Fulvia

Family: Rome · Role: Antony’s wife · First appears: Antony and Cleopatra · Act I, Scene I

In Alexandria, Fulvia is revealed as Mark Antony’s wife, though Cleopatra asks, “Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?” Fulvia is also presented as Cleopatra’s rival, since Mark Antony’s vows to Cleopatra are described as having been false to Fulvia.

In Italy, Fulvia and Lucius end their war and join forces against Octavius Caesar. After a lengthy illness, she dies at Sicyon, and Mark Antony learns of her death. Later, Mark Antony admits that Fulvia had started the war to draw him out of Egypt, saying she “made wars here” for that purpose.

Relationship record

Life events

• Antony’s marriage to Fulvia is revealed.(Antony and Cleopatra · Act I, Scene I · 📍 Alexandria)
  • With: Mark Antony
  • “Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?”
• Fulvia and Lucius end their war and join forces against Octavius Caesar.(Antony and Cleopatra · Act I, Scene II · 📍 Italy)
  • With: Lucius Octavius Caesar
  • “But soon that war had end, and the time’s state Made friends of them, jointing their force ’gainst Caesar, Whose better issue in the war from Italy Upon the first encounter drave them.”
• Fulvia dies after a lengthy illness.(Antony and Cleopatra · Act I, Scene II · 📍 Sicyon)
  • With: Mark Antony
  • “Fulvia thy wife is dead. ANTONY. Where died she? THIRD MESSENGER. In Sicyon:”
• Antony reveals that Fulvia has died.(Antony and Cleopatra · Act I, Scene III)
  • With: Mark Antony
  • “CLEOPATRA. Though age from folly could not give me freedom, It does from childishness. Can Fulvia die? ANTONY. She’s dead, my queen.”
• Antony admits Fulvia instigated the war against Caesar to force his return from Egypt.(Antony and Cleopatra · Act II, Scene I · 📍 Messina)
  • With: Mark Antony Octavius Caesar
  • “Truth is that Fulvia, To have me out of Egypt, made wars here, For which myself, the ignorant motive, do So far ask pardon as befits mine honour To stoop in such a case.”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act I, Scene I

• married with Mark Antony “Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?”

Antony and Cleopatra · Act I, Scene II

• married with Mark Antony “Fulvia thy wife is dead.”
• friends with Lucius “But soon that war had end, and the time’s state Made friends of them, jointing their force ’gainst Caesar,”
• enemies with Octavius Caesar “But soon that war had end, and the time’s state Made friends of them, jointing their force ’gainst Caesar,”