Why did Octavian officially declare war on Cleopatra rather than Antony in 32 BC?

To frame the conflict as a war against a foreign queen rather than a Roman civil war

What illegal act did Octavian commit in 32 BC to turn Roman public opinion against Antony?

He seized and publicly read Antony's will, which was lodged in the Temple of Vesta

According to his will, where did Antony wish to be buried?

He requested to be buried in Alexandria alongside Cleopatra

Who was Octavian’s primary admiral and the architect of the naval victory at Actium?

Marcus Agrippa

Where exactly did the decisive naval battle between Octavian and Antony take place in 31 BC?

Actium, on the western coast of Greece

What tactical disadvantage did Antony’s forces face while blockaded at Actium before the battle?

They suffered from food shortages, disease, and mass desertions

Why did Antony’s ships carry their sails into the Battle of Actium?

It suggests that a retreat to Alexandria was planned from the start

What did Cleopatra do at the height of the Battle of Actium?

She fled with her 60 Egyptian warships through a gap in the center of the fighting

How did Antony respond when he saw Cleopatra departing the battle?

He abandoned his fleet and followed her in his own ship

What was the fate of Antony’s land army after he fled the battle?

They were shocked by his desertion and eventually surrendered or defected to Octavian

According to the sources, why did Antony attempt suicide in Alexandria in 30 BC?

He was mistakenly informed that Cleopatra had already committed suicide

What was Cleopatra’s primary motive for committing suicide?

To avoid the dishonour of being paraded in chains during Octavian’s triple triumph in Rome

What is the most famous (though unverified) method of Cleopatra's suicide?

An asp (sacred snake) smuggled into her quarters in a delivery of figs

What happened to Caesarion (Ptolemy XV) following Cleopatra's death?

He was executed on Octavian’s orders to eliminate him as a potential rival

Which child of Antony and Cleopatra is confirmed to have survived into adulthood in Rome?

Cleopatra Selene

Which Roman poet praised Cleopatra's 'noble spirit' and courage in death?

Horace in Ode 1.37

Which epic poem features a description of the Battle of Actium on the Shield of Aeneas?

Virgil’s Aeneid

Which historian provided a heavily pro-Augustan and rhetorical account of the battle?

Velleius Paterculus

What became of Egypt after the suicides of its last monarchs?

It became a Roman province under the direct control of Octavian

What event did Octavian celebrate in 29 BC to commemorate his victories over Egypt?

A triple triumph for Illyria, Actium, and Alexandria