30s BC

Events and trends

• Octavian defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII of Egypt at the Battle of Actium (September 2, 31 BC). On August, 30 BC the victor captures Alexandria. Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra commit suicide, and their young children are raised as Romans, but her son with Julius Caesar, co-ruler Ptolemy XV Caesarion, is executed. Egypt is annexed to the Roman Republic, and Octavianus becomes the undisputed ruler of Rome and her subjects. This would soon lead to the creation of the Roman Empire.
• Herod the Great builds Masada, between 37 BC and 31 BC, as a refuge for himself should his Jewish subjects rise against him.

Significant people

• Mark Antony, Roman politician and general (83–30 BC)
• Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt (lived 70/69–30 BC, reigned 51–30 BC)
• Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, known in English as Octavian, Roman politician and general (62 BC–14)
• Pharaoh Ptolemy XV Caesarion (lived 47–30 BC, reigned 44–30 BC)

Births

Deaths