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What forces did Mark Antony command at the Battle of Actium?
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Mark Antony
Mark Antony, detail of a marble bust; in the Vatican Museum.
At the Battle of Actium, Mark Antony commanded a force consisting of 500 ships and 70,000 infantry.12
These forces were stationed at his camp at Actium, located on the southern side of the strait leading from the Ionian Sea into the Ambracian Gulf. Despite this significant military presence, Antony faced challenges including a lack of provisions and desertions among his allies, which ultimately influenced his decision to engage Octavian at sea. Following the naval engagement, in which Cleopatra fled with her squadron, Antony’s remaining fleet surrendered, and his land forces capitulated one week later.13