The Battle Of Actium

The Battle of Actium After Julius Caesar was assassinated on the ides of March, thither was an enormous power struggle in the popish Empire. Two men came issue on top, and distri scarcelyively was to hold half of the conglomerate. Octavian rule Rome and the Eastern Empire, season Marc Antony ruled the Western empire which included Egypt. Both men wanted control on the whole over the entire empire, but they to a fault both k modern that they couldnt expandly do strife. However, Marc Antony made come only 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 split his wife Octavian who just happened to be Octavians sister. This not entirely 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 left his son by Cleopatra, Caesarian, heir to his half of the empire. This put the Roman deal in an uproar. Responding to the newly born anger in the Roman people, Octavian prevail a justum bellum or just war against the foreign faerie Cleopatra and all who side with her, which conveniently included Antony. He as well as did this to avoid calling it a civil war, for the Roman people were leery about killing their fellow citizens. The war was truly calm that year with only a few skirmishes. When wintertimetime came, Antony posit up his winter quarters on the headway of Actium and unbroken his ships moodyshore. His navy consisted of about 400 very whopping ships. for each sensation ship had 8 to 10 banks of oars and was as uplifted as a 5 or 6 news distinguish building. The ships were also r curiosityer with heavy catapults which were white plagued for long figure attacks. When spring came, Octavian sent his croak to meet Antony at his winter quarters. Octavians fleet consisted of 400 small(a) ships each e quipped with contract rams. These ships had! 2 or three oar banks and were extremely prompt and steerable. Agrippa, the near 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 phalanx across the Ionian Sea and occupied the Epirate edge which was locate 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 reorient his ships into 3 formations, and Antony seeing this did the same. Cleopatras small fleet was stationed substructure Antonys and was to fill in the gaps in the formation. The dickens fleets met each new(prenominal) and the battle soon commenced. Octavians small ships rammed into the sides of Antonys bounteousr ships than drawed. They made sure to avoid every battle royal combat or enemy archers and catapults. The battle raged and was genera lly uneventful until noon when the sprain shifted. Both fleets scurried to catch the wind and wasting disease 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 armour drowned them; or their armor was heated up in the flames and their skin melted outside(a); or lastly they died from smoke inhalation. Though this new forethought helped Octavian very much, the battle seemed far from over. Next, for an unknown reason, Cleopatra began to retreat. She stone-broke through with(predicate) 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 aft(prenominal) this, Antonys center and left divisions surrendered in the traditional personal manner of peak their oars. By the end of the battle, 300 of Antonys ships were burnt-out or sunk. After the battle, Octavian built 300 shrines to various gods and goddesses throughout Rome. He also enlarged the temple of Apollo at Actium and held games thither every five years t commemorate his victory. He als o built a city on near Antonys winter quarters named Nicopolis or The City of Victory. The battle seems fell and dry but there was more stub Antonys defeat than just bad tactics. In fact, there were a serious of events that built up into Antonys net defeat. forward when the war was just declared, Antonys Roman officers wanted to retreat from Actium and fight a land battle. Cleopatra on the other hand, pushed for a naval battle believing that Antonys extensive 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 sustain ships lighter. This lead to three squadrons of Antonys to not engage in battle. For these reasons, Antony befuddled the battle of Actium. If you want to get a sufficient essay, pasture it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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