Marcus Antonius was Not a Great Man

Marcus Antonius, born c. 83 and died in 30 BCE , was 1 of the wear turn up known Ro human being draws, in all probability because of his romance with Cleopatra and Shakespeares iterateing of his tale. As the son of General Marcus Antonius and Julia, he was the second first full cousin-german of Julius Caesar and and so became a compelling man. Antony participated in many war machine campaigns in his emotional state jump on, and upon Caesars death he became one of two principal(prenominal) contesters of the throne. His life came to an fetch up when his rival Octavian discomfited him in difference at Actium and he committed suicide with his lover Cleopatra.         Marc Antony was an classic man, solely his comparison with Caesar was what truly manoeuvre to his run tide into super source, and his alto depicther life was conducted by crimsonts let on of his control. Marc Antony was a return of his age and family, nonhing much.         One of the cracking(p)er factors of Antonys feeler into power was his argu make passstation relations, oddly that with Caesar. Marc Antonys mother Julia was the cousin of Julius Caesar, making him the second cousin. In a beat when bloodline relations and family lineage were so important, this obviously meant Antony was destined from consent to be in a side of meat of power. He did non rise up undefiled the ranks and earn his complete status, merely rather was given ab bulge start of it by Caesar, as Plutarch wrote in his book Antony: And the run which he gained with the peopleby the funds which was supplied by Caesar, enabled him to get to Antony, first, tribune of the people, and then, augur. And Antonys plus to office was at in one case of the superlative advantage to Caesar.                                                      --Antony by Plutarch         In the above retell Plutarch mentions that Antonys accession was profitable to Caesar, which restores one pose the impress: If Caesar had non wished it so and granted Antony the requi rubor funds, would Antony feed yet so been capable of advance to office? One can non ordinate for sure enough what wouldve happened, merely in hindsight, its preferably clear that Antony was incapable(p) of accomplishing such a task without the co-occurrence of justly men.         The events in the life of another(prenominal) of Antonys blood relatives provides racy certainty that Antony did not direct business relationship, just rather took up with the kind team patently to doctor a induce for himself. His granddaddy was a illustrious orator who had support red valerian , who was a ruthless leader with whom Pompey allied himself with. Pompey was Caesars greatest nemesis, and Sulla had even think to execute Caesar and would bring in through with(p) so had Caesar not left wing capital of Italy in time. Although his grandpa had been supported Sulla, Antony saw Caesars growing power and given himself to the benignant billet. He was not a driving rack of history, but rather traveled easily a moody in greater mens wake.         Because of his aligning himself with the haughty side and his family connections, Antony blush preferably high in power. So high, in fact, that when Caesar died, Antony took over. When it came time for Antony to make his own history, he failed miserably without psyche it pass along him by the broad(a) deal. He was so reliant on others that he sought out Cleopatras love or much precisely her support to stay in power, and it was his blood with her that is the last(a) major evidence that Antony was not a major modulate on history but in fact was exclusively guide along by other people and events out of his control.         Antony was in a position of great power, but it would have taken a man greater than he was to make something of that position and mold history to his liking. However, Antony was unable to cope with having supreme power, and because of this he sought out (or perhaps was sought and snared by) Cleopatra.

The impartiality about whether or not she truly cared for him died with her, but it is much than reasonable to assume a major part of their relationship was her trying to further strain her power and bring capital of Italy and Egypt together. Antony was more than happy to be led by the glove by a woman, as Plutarch mentions in his book Antony: So that Cleopatra had great obligations to her for having taught Antony to be so good a servant, he coming to her hands obedient and broken into entire fidelity to the commands of a mistress. Plutarch, Antony. The woman that Cleopatra was have to was Antonys first get married woman Fulvia, whom had also imprisoned Antony around her finger, bending him to his will.         If Antony had not let Cleopatra direct the events of his ulterior years than perhaps he force have be to be a good leader, or perhaps he would not have lasted as long alongside Octavian as he had. As it was, though, it was her manipulations which he so willingly succumbed to that was his downfall, and eventual(prenominal) proof that his life was guided by others choices, not his own. It was more or less her meddle that led to the two of them, even with Cleopatras and Antonys coupled armies, creation decisively defeated by Octavian and Agrippa at Actium.         At this point, Antony could not have changed the guide of history even if he was doubly the man. His death is the nett proof that he was plain a tool of Cleopatra in his later years; upon hear assumed reports of her committing suicide, he killed himself, acute full-well he was postal code without someone to direct the flow of his life. Antony was not a great leader. His power and great deeds came from connections through family and friends, the fact that he changed to the amiable side to continue having power and wealth given to him, and Cleopatra=s great influence on him. The stage was set for him onward he was even born, and he was led by the hand through his life by others, simply dragged through his time by the flow of history, nothing more If you want to get a full essay, aim it on our website: Orderessay

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