Season 1

Following Caesar’s death, his nephew Octavian and Marc Antony join forces to see off rival challengers for the Roman Empire. Their showdown with Caesar’s murderers comes at the battle of Philippi.

While Marc Antony falls for Cleopatra’s charms, Caesar’s nephew Octavian declares war on Egypt. The two leaders’ final confrontation comes off the coast of Actium in a spectacular naval battle.

On the morning of September 17, 490 BC, some 10,000 Greeks stood assembled on the plain of Marathon, preparing to fight to the last man. Behind them lay everything they held dear: their city, their homes, their families. In front of the outnumbered Greeks stood the assembled forces of the Persian empire, a seemingly invincible army with revenge, pillage and plunder on its mind.

Having been defeated at Thermopylae, the Greeks withdrew to Salamis, where again they encountered a naval engagement with the Persians. It was late in September 481 B.C., and the result was a wanton destruction of ships on both sides, without any decision.