From N.S. Gill,
Your Guide to Ancient / Classical History.
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Definition: The Battle of Actium was an important turning point in the history of Egypt and Rome. When Octavian (later known as the Emperor Augustus) met the combined forces of Mark Antony and Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, Roman forces faced Roman forces, pretty evenly matched. The fighting continued throughout the day of September 2, 31 B.C., until, inexplicably, Cleopatra took her troops and left the naval battle. Mark Antony, leaving his troops behind, followed her. The result was that Octavian, helped by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, won the battle.

This was a major turning point in Roman history: Since Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, part of the second triumvirate -- with Antony and Octavian, had already been exiled, this left only Octavian to be the leader of Rome, soon to become Augustus, the princeps, and first Roman emperor. [See Pennell's History of Rome.]