Propaganda war begins between Octavian and Antony.

By the late 30s BCE, tensions between Octavian and Mark Antony escalated into a fierce propaganda war that would reshape public opinion across the Roman world. Though once allies in the Second Triumvirate, their alliance had fractured under the weight of personal ambition, political rivalry, and growing distrust. Octavian, based in Rome, skillfully positioned himself as the defender of traditional Roman values, while casting Antony—who had aligned himself with Cleopatra VII of Egypt—as a traitor to Rome’s ideals and sovereignty. Octavian’s propaganda painted Antony as a man seduced by Eastern decadence, accusing him of abandoning his Roman duties in favor of a foreign queen and her court. In contrast, Octavian emphasized his own connection to Julius Caesar, his marriage to Livia Drusilla, and his commitment to Rome’s welfare. He used speeches, coins, public monuments, and even forged documents, such as Antony’s supposed “Donations of Alexandria,” to sway Roman sentiment in his favor. This propaganda campaign was crucial in turning the Senate and people against Antony and in laying the groundwork for the final conflict that would determine control of the Roman world. #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife #OctavianVsAntony #RomanPropaganda #BattleForRome #HistoryInTheMaking