events of the perusine war (41–40 bc) disrupted mark antony's focus on confronting the parthians in the east. the war was initiated by his ambitious wife fulvia against octavian in the hopes of making her husband the undisputed leader of rome. although it has been suggested that part of her motivation was to cleave antony from cleopatra, this is unlikely, as the conflict emerged in italy even before cleopatra's meeting with antony at tarsos. fulvia and antony's brother lucius antonius were eventually besieged by octavian at perusia (modern perugia, italy) and then exiled from italy. fulvia died after this at sikyon in greece while attempting to reach antony. her sudden death led to a reconciliation of octavian and antony at brundisium in italy in september 40 bc. although the agreement struck at brundisium solidified antony's control of the roman republic's territories east of the ionian sea, it also stipulated that he concede italia, hispania, and gaul, and marry octavian's sister octavia the younger, a potential rival for cleopatra.