Mark Antony

Also known as: Anthony / Antonius / Antony / Marcus Antonius · Family: Roman · Role: general · First appears: Julius Caesar · Act I, Scene II

At the market-place, Mark Antony offered Julius Caesar a crown three times, and served him as a trusted patron and friend: “When Caesar says ‘Do this,’ it is perform’d.” When the conspirators decided Julius Caesar must die, they left Antony alive, and Trebonius drew him away before the attack. Afterward, Marcus Brutus gave Antony Caesar’s body and permission to speak at the funeral; Antony revealed Caesar’s gifts to the citizens, turned them against Marcus Brutus and Caius Cassius, and set them toward mutiny: “We’ll burn the house of Brutus.”

Antony then joined Octavius Caesar and Lepidus in preparing against their enemies, while condemning Publius, his sister’s son, to death. Their proscriptions killed Cicero and many senators, and at Philippi Antony and Octavius Caesar divided the army and challenged Marcus Brutus and Caius Cassius. Antony’s forces defeated Caius Cassius’s legions; he protected Lucilius when he was captured and called Marcus Brutus the noblest Roman.

In Alexandria, Antony’s relationship with Cleopatra was courtship, while his marriage to Fulvia was revealed before her death. He briefly resolved to leave Cleopatra and address Rome’s crisis, defeating and killing Hirtius and Pansa at Modena, yet sent Cleopatra a pearl and promised to enrich her throne with kingdoms. At Messina, he accepted marriage to Octavia to unite himself with Octavius Caesar, made peace with Sextus Pompeius, and ordered Ventidius to Parthia; nevertheless, he returned to Egypt, where his pleasure lay with Cleopatra. He publicly enthroned her, granted her territories, and proclaimed their sons Alexander and Ptolemy kings over assigned lands.

Antony prepared for war against Octavius Caesar, appointing Canidius to command the land forces, but chose to fight at sea: “I’ll fight at sea.” At Actium he followed Cleopatra’s fleeing fleet, lost the battle, and sought peace from Octavius Caesar, later having Thidias whipped after he came to win Cleopatra away. Though Antony’s forces defeated Octavius Caesar’s army on land, his fleet eventually yielded; he denounced Cleopatra, ordered his followers to flee, and believed she had betrayed him. After learning that her reported death was false, he fell on his sword, survived, and was carried to her monument, where he died. Octavius Caesar ordered Cleopatra buried beside him and their funeral conducted solemnly before returning to Rome.