The Battle Of Actium

The Battle of Actium After Julius Caesar was assassinated on the ides of March, in that respect was an beneficial power struggle in the papistic Empire. Two hands came issue on top, and all(prenominal) was to district half of the conglomerate. Octavian rule Rome and the Eastern Empire, season Marc Antony ruled the Western empire which included Egypt. Both men treasured control exclusively over the entire empire, hardly they to a fault both(prenominal) k modern that they couldnt expandly do conflict. However, Marc Antony made both(prenominal) tragic mistakes that led to open warfare. It was rumored that Marc Antony and the Egyptian puff Cleopatra were having an affair. Months later, Antony dissociate his wife Octavian who just happened to be Octavians sister. This not unless spurred the wrath of Octavian but in addition the Roman hatful. Whether or not by truthful representation or propaganda, Octavian in any case extracted the will of Marc Antony, which l eft his son by Cleopatra, Caesarian, heir to his half of the empire. This put the Roman spate in an uproar. Responding to the newly born anger in the Roman people, Octavian assign a justum bellum or just war against the foreign cigaret Cleopatra and all who side with her, which conveniently included Antony. He in addition did this to avoid calling it a civil war, for the Roman people were leery about killing their fellow citizens. The war was unfeignedly calm that year with only a few skirmishes. When overwintertimetime came, Antony habilitate up his winter quarters on the headway of Actium and unplowed his ships rack upshore. His navy consisted of about 400 very whopping ships. each(prenominal) ship had 8 to 10 banks of oars and was as uplifted as a 5 or 6 news bill building. The ships were also r curiosityer with heavy catapults which were lend adeptselfd for long range attacks. When spring came, Octavian sent his croak to meet Antony at his winter quarters. Octavians fleet consisted of 400 small(a) ! ships each equipped with cast-iron rams. These ships had 2 or three oar banks and were extremely prompt and free reinable. Agrippa, the intimately decorated admiral of the time, commanded Octavians fleet while he led his ground troops. On land Octavian extirpation off Antonys supply lines and communication lines. He locomote his forces across the Ionian Sea and occupied the Epirate edge which was primed(p) north of Actium. By doing this he could intercept all supplies and messages to Antony. Finally, on September 2, 31 B.C.., Octavian gave Agrippa the go-ahead to engage in battle. Agrippa aline his ships into 3 formations, and Antony seeing this did the same. Cleopatras small fleet was stationed bottom of the inning Antonys and was to fill in the gaps in the formation. The ii fleets met each opposite and the battle soon commenced. Octavians small ships rammed into the sides of Antonys large-scaler ships than drawed. They made sure to avoid every battle royal combat or enemy archers and catapults. The battle raged and was generally uneventful until noon when the sprain shifted. Both fleets scurried to catch the wind and employ it to their advantage, but Octavians smaller ships were able to out maneuver those of Antony. Therefore the wind allowed Octavians ships to attack Antonys on two fronts. Though Antony was now being attacked on two sides, the battle was still a stalemate. Upon seeing this, Octavian heady to use fire in the battle. At first he didnt wish to use it because he wanted to trophy the ships for money, but now he saw it necessary. The fire was lethally emotive and engulfed the large ships quickly. This also led to the deaths of many of Antonys men. They met their end in several ways. They either leapt from the flames into the water, and the weight of their armor drowned them; or their armor was heated up in the flames and their skin melted forward; or lastly they died from smoke inhalation. Though this new advocate helped Octavian very much, the battle seemed far from over. ! Next, for an unknown reason, Cleopatra began to retreat. She stone-broke done Octavians front line and sailed away towards Egypt. Antony at one time followed her and abandoned his troops, which meant they were left without a crowner. Soon later on this, Antonys center and left divisions surrendered in the traditional formulate of peak their oars. By the end of the battle, 300 of Antonys ships were burn or sunk. After the battle, Octavian built 300 shrines to various gods and goddesses passim Rome. He also enlarged the temple of Apollo at Actium and held games there every five years t commemorate his victory. He also built a city on come out Antonys winter quarters named Nicopolis or The City of Victory. The battle seems fell and dry but there was more posterior Antonys defeat than just bad tactics. In fact, there were a serious of events that built up into Antonys ultimate defeat. forward when the war was just declared, Antonys Roman officers wanted to retreat from Act ium and fight a land battle. Cleopatra on the other hand, pushed for a naval battle believing that Antonys capacious ships could neer be beaten. Antony also kept his sails on board. To his Roman officers this meant that he wanted to retreat from the battle. Usually, sails were jettisoned before battle to flip ships lighter. This lead to three squadrons of Antonys to not engage in battle. For these reasons, Antony befuddled the battle of Actium. 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