Antony and Cleopatra
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Marc Antony needed money and an army if he wanted a chance to beat Octavian. When Cleopatra sailed to Tarsus, Antony became seduced by her. He got an idea, he decided to get what he wanted with the help of Cleopatra who had all of these things. Despite Antony’s wife, Fulvia, and kids at home, Antony and Cleopatra began having an affair. As Plutarch says, “ [Antony was]...carried away by her to Alexandria, there to keep holiday, like a boy, in play and diversion, squandering and fooling away in enjoyment that most costly of all valuables, time. Together they had three children. In the summer of 40 B.C. twins named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene were born.
Soon Fulvia got sick and died and Antony was forced to prove his loyalty to Octavian by making a diplomatic marriage with Octavian’s half-sister Octavia. In 37 B.C., Cleopatra funded Antony’s long-delayed military campaign against the kingdom of Parthia. In exchange, he agreed to return much of Egypt’s eastern empire, including Cyprus, Crete, Cyrenaica (Libya), Jericho and large portions of Syria and Lebanon which were taken by Rome to Cleopatra. They became lovers again and, she soon gave birth to a son named Ptolemy Philadelphos. Cleopatra would then form her famous drinking society, “The Inimitable Livers.” during this time. After a humiliating defeat in Parthia, Antony publicly rejected his wife Octavia’s efforts to rejoin him and returned to Egypt to be with Cleopatra proving their love. Then in 34 B.C., a public celebration called “Donations of Alexandria,” was held where Antony declared Caesarion as Caesar’s son and rightful heir opposed to Caesar's adopted son and nephew, Octavian. In this ritual, Antony also gave his and Cleopatra's children land of their own.
Soon Fulvia got sick and died and Antony was forced to prove his loyalty to Octavian by making a diplomatic marriage with Octavian’s half-sister Octavia. In 37 B.C., Cleopatra funded Antony’s long-delayed military campaign against the kingdom of Parthia. In exchange, he agreed to return much of Egypt’s eastern empire, including Cyprus, Crete, Cyrenaica (Libya), Jericho and large portions of Syria and Lebanon which were taken by Rome to Cleopatra. They became lovers again and, she soon gave birth to a son named Ptolemy Philadelphos. Cleopatra would then form her famous drinking society, “The Inimitable Livers.” during this time. After a humiliating defeat in Parthia, Antony publicly rejected his wife Octavia’s efforts to rejoin him and returned to Egypt to be with Cleopatra proving their love. Then in 34 B.C., a public celebration called “Donations of Alexandria,” was held where Antony declared Caesarion as Caesar’s son and rightful heir opposed to Caesar's adopted son and nephew, Octavian. In this ritual, Antony also gave his and Cleopatra's children land of their own.