What ships and tactics were used at the Battle of Actium?

Fought on September 2, 31 BCE, the Battle of Actium saw Octavian's maritime fleet, commanded by Marcus Agrippa, face the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Antony attempted to break a naval blockade using his larger fleet, but was ultimately defeated by Octavian's smaller, more maneuverable ships. Cleopatra's nearby fleet intervened just enough to spare Antony's remaining forces before they fled.

What we know

• The naval battle took place on September 2, 31 BC in the Ionian Sea near Actium, Greece, as the climax of rivalry between Octavian and Mark Antony. [1, 2]
• Mark Antony's fleet sailed out through the straits of Actium to break free from a naval blockade, possessing a large force of 500 ships. [2]
• Octavian's fleet consisted of 400 smaller, more maneuverable ships that routed Antony's larger fleet under the command of Marcus Agrippa. [2, 4]
• Cleopatra's nearby fleet made a last-ditch effort that spared Antony and his remaining forces from total destruction. [2]

Where to go next

• whoWho was Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa?
• what followedHow did the Battle of Actium lead to the Roman Empire?
• the bigger pictureWhat was naval warfare like in the ancient Mediterranean?
• whereWhere is Actium located in Greece?
• compared withHow do pre-Renaissance naval battle figures compare to modern data?
• an unexpected connectionHow is the builder of the Pantheon linked to the Battle of Actium?Marcus Agrippa, the commander who led Octavian's victorious fleet at Actium, was also responsible for constructing the original Pantheon in Rome.

Sources

• [1]Battle of Actium (Wikidata Q160387) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Battle of Actium · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Naval warfare · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Largest naval battle in history · CC BY-SA 4.0