The life, times and untimely death of of one of Egypt's most important and brilliant rulers.
Ancient Egyptian Rulers
Early Years
A Greek word meaning "father's glory," Cleopatra Thea Philopato was the third daughter of King Ptolemy XII Auletes . Upon her father's death in 51 BCE, she was 18 years of age, and she became co-ruler of Egypt with her younger brother, Ptolemy XIII whom Cleopatra married to strengthen her hold on the throne.
Rule With Ptolemy XIII
By 51 BCE, Cleopatra had dropped his name from official documents and it was her face alone that appeared on coins. In 48 BCE a political cabal removed Cleopatra from power and Cleopatra was forced out of Egypt. Later that same year, Ptolemy, in an attempt to win the favor of Julius Ceasar
, killed Pompey. Caesar, whose daughter had been married to Pompey, was furious and seized Alexandria . After a short war and the drowning death of Ptolemy, Caesar restored Cleopatra to the throne as co-regent with another younger brother, Ptolemy XIV.
Caesar and Cleopatra
From 48 BCE -47 BCE, Caesar and Cleopatra were lovers and they had a son, Caesarion. Both mother and son were in Rome when Caesar was assassinated around 44 BCE, and when Cleopatra returned to Egypt, her brother, Ptolemy XIV, mysteriously (and very conveniently) died. Cleopatra and Ceasarion co-reigned until 30 BCE.
Mark Anthony, Final Stand and Suicide
In 42 BCE, Mark Antony, one of the rulers (triumvirs) of Rome, became her lover and in 40 BCE, Cleopatra gave birth to twins named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene II and later another son named Ptolemy Philadelphus. In 37 BCE, Antony married Cleopatra in an Egyptian rite although he was already the husband of Octavia Minor, sister of fellow triumvir, Octavian.
Octavian was furious and convinced the Roman Senate to levy war against Egypt. According to legend, Cleopatra was there with a fleet of her own when Antony's meager forces faced the Romans off the coast of Actium. Cleopatra took flight with Antony following on her heels in the face of certain defeat. Octavian then invaded Egypt and Antony's armies soon deserted in August of 30 BCE. He committed suicide and Cleopatra died a few days later, from the bite of a deadly asp. Her son, Caesarion, was captured and executed, ending the line of Egyptian pharaohs forever. The three other children was spared and taken back to Rome where they were raised by Antony's wife, Octavia.
