An Infamous Tale
Born to Rule
Cleopatra was the third daughter of King Ptolemy XII, who was of the descent of Alexander the Great's general who was given the kingdom of Alexandria to rule. She is thought to be either Greek or black-African, not Egyptian. Yet, she was the first one in the royal family to take an interest in the Egyptian culture. She learned the ways of the people from her servants.
She became queen at 18 years old, along with her younger brother, Ptolomy XIII, who became king. She began taking over Egypt without her brother's influence as co-ruler, so he had her exiled. Around this same time, the Roman civil war was going on between Caesar and Pompey. When Pompey lands in Egypt, Ptolemy has him killed, which angered Caesar.
Caesar then comes to Egypt, intending to take over. While there, Cleopatra has herself smuggled into his chambers in order to meet with him. They end up becoming lovers and overthrow Cleopatra's younger brother. Caesar then puts Cleopatra back on Egypt's throne.
Bringing Egypt to Power
In 47 B.C.E., Cleopatra gives birth to a son, Caesarion, claiming that he is Caesar's son. She moves to Rome for a short time, before Caesar is assassinated in 44 B.C.E. After, she flees back to Alexandria, fearing for her life.
In 41 B.C.E. Marc Antony, now a member of the triumvirate, wants to meet with Cleopatra, to see where Egypt's loyalties lie. Captivated with each other, they fall in love and begin their infamous love affair. Three children come out of their union: the twins Alexander Helios (meaning sun, named Great King of the Seleucid empire) and Cleopatra Serene (meaning moon, named Queen of Cyrenaica and Crete) and their youngest son Ptolemy Philadelphos (named King of Syria and Asia Minor at the age of two). They were not only in love, but also using each other for financial, military and political means.
Antony was in a battle for Rome with Octavius, another member of the triumvirate and Caesar's adopted son. Antony begins to lose popularity with the Roman people for a number of reasons, including his affair with Cleopatra, which shamed his Roman wife, Octavia, Octavius's sister.
In 34 B.C.E. Antony moves to Alexandria to rule with Cleopatra. He names Caesarion the real heir of Rome, angering Octavius even further. Octavius in return begins his own campaign against Antony, starting rumors such as Antony moving the capital to Alexandria.
A Tragic Ending
In 31 B.C.E. They engage in the Actium sea battle, off the coast of Greece. Octavius's navy defeats the combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra and Cleopatra flees to her monument in Alexandria. Antony is given false news of her death and stabs himself with his sword. When Cleopatra learns of this, she has him brought to her immediately. The move of Antony to her chambers proved to be too much for him, and he died upon arrival. After being threatened by Octavius, Cleopatra decides to commit suicide rather than live through his punishments he had planned for her. It is unclear whether she poisoned herself or rather let an asp bit her arm, which is the more popular tale, but Cleopatra ended her life on August 12, 30 B.C.E . (In Egyptian religion, death by snakebite insures immortality.) Caesarion was eventually murdered, but Cleopatra and Antony's three children were raised by Antony's wife, Octavia. Cleopatra was the last Pharaoh of Egypt.
Cleopatra was the third daughter of King Ptolemy XII, who was of the descent of Alexander the Great's general who was given the kingdom of Alexandria to rule. She is thought to be either Greek or black-African, not Egyptian. Yet, she was the first one in the royal family to take an interest in the Egyptian culture. She learned the ways of the people from her servants.
She became queen at 18 years old, along with her younger brother, Ptolomy XIII, who became king. She began taking over Egypt without her brother's influence as co-ruler, so he had her exiled. Around this same time, the Roman civil war was going on between Caesar and Pompey. When Pompey lands in Egypt, Ptolemy has him killed, which angered Caesar.
Caesar then comes to Egypt, intending to take over. While there, Cleopatra has herself smuggled into his chambers in order to meet with him. They end up becoming lovers and overthrow Cleopatra's younger brother. Caesar then puts Cleopatra back on Egypt's throne.
Bringing Egypt to Power
In 47 B.C.E., Cleopatra gives birth to a son, Caesarion, claiming that he is Caesar's son. She moves to Rome for a short time, before Caesar is assassinated in 44 B.C.E. After, she flees back to Alexandria, fearing for her life.
In 41 B.C.E. Marc Antony, now a member of the triumvirate, wants to meet with Cleopatra, to see where Egypt's loyalties lie. Captivated with each other, they fall in love and begin their infamous love affair. Three children come out of their union: the twins Alexander Helios (meaning sun, named Great King of the Seleucid empire) and Cleopatra Serene (meaning moon, named Queen of Cyrenaica and Crete) and their youngest son Ptolemy Philadelphos (named King of Syria and Asia Minor at the age of two). They were not only in love, but also using each other for financial, military and political means.
Antony was in a battle for Rome with Octavius, another member of the triumvirate and Caesar's adopted son. Antony begins to lose popularity with the Roman people for a number of reasons, including his affair with Cleopatra, which shamed his Roman wife, Octavia, Octavius's sister.
In 34 B.C.E. Antony moves to Alexandria to rule with Cleopatra. He names Caesarion the real heir of Rome, angering Octavius even further. Octavius in return begins his own campaign against Antony, starting rumors such as Antony moving the capital to Alexandria.
A Tragic Ending
In 31 B.C.E. They engage in the Actium sea battle, off the coast of Greece. Octavius's navy defeats the combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra and Cleopatra flees to her monument in Alexandria. Antony is given false news of her death and stabs himself with his sword. When Cleopatra learns of this, she has him brought to her immediately. The move of Antony to her chambers proved to be too much for him, and he died upon arrival. After being threatened by Octavius, Cleopatra decides to commit suicide rather than live through his punishments he had planned for her. It is unclear whether she poisoned herself or rather let an asp bit her arm, which is the more popular tale, but Cleopatra ended her life on August 12, 30 B.C.E . (In Egyptian religion, death by snakebite insures immortality.) Caesarion was eventually murdered, but Cleopatra and Antony's three children were raised by Antony's wife, Octavia. Cleopatra was the last Pharaoh of Egypt.