Antony's disgraceful conduct aroused the Roman people.
They willingly followed Octavian to a war against one who seemed a national
enemy. A naval battle in the bay of Actium, on the coast of Epirus, decided the
issue. The fight had hardly begun before Cleopatra and Antony sailed away,
leaving their fleet to take care of itself. Octavian pursued the infatuated
pair into Egypt. Antony committed suicide, and Cleopatra, rather than be led a
captive in a Roman triumph, followed his example. With the death of Cleopatra
the dynasty of the Ptolemies came to an end. Egypt henceforth formed a
province of the Roman Empire.
THE TRIUMPH OF OCTAVIAN
Octavian, on his return to Rome, enjoyed the honors of a
three days' triumph. As the grand parade moved along the Sacred Way
through the Forum, and thence to the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline, men
noted that the magistrates, instead of heading the procession as was the
custom, followed in the conqueror's train. It was a significant change.
Octavian, not the magistrates of Rome, now ruled the Roman world.
