Battle of Actium

The final naval conflict and war of the Roman Republic was the Battle of Actium. After Julius Caesar died in 44 BC, it took the conflict ten years to reach its peak. To find and eliminate Caesar's assassins, Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus established the ensuing alliance. Their mission had been accomplished at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. Lepidus was sent into exile in 36 BC when political unrest increased. Additionally, a new civil war sprang out in 32 BC. Finally, Antony and Cleopatra were positioned in Greece at the beginning of 31 BC, where Octavian defeated them.

Agrippa, Octavian's naval commander, cut off Antony and Cleopatra's main supply line on the sea route. As a result, Antony's army was forced to join Octavian. To get over the blockade, Antony sailed into the Bay of Actium on the western coast of Greece. Agrippa and Gaius Sosius, however, quickly pursued and conquered Antony and Cleopatra at Alexandria. As a result of their setback, Antony and Cleopatra killed themselves.

Date: 2 September 31 BC
Location: the Ionian Sea, near the promontory of Actium in Greece
Combatants: Romans supporting Octavian against Romans supporting Antony and Ptolemaic Egypt
Result: Victory for Octavian