Mark Antony was embroiled in the tumultuous events of the mid-1st century BC, which saw the violent transformation from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. He has often been characterized as an able and loyal henchman of his cousin Julius Caesar but without the guile and vision to attain greatness in his own right (hence Shakespeare casts him as a 'plain, blunt man' whom Caesar's assassins don't think it worthwhile to kill). In his infamous alliance and love affair with Cleopatra of Egypt he is also often seen as duped and manipulated by a sharper mind. Despite this there is no doubt Antony was a capable soldier. He first saw action leading a cavalry unit in Judaea, before giving valuable service to Julius Caesar in Gaul and Germany. During the First Civil War he again served with distinction and led Caesar's right wing at the climactic battle of Pharsalus. And during the Second Civil War he was instrumental in the defeat of the conspirators at Philippi. But Paolo Ruggiero re-assesses this pivotal figure and concludes that he was much more than a simple soldier, revealing a more complex and significant man. AUTHOR: Paolo de Ruggiero was born in Rome to a family of historians, philosophers, and other academics, among which count the famous Renzo De Felice and Guido de Ruggiero. He has grown up amidst intellectual circles and has been passionate about Roman history all his life. He received a BS in Economics from the University of Rome in 1983 and an MBA from Purdue University in 1990. In the course of his 20 year career as business executive with blue chip multi-national corporations, he has lived in several European countries, China, and the United States of America. Married with two children, he now lives in the suburbs of Paris with his family and three large dogs. He is a wine collector, and an Opera lover. 8 pages of photographs
