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Destiny can be shaped
by an encounter between two people.
2
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If their paths never crossed,
how different would history be?
3
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But brought together by the fates
4
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and driven by fierce ambition,
determination, and love,
5
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empires can be built...
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or shaken to their very core.
7
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Got you.
8
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You cheat.
9
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- How did I cheat?
10
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You cheated.
11
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Together, Mark Antony
and Cleopatra will do both...
12
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blazing their own unforgettable trail
through history.
13
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What?
14
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I'm pregnant.
15
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{\an8}After Cleopatra entertains
Mark Antony in Tarsus,
16
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{\an8}she invites him back to Alexandria.
17
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The relationship
between Cleopatra and Mark Antony
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definitely begins
as a pragmatic political arrangement.
19
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But it seems to quickly develop
into something more
20
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where there really is love between them.
21
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While Mark Antony is in Alexandria,
he's having a great time there.
22
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But he's also gonna be uneasy
because in Rome,
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{\an8}there is an agreement now
that power is being shared.
24
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Octavian pretty much
holds the West.
25
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Mark Antony, the East.
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They both have ambitions
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to get the other person
out of the picture.
28
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Where have you gone to?
29
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I am here.
30
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Nothing is wrong.
31
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Don't do that.
32
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Do what?
- Lie to me.
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I'm not.
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You can't share my bed and lie to me.
35
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It's Octavian.
36
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There are rumors he's threatening
to break the alliances,
37
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making moves of his own.
38
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What sort of moves?
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It isn't clear yet.
40
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Then why are you waiting?
41
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Mark, you should be in Rome right now
finding out for yourself.
42
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I'll not give him the satisfaction.
43
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How dare he try to upset an alliance
that you made possible?
44
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No, Mark, you need to go back to Rome
45
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and put that little bird back in his cage
before he grows wings
46
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and tries to destroy
everything you've fought for.
47
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Mark Antony stays away too long.
48
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He isn't doing Roman business.
49
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{\an8}That leaves Octavian in Rome,
50
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{\an8}in the seat of power, close to the Senate.
51
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All they hear back in Rome
is about the extravagant banquets.
52
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Go, my love.
53
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We will be here waiting for you...
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when you get back.
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Octavian is beginning
to undermine
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Mark Antony's reputation in Rome,
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hinting that the same thing that happened
to Julius Caesar with Cleopatra
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is now happening to him.
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Cleopatra persuades him.
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"Go back to Rome.
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Make sure Octavian is under your thumb
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instead of the other way around."
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When Mark Antony leaves Egypt
and goes back to Rome
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to repair his relationship with Octavian,
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Cleopatra is pregnant.
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Mark Antony may have been
infatuated with Cleopatra,
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but when it comes to marriage,
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he picks what he thinks
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is the most politically sound person.
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When you are Gaius, then I am Gaia.
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When you are Gaius, then I am Gaia.
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Mark Antony marries
Octavian's sister, Octavia.
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It's somebody
who's related directly to Octavian.
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It's someone who ensures, or so he thinks,
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that Octavian will be on his side.
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In ancient Egypt,
when she was having a child,
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that was considered
a very dangerous time for a woman.
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{\an8}Not only is she at risk
of losing the baby and losing her life,
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{\an8}but the country itself
is at risk of losing its ruler.
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No!
81
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Cleopatra gives birth to twins.
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It was seen as something divine.
83
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It was seen as a gift from... from the gods.
84
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And it cemented Cleopatra's image as Isis.
85
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Cleopatra knows the Roman tradition
of political marriages.
86
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She understands
why Mark Antony had to do this.
87
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Mark Antony marries Octavia
for political reasons,
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to appease her brother Octavian.
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It's, again, a strategic move.
90
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In Cleopatra's mind, it's fine.
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Go ahead, take a Roman wife. Sure.
92
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But he doesn't come back for three years.
93
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What's that? What's that? Yeah.
94
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Caesar had a Roman wife.
95
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He still wrote to her,
96
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took an interest in their child.
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Mark Antony, not a word.
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Not a word.
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Even after Cleopatra delivers twins.
100
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Not a word.
101
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Essentially, he ghosts her. He's gone.
102
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But during that time,
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Cleopatra turns Egypt's fortunes around.
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She's increased taxes a bit,
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but she's also increased exports.
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She's increased employment.
107
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And suddenly, Egypt's situation
is looking very prosperous.
108
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The sources on Rome
don't have any details about...
109
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what Cleopatra did during the three years.
110
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But from Arabic accounts,
Egypt was thriving.
111
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The economy was, like, booming.
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The people loved Cleopatra.
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She was seen as an effective leader.
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During those three years
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that Mark Antony stays away
from Cleopatra,
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he's busy building an Eastern Empire
and waging war against Parthia,
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a major power
in what is now modern-day Iran.
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Mark Antony wants to be able
to gain control of the Parthians
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{\an8}because this will elevate
his own standing within the Roman Empire
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{\an8}and establish him
as a significant power player
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{\an8}in association with Octavian.
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The Romans have been trying
to conquer the Parthians for a while
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and haven't been successful,
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and so, that would be
an important establishment for him.
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He thought he was going to be
supported by Octavian,
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but Octavian doesn't really help him
in the way that Antony expected.
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He needs military support.
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He needs money.
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Mark Antony has the expectation
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that by marrying Octavia,
Octavian's sister,
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he's going to get
what he needs from Octavian
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for the Parthian campaign.
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However, Octavian only provides him
with two legions,
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and so he still requires more forces
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if he's going to have
a successful invasion of the East.
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As conflict intensifies,
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Mark Antony knows
that now he needs to seek alliances,
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and Cleopatra has to be top on his list.
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Mark Antony summons Cleopatra.
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He can't rely on Octavian,
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and he's realized
that he does need Cleopatra.
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After Mark Antony summons Cleopatra,
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she travels to Antioch in Syria.
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At this stage,
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Cleopatra does have the upper hand,
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and she's the one who can make demands.
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She wants old Ptolemaic territories,
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and she wants to ensure
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that these territories
can return to her kingdom.
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Those territories being Cyprus
and Crete, especially.
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Please clear the room.
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- Cleopatra--
- No.
153
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You don't get to explain.
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You had three years.
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Not a word.
156
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Not to me
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or the children.
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The children, did you bring them?
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Did I bring them?
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To you?
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I know the reason you summoned me here.
162
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I know...
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about your sorry little dance
with Octavian.
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I have spies of my own.
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I know you need my help.
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Why should I give it to you?
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You're right.
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You're absolutely right.
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What we're seeing
are two power players coming together
170
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to try to figure out how to best promote,
171
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uh, each other's mutual interests.
172
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And so Mark Antony needs Cleopatra
173
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for his ongoing structuring
of the Eastern Roman Empire.
174
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He doesn't have enough men.
175
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He doesn't have enough supplies.
176
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She needs him
for her associations with Rome.
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She gives him a list of demands.
178
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And it's basically,
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"I want everything back
that Julius Caesar took away."
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She wants Mark Antony
to claim the twins as his
181
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and also be given territories
to be in charge of.
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And also Caesarion, she wants recognized
as the son of Julius Caesar.
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That's still important.
184
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I want it.
185
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I want it all.
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Cleopatra and Mark Antony
spend an entire winter
187
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in Antioch, Syria, negotiating.
188
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What Cleopatra wants
189
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is to restore the glory
of the Ptolemaic Kingdom.
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So, I thought about your demands,
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about everything you want.
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Everything I deserve.
193
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Everything Egypt deserves.
194
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Well, it's still an enormous price.
195
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For an enormous ask
which only Egypt can provide.
196
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I'm not here to argue with you, Pharoah.
197
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Why are you here then?
198
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Why am I here?
199
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I'm here because you win.
200
00:15:13,283 --> 00:15:14,443
I win what?
201
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Everything.
202
00:15:19,763 --> 00:15:20,843
Why?
203
00:15:21,843 --> 00:15:22,883
Because of us.
204
00:15:26,123 --> 00:15:28,483
Can I really trust you?
205
00:15:29,163 --> 00:15:31,603
I can't share your bed
and lie to you, now can I?
206
00:15:33,563 --> 00:15:34,723
Your rules.
207
00:15:39,843 --> 00:15:42,243
This means that Cleopatra
is more powerful than ever.
208
00:15:42,803 --> 00:15:46,523
{\an8}She's now restored
the Ptolemaic Kingdom to its former glory.
209
00:15:46,523 --> 00:15:51,323
{\an8}And in return, Mark Antony
gets the military manpower that he needs
210
00:15:51,323 --> 00:15:53,003
{\an8}for his Parthian campaign.
211
00:15:54,123 --> 00:15:58,283
Egypt regaining control
of these territories
212
00:15:58,283 --> 00:16:03,283
allowed Egypt to prosper
in truly remarkable ways.
213
00:16:03,283 --> 00:16:07,123
The more a nation owns land,
214
00:16:07,123 --> 00:16:11,603
the wealthier the core
of that empire becomes.
215
00:16:11,603 --> 00:16:15,643
So, these lands would have added
substantial power, wealth,
216
00:16:15,643 --> 00:16:17,963
and security to Cleopatra,
217
00:16:17,963 --> 00:16:22,043
which are key elements
that she always wants,
218
00:16:22,043 --> 00:16:25,083
that every Ptolemaic King wants.
219
00:16:29,003 --> 00:16:31,003
And it's at this point,
220
00:16:31,003 --> 00:16:34,443
Mark Antony meets for the first time
221
00:16:34,443 --> 00:16:37,043
his children by Cleopatra.
222
00:16:39,363 --> 00:16:41,883
My little god. Hello.
223
00:16:42,883 --> 00:16:44,163
Hello to you.
224
00:16:44,163 --> 00:16:46,603
- Are you gonna come here too?
- Yeah. That's it.
225
00:16:46,603 --> 00:16:49,523
My perfect little gods.
Look at you both.
226
00:16:49,523 --> 00:16:51,003
Look at you both.
227
00:16:54,163 --> 00:16:55,643
And from all accounts,
228
00:16:55,643 --> 00:16:59,043
he is absolutely besotted with them.
229
00:17:00,043 --> 00:17:04,483
He does name his twins
the Sun and the Moon.
230
00:17:04,483 --> 00:17:07,683
Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene.
231
00:17:09,402 --> 00:17:13,203
Mark Antony and Cleopatra
are elevating their children
232
00:17:13,203 --> 00:17:16,882
to, literally, the sun and moon
in the heavens.
233
00:17:16,882 --> 00:17:19,603
They are setting them up
to be the inheritors
234
00:17:19,603 --> 00:17:21,723
of a massive Eastern Empire
235
00:17:21,723 --> 00:17:25,243
that Mark Antony and Cleopatra
are creating together.
236
00:17:25,243 --> 00:17:27,882
We bow too. Yes.
237
00:17:28,723 --> 00:17:29,923
- My lord.
- Aw.
238
00:17:29,923 --> 00:17:33,323
Although Mark Antony
is preparing to invade Parthia,
239
00:17:33,323 --> 00:17:36,043
these are months
where Mark Antony and Cleopatra
240
00:17:36,043 --> 00:17:40,563
have a chance to rekindle their romance
and time together as a family.
241
00:17:40,563 --> 00:17:43,443
And she becomes pregnant
with their third child.
242
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Then life got in the way.
243
00:17:47,003 --> 00:17:49,683
And life for them
is kind of, like, very serious.
244
00:17:49,683 --> 00:17:51,923
Politics, strategy, wars,
245
00:17:51,923 --> 00:17:55,043
trying to stop the Parthians
from, uh, invading his territory.
246
00:18:14,003 --> 00:18:16,283
Despite Cleopatra's
financial support,
247
00:18:16,283 --> 00:18:19,243
Mark Antony's Parthian invasion fails.
248
00:18:19,803 --> 00:18:25,043
Much of this is because his former ally,
the King of Armenia, betrays him.
249
00:18:26,203 --> 00:18:30,203
The Parthians
essentially defeat Mark Antony.
250
00:18:30,203 --> 00:18:33,243
It's... it's a disastrous campaign
for Mark Antony.
251
00:18:33,243 --> 00:18:35,403
He loses thousands of men.
252
00:18:35,403 --> 00:18:38,203
Huge damage to his supplies.
253
00:18:38,963 --> 00:18:42,043
And it's a perfect opportunity
for Octavian to make use of that.
254
00:18:42,043 --> 00:18:43,803
But now he has this tangible evidence
255
00:18:43,803 --> 00:18:46,803
that Mark Antony
is an inefficient commander.
256
00:18:55,563 --> 00:18:57,763
At this point,
Cleopatra is back in Egypt.
257
00:18:57,763 --> 00:19:01,043
She's not able to accompany
Mark Antony on the campaign
258
00:19:01,043 --> 00:19:04,203
because she's giving birth
to their third child together...
259
00:19:04,203 --> 00:19:06,083
- ...Ptolemy.
260
00:19:10,203 --> 00:19:12,483
- What?
261
00:19:13,763 --> 00:19:16,883
His campaign is not going
exactly according to plan.
262
00:19:18,323 --> 00:19:21,803
And Octavian grows in confidence
with each of Antony's defeats.
263
00:19:22,363 --> 00:19:25,163
And this last battle, Antony is...
264
00:19:28,523 --> 00:19:30,283
It annoys me when you stop like that.
265
00:19:30,283 --> 00:19:32,683
Pharaoh, right now, these are just rumors.
266
00:19:32,683 --> 00:19:35,083
We should know more
from our trusted official channels soon.
267
00:19:35,083 --> 00:19:36,043
How soon?
268
00:19:36,043 --> 00:19:37,403
In a few weeks or--
269
00:19:37,403 --> 00:19:38,643
That isn't good enough.
270
00:19:39,363 --> 00:19:40,563
If we're hearing these rumors,
271
00:19:40,563 --> 00:19:42,523
you can be sure Octavian
is hearing them as well.
272
00:19:42,523 --> 00:19:44,523
I will push for a faster response.
273
00:19:44,523 --> 00:19:45,523
Hm.
274
00:19:46,603 --> 00:19:48,603
In the interim,
how else would you like to proceed?
275
00:19:50,163 --> 00:19:51,883
Find out where Antony is.
276
00:19:57,523 --> 00:20:00,923
Cleopatra is concerned
about Mark Antony's losses,
277
00:20:00,923 --> 00:20:04,283
and so she goes to visit him
in Antioch, Syria,
278
00:20:04,283 --> 00:20:06,883
where he has retreated with his troops.
279
00:20:17,123 --> 00:20:19,963
I said do not disturb me!
280
00:20:26,403 --> 00:20:27,643
Cleopatra.
281
00:20:36,603 --> 00:20:37,963
Nothing is working.
282
00:20:40,483 --> 00:20:43,163
That hairless little prick
is trumping my every move, all of them.
283
00:20:43,963 --> 00:20:45,723
Then make new moves.
284
00:20:45,723 --> 00:20:47,923
I have. A dozen times.
285
00:20:48,563 --> 00:20:50,603
It's as if he can read my mind.
286
00:20:52,603 --> 00:20:53,683
Enough.
287
00:20:59,323 --> 00:21:01,323
No matter what I do, he is there.
288
00:21:10,283 --> 00:21:12,363
How could he possibly read your mind?
289
00:21:14,483 --> 00:21:16,443
Have you forgotten who you are?
290
00:21:19,203 --> 00:21:22,163
{\an8}You are a better man
than Octavian will ever be.
291
00:21:23,643 --> 00:21:26,723
You're stronger. You are a better soldier.
292
00:21:26,723 --> 00:21:27,963
A better fighter.
293
00:21:28,563 --> 00:21:29,803
And you can do it.
294
00:21:31,203 --> 00:21:33,083
You have all of Egypt behind you.
295
00:21:34,603 --> 00:21:36,003
You must go out there...
296
00:21:37,123 --> 00:21:40,283
and act like you know what you are.
297
00:21:43,043 --> 00:21:45,043
What am I, Cleopatra? What am I?
298
00:21:46,203 --> 00:21:48,043
You are a warrior.
299
00:21:48,043 --> 00:21:50,083
You are my warrior.
300
00:21:52,603 --> 00:21:54,643
- Remember that.
- Yes.
301
00:21:54,643 --> 00:21:55,963
- Okay?
- Yes.
302
00:21:55,963 --> 00:21:57,043
Okay.
303
00:21:58,803 --> 00:22:01,043
Act like you know you've already won.
304
00:22:01,043 --> 00:22:02,163
I already won.
305
00:22:02,843 --> 00:22:03,923
I won.
306
00:22:04,563 --> 00:22:05,643
And I love you.
307
00:22:08,043 --> 00:22:12,043
Cleopatra is in quite deep now
with Mark Antony.
308
00:22:12,043 --> 00:22:15,323
Also, three kids involved.
309
00:22:15,323 --> 00:22:21,683
And Mark Antony
has not just promised her support,
310
00:22:21,683 --> 00:22:24,123
he's also promised
to take care of her kids
311
00:22:24,123 --> 00:22:28,003
by giving them different territories
around the region.
312
00:22:28,963 --> 00:22:31,963
Mark Antony needs
her financial support.
313
00:22:32,683 --> 00:22:36,363
Cleopatra is the one calling the shots.
314
00:22:37,243 --> 00:22:40,723
To cement their relationship
315
00:22:40,723 --> 00:22:47,483
and to... give it a divine validity,
316
00:22:49,443 --> 00:22:52,883
Cleopatra marries Mark Antony.
317
00:22:59,323 --> 00:23:03,763
Mark Antony's marriage
to Cleopatra is frowned upon in Rome.
318
00:23:03,763 --> 00:23:08,123
He is already married to Octavia,
Octavian's sister.
319
00:23:08,763 --> 00:23:11,043
In Egypt, it's a different story.
320
00:23:11,043 --> 00:23:13,243
Kings often had multiple wives,
321
00:23:13,243 --> 00:23:17,603
and Cleopatra is only married
to one person at this point in time.
322
00:23:17,603 --> 00:23:19,043
Mark Antony.
323
00:23:24,963 --> 00:23:28,963
There's a big ceremony
that follows the marriage.
324
00:23:28,963 --> 00:23:31,523
The Donations of Alexandria.
325
00:23:41,163 --> 00:23:43,003
Your Isis greets you.
326
00:23:45,563 --> 00:23:48,443
I pity enemies of Egypt.
327
00:23:49,403 --> 00:23:53,963
I pity them more
when Egypt and Rome are united.
328
00:23:56,003 --> 00:24:00,323
{\an8}These vipers underestimate
our divine union,
329
00:24:00,323 --> 00:24:01,803
our wisdom,
330
00:24:03,483 --> 00:24:04,763
our wealth,
331
00:24:05,723 --> 00:24:06,843
our numbers,
332
00:24:07,563 --> 00:24:10,123
the favor of our gods.
333
00:24:16,643 --> 00:24:18,803
Today, I stand here.
334
00:24:21,043 --> 00:24:24,203
We stand here before you
335
00:24:25,283 --> 00:24:28,323
with our divine future thriving before us.
336
00:24:30,003 --> 00:24:31,963
The ceremony was extremely lavish.
337
00:24:31,963 --> 00:24:33,843
We have the children dressed in costume,
338
00:24:33,843 --> 00:24:36,363
we have Cleopatra dressed as Isis.
339
00:24:36,363 --> 00:24:41,643
{\an8}And Mark Antony is essentially giving
the territories of Rome to the family.
340
00:24:41,643 --> 00:24:43,243
And I promise you,
341
00:24:44,123 --> 00:24:48,883
anyone who dares
to threaten our divine union
342
00:24:49,923 --> 00:24:52,483
will regret the day they were born!
343
00:25:03,643 --> 00:25:06,083
At the Donation of Alexandria,
344
00:25:06,083 --> 00:25:08,083
Mark Antony stands up and proclaims
345
00:25:08,083 --> 00:25:11,603
that Caesarion
is, is Julius Caesar's heir.
346
00:25:13,123 --> 00:25:17,643
Mark Antony formally hands over
347
00:25:17,643 --> 00:25:21,523
all of the territories
that Cleopatra wanted.
348
00:25:21,523 --> 00:25:23,603
The Donations of Alexandria
349
00:25:23,603 --> 00:25:29,003
not only recreate the Ptolemaic Empire
at its greatest extent,
350
00:25:29,003 --> 00:25:31,363
but it actually gives to Egypt
351
00:25:32,043 --> 00:25:37,563
more territory than the Ptolemaic Empire
had ever controlled before.
352
00:25:46,883 --> 00:25:49,283
{\an8}In addition to giving away
the Roman territories, um,
353
00:25:49,283 --> 00:25:52,803
Mark Antony now divorces, um,
Octavian's sister.
354
00:25:52,803 --> 00:25:54,603
So, to add insult to injury,
355
00:25:54,603 --> 00:25:58,563
uh, Mark Antony almost seems
as if he's cutting his ties with Rome.
356
00:25:58,563 --> 00:26:01,963
You know that emoji
where the head explodes?
357
00:26:02,963 --> 00:26:08,123
That's Octavian when he hears
about the Donations of Alexandria.
358
00:26:08,723 --> 00:26:11,203
"What is Mark Antony doing?
359
00:26:13,163 --> 00:26:14,963
He's lost his mind.
360
00:26:16,283 --> 00:26:18,803
He doesn't have the power to do this."
361
00:26:20,923 --> 00:26:26,603
But at the same time, this gives Octavian
the perfect piece of propaganda.
362
00:26:26,603 --> 00:26:30,363
Look at Mark Antony
behaving like an eastern king.
363
00:26:30,363 --> 00:26:35,243
Look at Mark Antony not acting the part
of a true and proper Roman.
364
00:26:35,243 --> 00:26:40,883
It's very easy then for Octavian
to cast the Donations of Alexandria
365
00:26:40,883 --> 00:26:43,163
as an anti-Roman plot.
366
00:26:47,283 --> 00:26:52,203
Mark Antony gives Octavian
the excuse for war.
367
00:26:53,323 --> 00:26:55,643
But not against Mark Antony
368
00:26:56,603 --> 00:27:01,803
because the Roman people
cannot endure another civil war.
369
00:27:02,643 --> 00:27:04,403
Who's the scapegoat then?
370
00:27:06,443 --> 00:27:07,723
Cleopatra.
371
00:27:08,203 --> 00:27:11,563
"It's that witch."
372
00:27:12,043 --> 00:27:13,603
And that's the beginning.
373
00:27:13,603 --> 00:27:17,563
That's the beginning of the propaganda
374
00:27:18,643 --> 00:27:21,883
against Cleopatra by Octavian.
375
00:27:21,883 --> 00:27:25,883
And it's the beginning of the unraveling
376
00:27:25,883 --> 00:27:29,163
of Mark Antony's reputation in Rome.
377
00:27:39,203 --> 00:27:40,603
- Mm.
378
00:27:42,283 --> 00:27:43,363
So...
379
00:27:44,643 --> 00:27:48,003
...Octavian thinks you've bewitched me...
380
00:27:51,683 --> 00:27:54,403
and put all of Rome in danger.
381
00:27:55,163 --> 00:27:56,043
Hm.
382
00:27:57,923 --> 00:27:58,883
Good.
383
00:28:00,803 --> 00:28:05,083
Octavian is very angry and offended.
384
00:28:05,083 --> 00:28:10,123
He's released
this vicious propaganda against Cleopatra.
385
00:28:10,123 --> 00:28:16,563
So, even though Mark Antony was the one
who was unfaithful to his sister,
386
00:28:16,563 --> 00:28:20,483
uh, Cleopatra is framed
as this great seductress,
387
00:28:20,483 --> 00:28:23,763
and she's done these,
these things to trap him.
388
00:28:23,763 --> 00:28:28,163
Little angry men often make big mistakes.
389
00:28:29,363 --> 00:28:33,603
Octavian's mistake
is how much he underestimates us.
390
00:28:35,563 --> 00:28:37,443
I think we should destroy him.
391
00:28:42,403 --> 00:28:43,323
Hm.
392
00:28:51,843 --> 00:28:54,563
At this particular point, um...
393
00:28:55,723 --> 00:28:58,683
Octavian has declared war on Cleopatra.
394
00:29:05,523 --> 00:29:07,283
In 31 BCE,
395
00:29:07,283 --> 00:29:14,043
Cleopatra and Mark Antony go head-to-head
in all-out naval warfare with Octavian
396
00:29:14,043 --> 00:29:16,683
in what is known as the Battle of Actium.
397
00:29:19,443 --> 00:29:22,763
This is the climax
of a decade of rivalry.
398
00:29:30,403 --> 00:29:35,483
She goes with many ships,
thousands of soldiers,
399
00:29:35,483 --> 00:29:37,883
and they head towards Greece.
400
00:29:40,843 --> 00:29:45,643
Cleopatra is very actively involved
in military life.
401
00:29:46,123 --> 00:29:48,603
She wants to know the details,
402
00:29:48,603 --> 00:29:51,563
she wants to know the tactics,
she wants to play a part in them.
403
00:29:51,563 --> 00:29:55,083
And she... she's not a leader
who's in the palace.
404
00:29:55,083 --> 00:29:57,483
She's very much on the front line.
405
00:30:05,523 --> 00:30:08,963
This is gonna be a showdown
that's gonna change
406
00:30:08,963 --> 00:30:11,043
the history of Rome
407
00:30:11,043 --> 00:30:13,283
and change the history of Egypt.
408
00:30:16,763 --> 00:30:21,043
Cleopatra and Mark Antony
plan their naval strategy together.
409
00:30:21,043 --> 00:30:26,883
She's supplying 200 of their 800 ships
and nearly all of the financing.
410
00:30:26,883 --> 00:30:30,603
But this doesn't sit well
with all of Antony's generals,
411
00:30:30,603 --> 00:30:34,123
some of whom don't want
to take orders from a woman.
412
00:30:34,123 --> 00:30:35,883
With all due respect,
413
00:30:35,883 --> 00:30:38,683
our allegiance is to the General, not a--
414
00:30:38,683 --> 00:30:41,243
You will do well to remember
what I bring to the table.
415
00:30:41,243 --> 00:30:43,483
- Oh, you dare to talk to me like--
- Enough!
416
00:30:45,123 --> 00:30:47,443
- What she suggests goes against--
- She?
417
00:30:50,443 --> 00:30:52,483
What I think you meant to say was,
418
00:30:53,043 --> 00:30:54,403
"Thank you, Isis,
419
00:30:55,043 --> 00:30:58,603
for providing us with the world's
most invincible naval fleet,
420
00:30:58,603 --> 00:31:00,483
which we will deploy immediately,
421
00:31:00,483 --> 00:31:03,523
with a force so mighty
that Octavian won't know what's hit him."
422
00:31:05,203 --> 00:31:06,123
Am I correct?
423
00:31:06,123 --> 00:31:07,763
Yes, General.
424
00:31:15,803 --> 00:31:17,123
Thank you.
425
00:31:18,363 --> 00:31:19,523
But I had it.
426
00:31:22,763 --> 00:31:24,963
Mark Antony's Roman allies
427
00:31:24,963 --> 00:31:28,363
become increasingly suspicious
of Cleopatra.
428
00:31:28,363 --> 00:31:30,763
She represents an absolute monarchy.
429
00:31:30,763 --> 00:31:33,563
She represents an eastern empire.
430
00:31:33,563 --> 00:31:36,043
And she's a woman.
431
00:31:36,683 --> 00:31:41,443
Mark Antony needs to be
a strong Roman general,
432
00:31:41,443 --> 00:31:46,163
and his alliance with Cleopatra
threatens that identity
433
00:31:46,163 --> 00:31:48,563
in the eyes of his Roman allies.
434
00:31:48,563 --> 00:31:52,763
They are worried that he is acting less
like a Roman general
435
00:31:52,763 --> 00:31:55,243
and more like an eastern king.
436
00:31:55,243 --> 00:31:56,763
And because of that,
437
00:31:56,763 --> 00:32:02,683
many of Mark Antony's commanders defect
and join Octavian's army.
438
00:32:05,443 --> 00:32:06,683
Once the battle begins,
439
00:32:06,683 --> 00:32:10,443
{\an8}Mark Antony and Cleopatra
are on separate ships.
440
00:32:10,443 --> 00:32:14,603
{\an8}Mark Antony leading the fleet at the front
and Cleopatra behind.
441
00:32:17,523 --> 00:32:19,483
On the morning of September 2nd,
442
00:32:19,483 --> 00:32:24,603
Mark Antony and Cleopatra attempt
to punch through the blockade
443
00:32:24,603 --> 00:32:28,203
that Octavian has at the Bay of Actium.
444
00:32:28,203 --> 00:32:33,243
Now, Mark Antony and Cleopatra combined
have fewer ships than Octavian.
445
00:32:33,243 --> 00:32:36,803
The other major difference
between the two navies
446
00:32:36,803 --> 00:32:39,923
is that Mark Antony's ships
are much larger.
447
00:32:39,923 --> 00:32:41,723
They have more firepower,
448
00:32:41,723 --> 00:32:47,123
but they also are way less maneuverable
than Octavian's lighter ships.
449
00:32:51,683 --> 00:32:53,923
Cleopatra and Mark Antony both made
450
00:32:53,923 --> 00:32:58,003
a series of problematic battle decisions,
451
00:32:58,003 --> 00:32:59,923
which is sort of surprising,
452
00:32:59,923 --> 00:33:02,563
due to the fact
that they're both pretty savvy.
453
00:33:02,563 --> 00:33:05,083
But they strung out their fleet, uh,
454
00:33:05,083 --> 00:33:08,963
and allowed themselves to become trapped.
455
00:33:09,963 --> 00:33:13,083
Octavian's lighter
and more maneuverable ships
456
00:33:13,083 --> 00:33:18,283
managed to nearly surround the forces
of Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
457
00:33:21,443 --> 00:33:24,963
We're told by the Roman
sources that Cleopatra,
458
00:33:24,963 --> 00:33:28,283
when she realized
that Mark Antony was being defeated,
459
00:33:28,283 --> 00:33:31,923
turned her ships around
and decided to sail back to Alexandria.
460
00:33:32,643 --> 00:33:34,163
Row!
461
00:33:34,923 --> 00:33:38,003
Row! Faster! Harder!
462
00:33:38,003 --> 00:33:40,043
Row!
463
00:33:40,043 --> 00:33:41,603
She doesn't want to be captured.
464
00:33:41,603 --> 00:33:44,043
There would have been no point
at all in her staying
465
00:33:44,043 --> 00:33:46,283
in a battle
that they were effectively losing.
466
00:33:48,323 --> 00:33:52,643
Her primary goal remains
the safety of her own kingdom.
467
00:33:52,643 --> 00:33:54,443
The safety of Egypt.
468
00:33:54,443 --> 00:33:58,483
She has no choice
but to try to make it back to Egypt
469
00:33:58,483 --> 00:34:01,443
with as many of her ships as possible.
470
00:34:02,803 --> 00:34:07,083
If she loses all of her navy
at the Battle of Actium,
471
00:34:07,083 --> 00:34:08,803
Egypt will be defenseless.
472
00:34:14,163 --> 00:34:15,403
Her ships' gone.
473
00:34:16,443 --> 00:34:18,363
General, all of them.
474
00:34:20,682 --> 00:34:21,682
She did what?
475
00:34:22,242 --> 00:34:24,722
It's easy to see
from the Roman perspective
476
00:34:24,722 --> 00:34:26,883
that Cleopatra taking her fleet
477
00:34:26,883 --> 00:34:30,282
and leaving Actium is an act of treachery.
478
00:34:31,923 --> 00:34:33,803
What did you do? Did you try to stop her?
479
00:34:35,163 --> 00:34:36,883
- No.
- Did you try to stop her?
480
00:34:39,843 --> 00:34:44,282
It might have actually been
the best decision even for Mark Antony,
481
00:34:44,282 --> 00:34:48,443
at least keeping part of the Navy intact
482
00:34:48,443 --> 00:34:51,483
in order to fight Octavian another day.
483
00:34:52,123 --> 00:34:55,963
Mark Antony,
knowing the battle is all but lost,
484
00:34:55,963 --> 00:35:00,643
flees and manages to catch up
to Cleopatra's fleet.
485
00:35:06,163 --> 00:35:07,243
What have you done?
486
00:35:07,243 --> 00:35:09,283
- I couldn't risk my fleets.
- Ours!
487
00:35:10,443 --> 00:35:11,843
And you should have asked me first.
488
00:35:11,843 --> 00:35:13,643
I'm the General, not you.
489
00:35:14,803 --> 00:35:16,403
Useless without my army.
490
00:35:19,963 --> 00:35:22,043
How dare you?
491
00:35:22,643 --> 00:35:25,963
Mark Antony is the commander
of the forces,
492
00:35:25,963 --> 00:35:28,683
so he is the one
that's going to make the final decision.
493
00:35:28,683 --> 00:35:31,483
But it is interesting
that when things go wrong,
494
00:35:31,483 --> 00:35:34,003
Cleopatra is the one that gets the blame.
495
00:35:35,123 --> 00:35:37,803
If you're going to give me an army,
let me govern it.
496
00:35:37,803 --> 00:35:39,483
It was the right decision.
497
00:35:40,043 --> 00:35:41,683
But you cut me out.
498
00:35:43,003 --> 00:35:44,443
I did what I had to do.
499
00:35:45,043 --> 00:35:46,843
But you did it without asking me.
500
00:35:46,843 --> 00:35:50,963
I did what I had to do
to protect what is mine.
501
00:35:50,963 --> 00:35:52,603
Ours, Cleopatra!
502
00:35:52,603 --> 00:35:55,123
Not yours! Ours!
503
00:35:58,163 --> 00:36:02,123
It's not something that your average Roman
would have done at the point of a battle.
504
00:36:02,123 --> 00:36:05,803
Um, but actually, Cleopatra's thinking
about herself and her own power.
505
00:36:05,803 --> 00:36:08,083
She's putting herself
and her family first.
506
00:36:08,083 --> 00:36:10,123
Who do you think you are, Cleopatra?
507
00:36:10,123 --> 00:36:12,203
The Pharoah! That is who!
508
00:36:13,083 --> 00:36:15,123
Watch who you are speaking to.
509
00:36:19,683 --> 00:36:21,803
They can hear all of this up there.
510
00:36:21,803 --> 00:36:24,763
My men, my loyal men are laughing at me.
511
00:36:25,323 --> 00:36:28,123
I'm not responsible for you
and how you feel.
512
00:36:29,443 --> 00:36:32,003
I made a decision and I stand by it.
513
00:36:33,403 --> 00:36:34,723
All I want...
514
00:36:36,523 --> 00:36:37,723
is your trust.
515
00:36:40,643 --> 00:36:45,603
The Battle of Actium is a disaster
for Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
516
00:36:45,603 --> 00:36:51,363
They have lost their one opportunity
to meet and beat Octavian
517
00:36:51,363 --> 00:36:53,323
outside of Egypt's borders.
518
00:36:53,323 --> 00:36:56,723
Now they have no choice
but to fall back to Egypt
519
00:36:56,723 --> 00:36:59,763
and simply defend their territory.
520
00:37:05,963 --> 00:37:09,003
Octavian, with this victory,
521
00:37:09,003 --> 00:37:13,363
he's proven his power against Mark Antony,
522
00:37:13,363 --> 00:37:15,523
against the Ptolemies.
523
00:37:15,523 --> 00:37:17,563
This puts him in a great position,
524
00:37:17,563 --> 00:37:21,603
and he, he already had a great position
because he was in Caesar's will.
525
00:37:21,603 --> 00:37:23,403
But now he's proven it.
526
00:37:23,403 --> 00:37:26,163
It's tangible. It's undeniable.
527
00:37:29,323 --> 00:37:31,123
After the Battle of Actium,
528
00:37:31,123 --> 00:37:34,203
Cleopatra takes control.
529
00:37:36,043 --> 00:37:38,803
She writes to Octavian.
530
00:37:38,803 --> 00:37:43,763
"If you allow me and Mark Antony to live,
531
00:37:43,763 --> 00:37:46,283
we will go anywhere.
532
00:37:46,283 --> 00:37:48,083
And you can have Egypt."
533
00:37:48,083 --> 00:37:51,403
Mark, no one, can ever know. Please.
534
00:37:55,603 --> 00:37:57,083
She doesn't quite try to appeal to him
535
00:37:57,083 --> 00:37:59,043
in the, in the same way
that she did to Caesar
536
00:37:59,043 --> 00:38:00,803
and to Antony in the past,
537
00:38:00,803 --> 00:38:02,083
but she is pragmatic.
538
00:38:02,083 --> 00:38:04,923
At this stage, she probably knows
that she will be exiled,
539
00:38:04,923 --> 00:38:10,723
but she still wants her children
to have rule at least over Egypt.
540
00:38:10,723 --> 00:38:15,963
She also asks Octavian for Antony to live.
541
00:38:19,523 --> 00:38:23,483
Cleopatra needs to cut a deal
with Octavian just to survive.
542
00:38:26,683 --> 00:38:29,403
Her fate, that of her family
and her kingdom,
543
00:38:29,403 --> 00:38:32,203
are entirely in Octavian's hands.
544
00:38:41,523 --> 00:38:46,003
My lord, Octavian, thanks Pharoah
for your message
545
00:38:47,003 --> 00:38:51,843
and instructs me, as his ambassador,
to inform you...
546
00:38:52,923 --> 00:38:54,763
he's willing to grant your request.
547
00:38:56,483 --> 00:38:57,723
Okay.
548
00:38:57,723 --> 00:38:59,163
On one condition.
549
00:39:01,283 --> 00:39:02,843
A simple request.
550
00:39:06,723 --> 00:39:07,963
Kill Antony.
551
00:39:08,723 --> 00:39:10,483
His life for yours.
552
00:39:11,123 --> 00:39:12,803
And your children's, of course.