Roman politician, general, triumvir, and relative of Julius Caesar, known presently as "Mark Antony." Antony played a large role in the shifting of the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire, forming a three-man dictatorship with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and Octavian known as the Second Triumvirate following the assassination of Caesar. Although Antony married Octavian's sister, Octavia, he continued his love affair with Cleopatra VII of Egypt. Lepidus was removed from the Triumvirate in 36 B.C.E., and tensions involving Antony's affair, his subsequent divorce from Octavia and marriage with Cleopatra, as well as political disagreements caused a rift between him and Octavian. The conflict led to a civil war, and Antony's forces were defeated at the Battle of Alexandria, causing Antony to flee to Egypt to commit suicide with Cleopatra, while Octavian became the first Roman emperor.