The history of the ancient world is one of the most interesting pages in the annals of mankind. Its last stage was Ancient Rome, a state that existed for almost a thousand years.
Interest in the history of this ancient country is due to the fact that, having expanded from a city into a vast structure, it went through many phases of development. Many names are associated with this ancient state, and one of them is Mark Anthony.
Ancient Rome
As a result of the conquests of the III-I centuries BC, it turned into a world power. Ambition, assassination, conquest, unsurpassed power in the development of technologies of that time - all this became the cornerstone in the foundation of the empire. Gaius Julius Caesar, the most powerful ruler of Rome, played a significant role in this. This ambitious politician and general, realizing that the path to glory lies on the battlefield far beyond the borders of the empire, was able to almost double the size of the state.
As a man prone to power, he was able to establish imperial rule in Rome. His thirst for conquest required the implementation of the most daring projects. And in this he could only be helped by his closest associates, one of whom was Mark Antony. Rome in the eraCaesar turned from an anarchist state into a powerful empire. And a significant role in this was played by his devoted comrade-in-arms - Mark Antony, whose bust photo can be seen in any school history textbook.
Closest ally
The son of Praetor Anthony of Crete and Caesar's relative Julia, this future commander and politician was born in 82 BC. His youth cannot be called calm and measured. Mark Antony led a very disorderly and wasteful life. At one point, he was even forced to flee from his creditors to Greece, where he studied science and philosophy for some time. But after a while the young man realized that all this was alien to him. Military affairs - that's what Mark Antony decided to devote himself to.
Biography
He was born on the fourteenth of January 82 BC in one of the famous families in Rome, which belonged to the ruling elite. His father, Mark Anthony of Crete, or Kretik, came from a very ancient family, which, according to legend, ascended to the son of Hercules Anton.
Ancestors of Anthony have always held high positions in Rome. His grandfather even achieved the title of consul, and later censor.
Childhood
In the family of the future commander, in addition to himself, two more sons grew up. He, like many offspring of noble families, received an excellent home education. He was always predicted a wonderful future. In addition, Mark Antony, whose biography is described in most detail by Cicero, was always in excellent physical shape and excelled in military training andgymnastic training. This was considered the most important component in the education of young noble Romans.
Youth
Mark Anthony, whose adolescence fell on a relatively quiet time for the empire, strove, like other young nobles, for free expression. Since at this time all military campaigns took place far from the capital, noble youth spent all their time in Rome instead of serving in the army. Mark Antony tried to imitate his distant ancestor Hercules: he let go of his beard, began to gird a tunic at his hip, fastened a sword to his belt and wrapped himself in a heavy cloak.
At that time, Gaius Curio, the son of the consul, had a great influence on him. According to biographers, it was he who addicted the future great commander to women, booze and unaffordable luxury.
Despite his noble birth, Antony already in his youth had a completely undermined reputation. Therefore, his relatives could not manage to agree on his marriage to a girl from any noble family. As a result, he entered into his first marriage with the daughter of a we althy freed slave, Quintus Gallus. However, this family was not destined to have a long history: by 44 BC. e. his wife is dead.
Far from home
The father of Julius Caesar's colleague and future commander Mark Antony Sr. left huge debts after his death, which fell on his son's shoulders. But since he led a very wild life, he had nothing to pay. Wanted by creditors, he fled to Greece. Here Anthony studied for some time withphilosophers and famous rhetoricians. But soon, realizing that military affairs were closer to him, he abandoned the humanities. Soon, the Syrian proconsul Gabinius Mark Antony was appointed head of the cavalry. A warrior by nature, he distinguished himself in campaigns against Aristobulus in Judea and in Egypt, where he assisted Ptolemy XII Avletus in every possible way and helped him ascend the throne.
Under the leadership of Caesar
The names of these two politicians and commanders are inextricably linked with each other. In 54 BC. e. Antony, having arrived to Caesar in Gaul, with his help acquired a questura. And five years later, already being a tribune, together with Cassius Longinus, he was able to support the latter in the Senate. But this did not have the expected result, so Antony, like other Caesarians, had to flee the city.
The war has begun. Gaius Julius handed over to Antony the troops concentrated in Italy. In the Battle of Pharsalus, Antony fought on the left flank. Upon his return to Rome, he was appointed by Caesar magister equitum - head of the cavalry. And in the fiftieth year, with the support of his patron, he became a people's tribune. Having shown himself to be an active supporter of the latter and enjoying his undivided trust, at the beginning of the Civil War he acquired the position of propraetor and began to head the Roman administration in the absence of the emperor.
Death of a patron
However, the fact that Caesar, in fact, proclaimed himself dictator for life and king of Rome, led to his isolation and rejection by others. The Senate was literally saturated with dissatisfaction with tyranny. Even a protégéCaesar - Brutus Mark - managed to be persuaded to treason.
And finally in March of the forty-fourth year BC. e. forty conspirators, driven by ideas of freedom, carried out their plan. Guy Julius Caesar was stabbed to death with daggers. But his death did not lead to the triumph of justice and the restoration of the republic, as the conspirators wanted.
Famous speech
Caesar's funeral was scheduled for the twentieth of March. Since the deceased had no close relatives in Rome, and Gaius Octavius, his adopted son, was in Greece at that time, Mark Brutus, as city praetor, decided that Antony should deliver the funeral speech. Although the conspirators and the Caesarians outwardly managed to maintain a semblance of reconciliation, nevertheless the crowd was inflamed, which was taken advantage of by the disciple and ally of Caesar. Mark Antony's fiery speech, calling for the punishment of murderers, ended with a display of the dictator's bloodied toga.
After that, as the speaker wanted, the ceremony was violated: the Romans, having collected all the wooden things from the surrounding shops, set up a funeral pyre right on the Forum, after which they rushed in search of the conspirators.
After Caesar
Knowing that he would face the same fate as his patron, Mark Antony managed to escape from Rome. He later returned and took possession of the dictator's treasury and archives. The riots that broke out with his direct assistance led to the fact that the conspirators were forced to leave the capital of the empire. For a very short period, but Mark Antony turned intosole ruler. He even managed to carry out a number of reforms and approve new laws.
Struggle for power
However, after a short time, the Senate decided to oppose Antony to Gaius Octavian, whom Caesar named his heir shortly before the assassination. Gradually, the dictator's ally began to lose his influence. And when in the Mutinsky war in the 43rd year BC. e. his troops were defeated, he had to flee to the south. Here the commander Mark Antony persuaded Mark Lepidus, the proconsul of Gaul and Near Spain, to join the alliance. Having gathered a significant army, he moved to Italy. As a result, the warring parties, having agreed, formed a triumvirate - "an alliance of three." Gaius Anthony, Lepidus and Mark Antony became the supreme rulers in Rome, eliminating their main political opponents in the battle of Philippi - Cassius and Brutus, who killed Caesar.
The power of the three did not last long: in the 42nd, they and Octavian, having concluded an agreement between themselves, removed Lepidus. Then Mark Antony, who had received the eastern part of the Roman Empire under partition, began to reorganize his provinces. He traveled to Greece, Bithynia, Syria.
Last love
He was greeted everywhere with honors. And only the queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, did not honor the commander with attention. Wounded, Mark Antony ordered her to come to Tarsus. But when the mistress in the costume of Venus, surrounded by sea nymphs, facies and cupids, on a huge ship with scarlet sails and a gilded stern, sailed at dusk to the sounds of the most delicate music, the battered commander and reveler, the brave and favorite of women, was struck down by hersplendor. And instead of angry threats, he was followed by an invitation to dinner.
Cleopatra and Mark Antony retired on a ship covered in rose petals. The feast lasted for four days, and then they went to her capital residence. The Roman commander was ready to give this seductress the whole world.
The story of Cleopatra and Mark Antony
Entertainment and orgies continued throughout the winter in the Egyptian capital. The ruler completely withdrew from the affairs of the state. The "Alexandrian courtesan", who did not leave her lover for a minute, turned into a voluptuous bacchante. She pandered to his every instinct, drank on a par with him, expressed herself cynically, responded with abuse. Cleopatra and Mark Antony spent every day in entertainment: their life became a real theater of pleasure with constantly updated scenery. Sometimes lovers, dressed as commoners, walked the streets, arranging brawls and practical jokes.
The ruler thought only of Cleopatra. He began to give away land to her children, ordered to mint coins with the profile of his beloved, and to engrave her name on the shields of his legionnaires.
The price of love
The Romans, deeply outraged by such actions, began to grumble. In 32 B. C. e. Octavian spoke in the Senate. His accusatory speech was directed against Mark Antony. He, having made public his will, in which the Roman commander ordered to bury himself in the land of Egypt, practically called the latter a traitor. But the last strawwas the point at which Mark Antony named his son Cleopatra and Julius Caesar as his heir, recognizing him not only Egypt, but also other lands with which he endowed his mistress.
The will had the effect of an exploding bomb. Octavian, on behalf of the Senate, declared war on Egypt.
War against the Roman Empire
The army of Cleopatra and Antony was more numerous. That was the reason for their defeat: they, relying too much on it, lost. The Egyptian queen, who had no experience, was to command the fleet. In the decisive battle at the beginning of September 31 BC. e., not far from the Greek Actium, she, not understanding the strategy of her lover, left him at the decisive moment, ordering him to retreat. The Romans managed to win a complete victory.
Desperate, Cleopatra and Mark Antony held a farewell feast. Egypt has never seen such rampant orgies.
Death
When Octavian approached Alexandria, the queen, wishing to soften him, sent messengers with generous gifts to him. And she locked herself in the chambers and waited. The servants, misunderstanding this seclusion, informed Antony that his mistress had died by suicide. Hearing this, the commander stabbed himself with a dagger. He spent several more hours dying in the arms of Cleopatra.
Meanwhile, the Romans captured Alexandria. Attempts by the queen to negotiate with Octavian did not lead to success. Her charms had no effect on the latter, although he was famous for his adventures.
Cleopatra no longer had illusions about her future: she had to walk in shackles around Rome behind a chariotOctavian. But the proud "Alexandrian courtesan" escaped shame: faithful servants managed to give her a basket of fruit, under which they hid a very poisonous snake. So on August 30, 30 BC, the love story of Mark Antony and Cleopatra ended.
Descendants
Chroniclers described this Roman commander, an associate of Caesar, as a man with a representative handsome appearance. The main features of his character are intelligence and generosity, wit and sincere openness, ease of getting around and politeness. All these qualities, according to Plutarch, paved the way for him to the brilliant heights of power. It was they who invariably increased his power, even despite numerous mistakes and errors. But all historians call his main weakness Cleopatra, who stood in his way and broke his life.
Mark Antony had seven children. Two sons from Fulvia's first wife, a daughter and Anthony the Younger from Octavia, Octavian's sister, and three offspring from the Egyptian queen. She bore him twins - Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, as well as the youngest - Ptolemy Philadelphus.
History knows at least two more of his namesakes, who, according to some information, are considered distant descendants. This is Mark Antony Aurelius, who was the Roman emperor from 161 to 180. He was a philosopher, a representative of late Stoicism and a follower of Epictetus. He even bequeathed to posterity a twelve-volume work en titled To Myself.
Another namesake - Mark AntonySempronian Romanus Africanus is better known in Roman historiography as Gordian I. He was also an emperor and ruled the empire in the year 238.
Nevertheless, Gordian is known as the man who created the amphitheater of Mark Antony, in which games were held that were not inferior in cruelty to those that took place in the Colosseum.
