40 B.C.E.

Alexandria, Egypt

Cleopatra was seen at the Hippodrome last night, nuzzling with a handsome Roman: Mark Antony!

Our sources say they’ve been an item since the Ides of March.

This power couple could really shake things up.

But seriously…

March 23, 2024

After the death of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Octavian were the two most powerful men in the Roman Republic.

Mark Antony had been Caesar’s lieutenant; Octavian was Caesar’s nephew.

And they were in-laws; Mark Antony had married Octavian’s sister.

They can to an agreement to share power. Octavian took the western half of the Republic and stayed in Rome. Antony took the east and went to Egypt.

And took up with Cleopatra.

And while Octavian single-mindedly set about consolidating power, Antony had his mind on…

other things.

Of course they eventually went head to head. Octavian came out on top, and because Caesar Augustus.

But Antony and Cleopatra were immortalized by Shakespeare as the epitome of tragic romance.