Battle of Actium
31 BCE · Actium, Greece
The Battle of Actium was fought in 31 BCE in Actium, Greece between Forces of Octavian vs forces of Mark Antony and Ptolemaic Egypt; decisive victory for Octavian, who became Rome's first emperor as Augustus.
Battle of Actium: quick facts
- Date
- 31 BCE
- Location
- Actium, Greece
- Belligerents
- Forces of Octavian vs forces of Mark Antony and Ptolemaic Egypt
- Commanders
- Octavian and Marcus Agrippa vs Mark Antony and Cleopatra
- Result
- decisive victory for Octavian, who became Rome's first emperor as Augustus.
- Era
- 🏛️ Ancient Egypt & Mesopotamia
- Quiz difficulty
- medium
What happened at the Battle of Actium?
Octavian's fleet, commanded by Agrippa, confronted the combined naval forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII at Actium. Antony's larger but poorly crewed ships were outmaneuvered by Octavian's lighter, more agile fleet. When Cleopatra's squadron broke through and fled toward Egypt, Antony abandoned his fleet to follow her. The remaining forces surrendered. The victory made Octavian the sole ruler of the Roman world, and Egypt became a Roman province, ending the Ptolemaic dynasty and the last independent kingdom of the ancient Near East.
Did you know?
Cleopatra's flight from Actium may not have been cowardice. Some historians believe it was a pre-arranged plan to break through with the war chest and escape to Egypt.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Actium on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.