Actium

Actium, a promontory on the west coast of Greece, at the entrance of the Ambracian Gulf, memorable for the naval victory gained near it by Octavian (afterwards the Emperor Augustus), over Mark Antony and Cleopatra, which decided the fate of Rome and of the world, 2d September 31 B.C. The two armies were encamped on the opposite shores of the gulf. Octavian had 80,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry, and 250 ships of war; Antony, 100,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry, and 500 ships. Antony's ships were large, and well provided with engines for throwing missiles, but clumsy in their movements; Octavian's were smaller and more agile. It was the advice of Cleopatra that decided Antony to rest the issue on a sea-fight. The battle continued for some hours undecided; at last, Agrippa, who commanded Octavian's fleet, succeeded, by a skilful manoeuvre, in compelling Antony to extend his line of battle, the compactness of which had hitherto resisted all attempts of the enemy to break through. Cleopatra, who was stationed behind Antony's line, in terror took to flight with her sixty ships, and Antony at once flung away the empire of the world, and recklessly followed her with a few of his ships. The deserted fleet continued to resist bravely for some time, but was finally vanquished; the land-army, after waiting in vain seven days for Antony's return, surrendered to Octavian.