Marcus Antonius

Marcus Antonius
Bust of Mark Antony in Vatican City
Triumvir of the Roman Republic
In office 27 November 43 BC – 31 December 33 BC Serving with Octavian and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
Consul of the Roman Republic
In office 1 January 34 BC – 31 December 34 BC Serving with Lucius Scribonius Libo
Preceded by	Lucius Cornificius and Sextus Pompeius
Succeeded by	Octavian and Lucius Volcatius Tullus
Consul of the Roman Republic
In office 1 January 44 BC – 31 December 44 BC Serving with Julius Caesar
Preceded by	Julius Caesar
Succeeded by	Aulus Hirtius and Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus
People's Tribune of the Roman Republic
In office 1 January 49 BC – 7 January 49 BC
Personal details
Born	14 January 83 BC Rome, Roman Republic
Died	1 August 30 BC (aged 53) Alexandria, Ptolemaic Egypt
Spouse(s)	Fadia (dates unknown) Antonia Hybrida Minor (?–47 BC) Fulvia (46–40 BC) Octavia Minor (40–32 BC) Cleopatra (32–30 BC)
Children	Antonia Prima Marcus Antonius Antyllus Iullus Antonius Antonia Major Antonia Minor Alexander Helios Cleopatra Selene II Ptolemy Philadelphus
Religion	Roman Paganism
Military service
Allegiance	Roman Republic
Service/branch	Roman Army
Years of service	54–30 BC
Rank	Proconsul
Battles/wars	Gallic Wars Caesar's Civil War Post-Caesarian Civil War Liberators' civil war Battle of Philippi Roman–Parthian Wars Final Roman Civil War Battle of Actium

Marcus Antonius (Latin: M·ANTONIVS·M·F·M·N; January 14, 83 BC – August 1, 30 BC), commonly known in English as Mark or Marc Antony, was a Roman politician and general who played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic from an oligarchy into the Roman Empire.

Antony was a supporter of Julius Caesar, and served as one of his generals during the conquest of Gaul and the Civil War. Antony was appointed administrator of Italy while Caesar eliminated political opponents in Greece, North Africa, and Spain. After Caesar's death in 44 BC, Antony joined forces with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, another of Caesar's generals, and Octavian, Caesar's nephew and adopted son, forming a three-man dictatorship known to historians as the Second Triumvirate. The Triumvirs defeated Caesar's murderers, the Liberatores, at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, and divided the government of the Republic between themselves. Antony was assigned Rome's eastern provinces, including the client kingdom of Egypt, then ruled by Cleopatra VII Philopator, and was given the command in Rome's war against Parthia.

Relations among the Triumvirs were strained as the various members sought greater political power. Civil war between Antony and Octavian was averted in 40 BC, when Antony married Octavian's sister, Octavia. Despite this marriage, Antony carried on a love affair with Cleopatra, who bore him three children, further straining Antony's relations with Octavian. Lepidus was expelled from the association in 36 BC, and in 33 BC disagreements between Antony and Octavian caused a split between the remaining Triumvirs. Their ongoing hostility erupted into civil war in 31 BC, as the Roman Senate, at Octavian's direction, declared war on Cleopatra and proclaimed Antony a traitor. Later that year, Antony was defeated by Octavian's forces at the Battle of Actium. Antony and Cleopatra fled to Egypt, where they committed suicide.