, and yet, he could be great. Augustus was just way way ahead. 


Posted By: jlaughs
Date Posted: 05-Sep-2018 at 06:14
I was introduced to Marc Anthony through Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, which presented him as a very clever and perceptive person. The extremely well-know "Friends, Romans, and countrymen" speech is one of the most manipulative speeches I've known. It has very good literary merit, too--of course, it does (what with Shakespeare being the author)

So, my rating here is based solely on my reading of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.  



Print Page | Close Window

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.56a - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz - http://www.webwizguide.com