Antony

Also known as: Marcus Antonius / Mark Antony · Family: Roman · Role: Roman leader · First appears: Numa Pompilius

Antony was the son of Antony, surnamed of Crete and Julia, who was both his mother and guardian and under whom he received his education. He became friends with Curio, who acted as his surety, took part with Clodius, and later joined Gabinius on campaign in Syria, where he was a friend of Ptolemy and fought Aristobulus. Through Caesar’s support, he became first tribune of the people and then augur, while remaining one of Caesar’s most faithful friends alongside Marcus Lepidus.

When Caesar was assassinated, Antony hid in disguise, but his funeral oration stirred the people against Marcus Brutus and Cassius’s party. Marcus Brutus had prevented the conspirators from killing him—“Thus did Brutus save Antony's life.” Antony later opposed Pompey, fought Dolabella, and became an enemy of Marcus Brutus and Cassius. After young Caesar drew soldiers away from him, Antony reconciled with young Caesar and Lepidus; together they divided the provinces and proscribed Cicero, whose death followed, while Antony gave up his maternal uncle Lucius Caesar in order to obtain permission to kill Cicero.

Antony married Fulvia, his cousin, and later married Octavia, though he also married Cleopatra, who had been his partner in the empire for fourteen years. He had Antyllus by Fulvia, daughters by Octavia, and sons including Alexander and Ptolemy by Cleopatra; Caesarion was reputed to be Caesar’s son. Under Cleopatra’s influence he abandoned his Median expedition and returned to Alexandria, and at Actium he abandoned his forces to follow her—“Antony fled first, and, to follow Cleopatra, abandoned his victory.” After his defeat he attempted suicide with the help of Eros and died from his wound.