La batalla de Accio

After the assassination of Julio César in 44 a. C., there were two men who disputed the mandate of the all-powerful Rome: Marco Antonio and the heir chosen by Caesar himself, the young Octavio, future Augustus. But Mark Antony fell in love with the most powerful woman in the world, the Egyptian ruler Cleopatra, and thwarted Octavian's ambition to rule the Empire. And then a new civil war broke out. It was the year 31 a. C. when one of the largest naval battles in the ancient world took place: more than 600 ships, almost 200,000 men and one woman. That was the battle of Actium. The result: the victory of Octavio, who later defeated Marco Antonio and Cleopatra. And they ended up committing suicide... The consequences of Actium changed the Roman Empire forever. Had the lovers won, the capital could have been moved to Alexandria, and Latin could have become the Empire's second language after Greek, a language spoken throughout the eastern Mediterranean, including Egypt. And this is finally the story that had not been told. In this fascinating and moving story, Barry Strauss, a world expert in the history of ancient Rome, describes the battle and its aftermath with the drama and intensity it deserves. Fascinating and exciting, this essay is an essential work that also introduces us to three of the most important figures not only of the Roman Empire, but of our History in capital letters.