All the wives of Marco Antonio –

Mark Antony He was a notable figure in the history of the Ancient Rome. Born in the capital of the empire, in the 83 BC and died by suicide in Alexandria, 53 years later, he has had (like many other characters of that time), numerous loves that marked his life. Some of them were marriages of convenienceothers, product of blind passion. Here, the story of those women who have influenced the history of Romebut in some cases, have been left in the background under the imposing shadow of this well-known character.

The women of Marco Antonio: Fadia

Little is known about the first woman of Mark Antony. Perhaps her image has not been spread so much because she is the daughter of a freedman (In those times, the slaves who managed to obtain their freedom were called freedmen, climbing a step in the social pyramid of the Roman structure). According to Cicero, an important orator and philosopher of those times, this woman would have given numerous children to Anthony, but there is no record of them either, since these data are only based on the faithful statements of the speaker.

The women of Marco Antonio: Antonia Híbrida

This dissatisfied woman, daughter of the politician Rooster Antonio Hybrid, It was nothing more and nothing less than the carnal cousin of Mark Antony. It is known that marriage between close relatives was not abnormal in those times, given that constant marriages were carried out with great normality for political, economic and social reasons. According to Plutarch (Roman historian), in the year 47 BCAntonio discovered that his wife was cheating on him with one of his political friends, the tribune Cornelius Dolabella, hypocritically kicking her out of her house and banishing her from her life. He divorced her that same year, quickly marrying the ambitious Fulvia.

The wives of Mark Antony: Fulvia

The figure of this woman is extremely important in the history of Rome. Fulvia, powerful heir to the house of Fulvios and the Sempronioswas always ambitious, eager for power and government, and knew how to handle Mark Antony as you wish.

The story recounts two facts that especially demonstrate the courage and desire for revenge that this woman possessed:

One dates back to the year 44 BCwhen after her husband’s departure to Egypt, Fulvia sends the famous orator to be slaughtered Ciceroin revenge for the criticism that this speaker had made against her husband (some pending problem that they had left?), in any case, it is said that the bloodthirsty woman boasted of exhibiting the head of the slit in front of a noisy crowd of Roman people, showing who had the can.

Another event took place shortly after, when, in order to strengthen political ties, Fulvia he arranged his daughter’s marriage Claudia with the recent member of the triumvirate, Octavian (future Emperor Augustus). But this link did not manage to calm the waters for a long time, since a general social unrest began to take place, entering the triumvirate in crisis. It was like that Octavian got divorced from Claudiataking Fulvia this fact as an irreparable offense, arming herself against the future emperor, to fight for the rights of her husband, which, by the way, did not end very well, since she ended up surrendering and dying in exile in Sicyon.

The death of Fulvia opened the doors to hopes of a possible reconciliation between the two politicians, and this led to the marriage of Mark Antony with octaviathe sister of Octavian. the year ran 40 BC, and the end of triumvirate was about to arrive…

Mark Antony’s wives: Octavia and Cleopatra

After the death of the forgotten Fulvia, Mark Antony marriage with octaviathe dear sister of Octavian for reasons only politicians that would help for a time, to strengthen again the relations between these two.

Despite her husband’s infidelity, and the way their marriage was given, octavia She was a faithful woman proving to be strong in the face of the humiliation caused by the news that Mark Antony had allied with Cleopatra Of Egipt in the year 36 BC, completely abandoning her and ignoring her existence. Four years later, Mark Antony faced the matter, legally clarifying the facts and divorcing Octavia, making fully public his blind love for the Queen of Egypt. This fact, by the way, triggered the definitive rupture of the weak ties that united, at that time, Antony and Octavianproducing a violent civil war.

Now, before anticipating the well-known end of lovers, let’s delve a little into the life of the most famous woman in this story: Cleopatra.

This intelligent woman was born in the year 69 BCalready the 17 years inherited the throne of Egyptalong with his brother Ptolemy XIII, five years younger than her, (who would later be her ignored husband). She had great and important alliances with Rome, that were a fusion of seduction, politics and common interests, which led to the loss of Egyptfalling into the hands of the Rome of Augustus.

Shortly before the death of Fulviathe third wife of Mark Antonyhe had headed to Egypt, where he fell madly in love with Cleopatra. This woman was under constant threats from her younger sister, Arsinoe IVso he negotiated a pact with Anthonyin which she would get the death of her sister, and a great financial help from Egyptdespite the fact that this reign was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Together they spent moments of happiness, parties and waste, until the news of Fulvia’s death called Antonio to return to Rometo strengthen the terms with Octavian. Four years later, in the fall of 37 Anthony married with Cleopatra, triggering the aforementioned civil war, product of the rupture of ties between the monarchs of the triumvirate.

All this generated several accusations on the part of Rome to the couple in love, holding that Anthony had been bewitched by egyptian queen, and that this was only a shadow of the actions she commanded. Without paying attention to it, Antonio preferred to be part of the uncontrolled parties, the luxury and the disobedience in Egyptcontrasting with the loyal image of Octavianwho promised to be a promising popular leader.

In the year 32 BC Rome declared war on Egypt, in which a year later Cleopatra he saw his fleets lose… and his kingdom. The lovers fled from the battle (Cleopatra for fear of being killed right there, and Anthony out of cowardice, abandoning his troops and losing the war). Later Anthony receives the serious news of the death of Cleopatra. Heartbreakingly, he commits suicide by impaling his sword through his chest, unaware that he had been deceived, and that Cleopatra still alive, but under the power of Octavian.

This, seeing her future completely frustrated and humiliated, decided to suffer the same fate as Anthonybefore having to get over the terrible fact of being exposed as the prize of the battle won by Rome. Some maintain that he died as a result of a snake bite he had sent for her suicide. Others, a little more philanthropic, maintain that she contracted her death after the news of her husband’s suicide. Anyway, this event happened in the year 30 BC, and his last will was expressed in writing to Octavianin which she asked to be buried next to her last husband Mark Antony.

Now, as a result of the death of these two characters, we find 3 orphaned children: the sons of Antony and Cleopatra. Concerned about the fate that these children could suffer, being the product of the enemies of Octavian, octavia He decides to adopt the children, regardless of the fact that they were children of that man who had humiliated him in such a terrible way. Over time, the two sons mysteriously disappeared, probably under the orders of Octavian.

octavia died in Romein the year 11 BCand his brother paid him the highest funeral honors, remembering that loyal and strong woman who accompanied him with brotherly love throughout his political career.