31 BC

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The Battle of Actium

Year 31 BC was either a common year starting on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday or a leap year starting on Tuesday or Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar (the sources differ, see leap year error for further information) and a common year starting on Tuesday of the Proleptic Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Antonius and Octavianus (or, less frequently, year 723 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 31 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Events

By place

Roman Republic

• Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian becomes Roman Consul for the third time. His partner is Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, replacing Mark Antony
• Octavian crosses the Strait of Otranto and lands with an army (15 legions) at Panormus in Dalmatia. He marched to Toryne in the south, and established a bridgehead at the Gulf of Ambracia.
• Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa sailed with 300 war galleys to the western Peloponnese, and occupied strategic positions around the Gulf of Corinth to cut off Antony's line of communication.
• Antony alerted by Octavian's presence, sets up camp on the southern shore, at the promontory of Actium. He dispatches a force to isolate the camp of Octavian in the valley of Louros.
• Agrippa stormed Leucas, given Octavian an anchorage and a second depot for his land supplies. He seized the garrison at Patrae, and taking Antony's headquarters.
• Amyntas, king of Galatia, deserted with 2,000 cavalry to Octavian. One-third of Antony's oarsmen is lost to malnutrition, disease and desertion.
• September 2 – Roman Civil War: Battle of Actium: Off the western coast of Greece, Octavian Caesar defeats the naval forces under Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII.
• The Egyptian fleet (60 warships), including Cleopatra's treasure ship retreats to Taenarus, Antony transferred his flag to a smaller vessel and breaks through Octavian's line.
• Winter – Octavian (thirty-two years old) takes court at Samos. After his decisive victory at Actium he builds Nicopolis, the city is populated by Greeks from settlements further inland.

Palestine

• In the Judean Desert on an isolated rock plateau, fortress Masada is completed. Herod the Great builts an armory, barracks, storehouses and a palace.

By topic

Art

• The Hellenistic period ends (or AD 14 by some scholars).

Births

Deaths

References