Mark Antony wanted to kill himself because he believed that his lover, Cleopatra, was dead. At the time of his suicide, Antony was engaged in a civil war against Octavian, the future Emperor Augustus, and had retreated to Egypt after being defeated at the Battle of Actium. While in Egypt, Antony received a false report that Cleopatra had taken her own life, believing it to be true, he fell on his sword. However, Cleopatra was still alive and, upon learning of Antony's suicide, she followed suit.