Which Roman admiral led Octavian's fleet at the Battle of Actium?

Marcus Agrippa led Octavian’s fleet at the Battle of Actium. The decisive naval battle took place on 2 September 31 BC near Actium on Greece’s Ionian coast, where Octavian’s forces defeated the combined fleet of Mark Antony and Cleopatra.

Agrippa was Octavian’s closest military adviser and the experienced commander of his naval operations. Before the battle, he captured ports and disrupted Antony’s supply lines, helping trap Antony’s larger fleet in the Ambracian Gulf. His strategy favored smaller, more maneuverable ships and better-trained crews.

A common mix-up is confusing Agrippa with Octavian himself. Octavian was the political leader and nominal commander, but Agrippa directed key naval operations and commanded the fleet in the battle. His victory helped Octavian defeat Antony, seize Egypt, and later establish the Roman Empire.