WI Cleopatra died before Actium

What happens if Cleopatra dies before Actium?

- Do Mark Antony go back to Octavia and make peace with Octavian?
- Do their children marry as planned previously?
- Does Caesarion get disposed of, or does he inherit Egypt?
 
Well, good questions. I suppose Mark Anthony would be interested in keeping his kids alive, and about Caesarion, I frankly don't know...
 
It depends how long before Actium.

If it's after the Donations of Alexandria, I think Anthony is probably too far in Rome's badbooks to really kiss and make up. Open war with Octavian might be avoided by returning to Octavia (if she'd have him), but it's unlikely that he'd have much power.

If Cleopatra dies beforehand- and I think we could posit complications in the birth of her 4th child Ptolemy Philadelphus in 36BC (so two years before the Donations) as a possible PoD- Mark Anthony is in a stronger position to retain some power, possibly along the lines of regent/Rome's representative in Egypt, especially if he takes Octavia back. In this sort of a situation, Ceasarion would be about 11, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene about 4 and we could posit either survival or not for the young Ptolemy. This also has the advantage of possibly meaning that the marriage between Anthony and Cleopatra remains secret or doesn't happen depending on exactly when the date of it was.

Assuming that he comes to some sort of agreement with Octavia and Octavian (which might result in, for example, Octavia moving to Egypt or at least one of Anthony's children going to Rome to be raised by her), then I would think Octavian would not want to antagonise Egypt too much, and so Ceasarion is safe as long as he doesn't antagonise Rome. Some tutors may head out to give him some lessons in Roman statesmanship and keep an eye on Anthony. He may marry one of Anthony's daughters. I'm not sure on the other children, it would probably depend on the exact agreement between Octavia and Anthony.
 
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