The Battle Of Actium Flashcards
Historians who were alive when The battle occurred
Velleius Paterculus
Virgil, Propertius, Horace (poets)
-they had to present Cleopatra as evil
Occurred on the
2nd September 31Bc
Plutarch- Octavian starting the war
Wen Octavian was well prepared, there was a decree to wage war against Cleopatra, and to take from Antony the authority which he had given over to the woman. And Octavian added that Antony was under some drug and was not even in control of himself; the Romans, he said, were at war with Mardion, the eunuch and Potheinus, and Iras, the hairdresser of Cleopatra, and Charmion, who was in charge of conduction the most important affairs of the state.
What would happen if Antony had conquered Parthia
If he had returned to Rome as conqueror of Parthia, Octavian would be seen as inferior or worse
-Antony realised the war was inevitable however and mobilised his forces to fight Octavian
Antony’s move
Ordered Canidius to take 16 legions and march down to the sea
Antony and Cleopatra went to Ephesus (his fleet was being collected there)
Tried to get Cleopatra to go to Egypt but she refused
They sailed to Samos with the entire fleet
Antony’s fleet
800 war ships
Merchant vessels
(200 hundred war ships+20,000talents and supplies for the whole army during the war from Cleopatra)
Octavian begging in the war
He began when him and Messala Corvinus were consuls
The battle was fought at Actium
Velleius Paterculus- Octavian’s fleet
Everyone was certain he would win
His soldiers and generals were eager and confident
Octavian’s rowers were strong
Octavian’s ships were of reasonable size, capable of speed
Daily desertions to Octavian
Velleius Paterculus- Antony’s fleet
On Antony’s side everything was week and feeble
Antony’s rowers were effected by the lack of supplies
Antony’s ships were only terrible in appearance
There were daily desertions from Antony (Plutarch claims these were due to Cleopatra)
Antony’s first act
Divorced Octavia in 32Bc
Waited in Greece for Octavian to come to him
Cleopatra stayed with him
Octavian’s first act
He got hold of Antony ps will from the Vestle virgins in Rome
He read it out to the senate
-Antony confirmed the kingdoms he gave to Cleopatra
-declared Caesarion was the true son of Caesar
-when he died he should be buried in Alexandria by Cleopatra
(Not possible to say if any of what Octavian said was true)
Plutarch- the fleet
Antony now had become so controlled by Cleopatra that, although he was far stronger on land, he wanted to win his victory at sea, all for the sake of Cleopatra. This was despite the fact that he saw that his captains had not enough men to crew the ships and were forcing travellers, mule-drivers, harvesters, and young men from Greece, already suffering much, to serve on the ships. Even doing this the ships were still short of men, and so were undermanned and badly crewed. On the other hand, Octavian’s ships were properly equipped, built to show off their height or their size, but easy to steer, fast and fully-manned
Agrippa fighting for Octavian
Gradually gained control of the sea
Cut off supplies form Antony
Antony’s camp
Disease was spreading
Moral was low
Desertion
Antony’s possible choices
Canidius wanted a land battle
Cleopatra wanted a sea battle
Antony had the sails put on the ship witch showed he intended to escape
