Battle of Actium

E5860

The Battle of Actium was the decisive 31 BC naval confrontation in which Octavian defeated the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, paving the way for his sole rule and the emergence of the Roman Empire.

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Observed surface forms (3)


Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf ancient battle
naval battle
alsoKnownAs Battle of Actium
surface form: Actium
belligerent Cleopatra VII
Mark Antony
Augustus
surface form: Octavian

Ptolemaic Kingdom
surface form: Ptolemaic Egypt

Roman forces loyal to Mark Antony
Roman forces loyal to Octavian
chronologicalOrder fought after the Battle of Philippi
commander Cleopatra VII
surface form: Cleopatra VII Philopator

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Mark Antony
Augustus
surface form: Octavian
conflictIn Battle of Actium self-linksurface differs
surface form: Final War of the Roman Republic
consequence Octavian becomes sole ruler of Rome
annexation of Egypt by Rome
end of the Hellenistic period
end of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt
rise of Augustus as first Roman emperor
suicide of Cleopatra VII
suicide of Mark Antony
transition from Roman Republic to Roman Empire
date 2 September 31 BC
decisiveFactor defection and flight of Antony and Cleopatra’s forces
superior strategy of Agrippa
followedBy Octavian’s invasion of Egypt
hasParticipant Roman Senate-aligned forces
client kingdoms allied with Antony and Cleopatra
historicalPeriod Late Roman Republic
locatedInPresentDay Greece
location Ionian Sea
near Actium, Epirus
namedAfter Actium
navalForcesSize large fleets on both sides
opponentOf Octavian vs. Mark Antony–Cleopatra alliance
outcome defeat of Cleopatra VII
defeat of Mark Antony
partOf Roman civil wars
precededBy Battle of Alexandria (31 BC campaigns)
primaryTactic naval engagement with maneuverable ships
relatedEvent Donations of Alexandria
Octavian’s propaganda campaign against Antony and Cleopatra
result decisive victory for Octavian
significance decisive battle of the Final War of the Roman Republic
pivotal event in the formation of the Roman Empire
strategicObjective control of the Roman world
year 31 BC

Referenced by (20)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Actium ActianGamesFoundedAfter Battle of Actium
Actium NicopolisFoundedToCommemorate Battle of Actium
Battle of Actium alsoKnownAs Battle of Actium
this entity surface form: Actium
Battle of Actium conflictIn Battle of Actium self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Final War of the Roman Republic
Ptolemaic Kingdom conquestEvent Battle of Actium
this entity surface form: Annexation of Egypt by Octavian
Mark Antony defeatedAt Battle of Actium
Cleopatra (1934 film) depicts Battle of Actium
Hellenistic period endEvent Battle of Actium
Donations of Alexandria followedBy Battle of Actium
Roman Empire foundingEvent Battle of Actium
Roman civil wars hasKeyEvent Battle of Actium
Late Roman Republic hasMajorEvent Battle of Actium
Actium knownFor Battle of Actium
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa militaryConflict Battle of Actium
Augustus notableEvent Battle of Actium
Roman Republic notableEvent Battle of Actium
Roman navy significantEvent Battle of Actium
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa victory Battle of Actium