The Battle of Actium was a naval battle fought in 31 BCE between Octavian's fleets led by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and the fleets of Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra in the Ionian Sea near Actium.[1] Part of the larger civil war between Octavian and Antonius, the battle was prefaced by Octavian delivering a particularly violent and xenophobic speech, attacking Cleopatra's character and questioning the masculinity of Antonius and his allies for following such a woman.[2]
With this, the pretense that Octavian had set up—of declaring war against Egypt rather than attacking Antonius as a fellow Roman[3]—collapsed. Cleopatra and Antonius' navy was quickly outmatched by the Roman forces and they were forced to abandon most of their vessels and flee towards Egypt.[2] Their defeat at Actium was followed by Octavian arriving in Egypt to formalize his victory[3] in August 30 BCE, dividing the couple[2] and leading in part to their suicides.[4]
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed: Initiates (first mentioned)
- Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt (mentioned only)
- Echoes of History – Behind the Legends (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game (mentioned only)
References[]
- ↑ Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game – Forging History – Historical Hooks: "The Battle of Actium"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Echoes of History – Behind the Legends – Episode 2: Cleopatra
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – Tours: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt: "War with Rome"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Initiates – Timeline: 30 BCE