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Marcus Antonius ( Latin: M·ANTONIVS·M·F·M·N) (c. 83 BC – August 30 BC), known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. He was an important supporter of Julius Caesar as a military commander and administrator. After Caesar's assassination, Antonius allied with Octavian and Lepidus to form the second triumvirate. The triumvirate ended in 33 BC, and Antonius committed suicide with Cleopatra in 30 BC.1 Early life
Antonius was born in Rome around 83 BC. His father was his namesake, Marcus Antonius Creticus, the son of the great rhetoricianRhetoric (from Greek ρητωρ, rhetor "orator") is one of the three original liberal arts or trivium (the other members are dialectic and grammar). While it has meant many different things during its 2500-year history, it is generally d Marcus Antonius OratorMarcus Antonius Orator (died 87 BC) was a Roman politician of the Antonius family, and one of the most distinguished Roman orators of his time. He started his cursus honorum as quaestor in 113 BC and in 102 BC he was elected praetor with proconsular power executed by Gaius MariusGaius Marius ( Latin: C·MARIVS·C·F·C·N) ( 157 January 13, 86 BC) was a Roman general and politician. Importance of Gaius Marius The career of Gaius Marius illustrates a number of the trends that would lead to the fall of the Republic. He was a novus homo' supporters in 86 BCCenturies: 2nd century BC 1st century BC 1st century Decades: 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC Years: 91 BC 90 BC 89 BC 88 BC 87 BC 86 BC 85 BC 84 BC 83 BC 82 BC 81 BC Events First Mithridatic War The Roman. Through his mother Julia CaesarisJulia Caesaris is the name of all women in the Julii Caesarii patrician family (to which, for instance Julius Caesar and Augustus belonged), since feminine names were their father's gens and cognomen declined in the female form. In Roman history, there ar, he was a distant cousin and relative of Julius Caesar. His father died at a young age, leaving him and his brothers, LuciusLucius Antonius ( 1st century BC) was the younger brother and supporter of Marcus Antonius, a Roman politician. Lucius was son of Marcus Antonius Creticus, son of the rhetorician Marcus Antonius Orator executed by Gaius Marius' supporters in 86 BC, and Ju and Gaius, to the care of his mother. Julia Antonia (known in sources by her married name, to distinguish from the other Julias) then married Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura, a politician involved in and executed during the Catiline conspiracy of 63 BC.
Antonius' early life was characterized by a lack of parental guidance. According to historians like Plutarch, he spent his teenage years roaming through Rome with his brothers and friends ( Publius Clodius Pulcher among them). Together, they embarked on a rather wild sort of life, frequenting gambling houses, drinking too much, and involving themselves in scandalous love affairs. Plutarch mentions the rumour that before Antonius reached 20 years of age, he was already indebted the sum of 250 talents (equivalent to several million euros).
After this period of recklessness, Antonius went to Greece to study rhetoric. During this visit, he joined the cavalry in the Roman legions of the proconsul Aulus Gabinius en route to Syria. In this campaign, he demonstrated his talents as a cavalry commander and distinguished himself with bravery and courage. It was during this campaign that he first visited Egypt and Alexandria.
