Battle of Actium
Ionian Sea, near the promontory of Actium in Greece
What happened
Octavian's fleet, led by his admiral Marcus Agrippa, fought the combined fleets of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Octavian arrived from the north with a large fleet and army, and with Agrippa's help he cut Antony's southward communications with Egypt. The two fleets met outside the Gulf of Actium on the morning of 2 September 31 BCE. Octavian's smaller, more maneuverable ships won. Antony and his remaining forces were saved by a last-ditch effort of Cleopatra's fleet, which had been waiting nearby.
Why it matters
Result: Octavian's victory. Leaders: Octavian / Marcus Agrippa against Mark Antony / Gaius Sosius. Why it matters: Octavian's victory let him consolidate his power over Rome. In 27 BCE the Senate gave him the title Augustus, and the battle marked Rome's transition from republic to empire. Egypt became a Roman province, ending the Ptolemaic Kingdom.
What came next
Octavian pursued Antony and Cleopatra and defeated their forces in Alexandria on 1 August 30 BCE, after which both of them died. To commemorate his victory, Octavian founded the nearby city of Nicopolis ('City of Victory') in 29 BCE.
Did you know?
At the camp where he waited for the battle, Octavian built a victory memorial decorated with the bronze rams (rostra) taken from captured warships.
Timeline
- 32 BCEMilitary operations begin as Octavian's general Agrippa captures Methone, a Greek town allied to Antony.
- 2 September 31 BCEOctavian's fleet defeats the combined fleets of Antony and Cleopatra at Actium.
- 1 August 30 BCEOctavian defeats Antony's forces at Alexandria.
- 29 BCEOctavian founds Nicopolis, the 'City of Victory', near Actium.
- 27 BCEThe Senate awards Octavian the title Augustus.