Duane W. Roller

Aft er Philippi, Antonius emerged as the strongest member of
the triumvirate. Powers and territory were divided between him and
Octavian—Lepidus was essentially ignored—and within a year Octavian
was established in the west and Antonius in the East. 30 By late 42 b.c. he
was in Athens, and then moved through the eastern territories repairing
the damage left by Brutus and Cassius. In settling the aff airs of Asia
Minor, he developed a personal relationship with Glaphyra, companion
of the priest-king Archelaos of Komana, making Glaphyra’s son, also
named Archelaos, king of Kappadokia. 31 By summer 41 b.c. Antonius
was at the ancient city of Tarsos.
At 42 years of age, Antonius was at the peak of his career, having
gained a military reputation that began with his service with Gabinius
in the Levant and Egypt 14 years previously. He had become Caesar’s
colleague in the consulship for 44 b.c. and since late 43 b.c. had been
triumvir, which gave him broad magisterial powers. He was currently
married to the dynamic Fulvia, who was actively involved in the political
and military maneuvering aft er Philippi. Fulvia was said to have had no
interest in traditional women’s pursuits such as spinning wool or housekeeping;
rather, she wished not merely to rule a man but to rule rulers and
commanders. It was also said that life with Fulvia prepared Antonius for
Cleopatra, since he was acquainted with an environment controlled by a
woman. 32 Th is marriage produced two sons, M. Antonius Antyllus and
Iullus Antonius, and there was also a daughter from a previous marriage.
Antonius already had a reputation for being erratic, a heavy drinker,
and a womanizer, but he was an outstanding orator—immortalized by
his speech at Caesar’s funeral—and a brilliant military tactician. 33 Yet
his character fl aws would be stressed in the propaganda wars of the 30s
b.c. Th e later literary tradition emphasized that these defi ciencies were
exactly what Cleopatra was able to exploit: she could fl atter his ego, act
swift ly in time of crisis, and be his companion in fun and games but use
his ability at humor and playfulness to her own advantage. 34 Although
some of this was certainly later revisionism, it was also largely true.
In the summer of 41 b.c., Cleopatra—whose activities since just
before Philippi are unknown—received a summons from Antonius
at Tarsos. She was reluctant to go and ignored repeated letters. 35 Her
procrastination may have been a matter of status and the impropriety of
a Roman magistrate to demand that a queen leave her kingdom at his
bidding. It was only when Antonius sent his trusted aide Q. Dellius to
appeal in person that the queen actually went. Dellius would spend the
76 Cleopatra