THE CLASH BETWEEN ANTONIO AND OTTAVIANO

March 20, 44 a. C. the solemn funeral of Caesar are celebrated. The figure of Marco Antonio, lieutenant (right arm in military campaigns) Caesar: Law to the crowd the will of the dictator, who gives the people the Janiculum gardens and three hundred gold (coins) for each commoner. With a theatrical gesture shows the bloody robe of Caesar to the crowd, causing a popular uprising: the houses of the Assassination of Julius Caesar - (Brutus, Cassius and the other conspirators) and their houses are attacked, forcing them to flee.

Antonio's speech at the funeral, in a film based on the tragedy "Julius Caesar" by the great playwright William Shakespeare

The day of the funeral, a young man barely nineteen, (Octavian) comes to collect the inheritance.

As a son of Gaius Octavius, and a niece of Caesar (it was adopted by Caesar himself) bears the name of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian. Collecting now the favor of the army veterans and senators, while Antonio, who aspires to turn to the role of successor, the judges a rival and try to hinder it. The two arrive to arms, facing each other in Modena: Octavian wins the victory and march on Rome to be proclaiming console.

It became consul in 43 a. BC Octavian announced revenge against the Assassination of Julius Caesar and sides with Antonio. Along with Lepidus, (commander of the cavalry of Caesar) conclude the second triumvirate. Unlike the first triumvirate, it is a public and official agreement for a period of five years, by which you divide control of the provinces. To further establish their union, Antonio married the sister of Octavian, Octavia, while Lepidus is established in Spain, Octavian and Antony marched against the Assassination of Julius Caesar, who organize in Greece extreme resistance. In Macedonia, at Philippi, it takes place the final battle: the defeat for Brutus and Cassius, who take their own lives.

Ottaviano back quickly in Italy, where he fights for a long time against Sextus Pompey, son of the great Pompey, who practices piracy in the Mediterranean. The Senate celebrates it as a restorer of peace in the seas. After the victory of Philippi, Antonio has appropriated the province of the East, where he had the opportunity to meet Cleopatra. Falls in love with her, repudiates Ottavia and married Cleopatra in a ceremony in Alexandria, sitting on a golden throne with the typical costumes of the eastern monarchs, revered as gods by their

subjects. Cleopatra gives you two twins, who are called Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene.

Cleopatra Antonio deeply influence, pushing him to take a king pharaoh attitudes and to support Egypt's independence from Rome.

Cleopatra and Antony

The decisive battle occurs in 31 to. C. at Azio, on the western coast of Greece. Antony and Cleopatra have a higher number of men and ships, but Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian's fleet manages to capture their supplies.

Rather than fall into the hands of Octavian, the couple decides to flee to Egypt, and to commit suicide.

According to tradition, Cleopatra, do you bite the breast from an asp (other than by a cobra, considered sacred snake) hidden in a fruit basket.

Octavian won. When he returned to Rome, a new era begins.