Cleopatra the Seventh was the last of the Ptolemaic rulers in Egypt. She surpassed her predecessors in intelligence, wit, and ambition. She took the throne and ruled Egypt for 20 years (51-30 BC).
According to Egyptian law, she was married to her brother, Ptolemy the Thirteenth, but she felt that this marriage stood in the way of her political plans. After three years of her rule, she was accused of attempting to take over.
Cleopatra fled to the Eastern Desert to gather an army of Arabs, hoping to attack Alexandria and take over the rule. Julius Caesar, who had entered Egypt, tried to put an end to the dispute between Cleopatra and her brother, Ptolemy. Cleopatra sneaked past her brother's armies and hid inside a large rug that one of her followers carried as a gift to Caesar.
When the man entered the palace, she appeared out of the rug. She and Caesar had an affair, which suited Cleopatra since she aimed to take over the throne. Caesar decided that Cleopatra and her brother must share the throne according to their late father's will.
Ptolemy objected and fought against Caesar, but was drowned. Cleopatra made a deal with Caesar that she would announce their marriage in Egypt and he would announce it in Rome when he became emperor there. Cleopatra gave birth to Caesar's baby and recorded on the walls of the Armant temple that Caesar had made love to her in the form of Amun Re. This made her Caesar's legitimate wife in the eyes of the Egyptians.
She then moved to Rome to await the day Caesar would become emperor and officially announce their marriage. Then she would share his throne of the Roman Empire. But the Republicans became displeased with Caesar's ambition and killed him in March 44 BC Cleopatra returned to Egypt.
Caesar's supporters were victorious in the autumn of 42 BC, led by Mark Antony and Octavian, also called Augustus. Mark Antony, in charge of the Eastern side of the Roman Empire, summoned Cleopatra to Cilicia to persuade her not to assist Caesar's supporters. Cleopatra cast her magic on Mark Antony. She returned to Alexandria confident that he would follow her, which he did. Mark Antony spent the winter of 41-40 BC with Cleopatra, enjoying himself and allowing her to shift his heart and mind from Rome to Alexandria.
But due to dramatic events in Rome, Mark Antony hurriedly returned and married Augustus' sister, Octavia. He remained far from Cleopatra until he went to Syria to supervise his expedition. Mark Antony then summoned Cleopatra to his side and announced his marriage to her and acknowledged fatherhood for her twins. He returned victorious from the expedition and held celebrations in Alexandria. The Romans worried that Mark Antony wanted Alexandria to become the capital of the Roman Empire. Days later, Cleopatra was named the "Queen of Queens" and she distributed the Roman states of the east to her and Mark Antony's children.
Cleopatra saw herself as Empress of the world for the second time. All that remained was for Mark Antony to overthrow Augustus. However, Mark Antony was defeated in 31 BC and they both fled to Alexandria.
Before Augustus entered Alexandria, Mark Antony killed himself and Cleopatra hid in her tomb in the royal district of Alexandria where her famous palace was located. Cleopatra had placed all her treasures in the tomb.
She threatened to set the tomb on fire, thereby killing herself and destroying the treasures as well as Rome's hopes to display Cleopatra during Augustus's victory festival. But Augustus tricked Cleopatra and seized her and her treasures. Augustus intended to take her as a prisoner to Rome. She saved herself the embarrassment by killing herself. Rome controlled the world for a few centuries thereafter.
Contemporary writers and poets of the time would compete to win the emperor's approval by ridiculing Cleopatra. None of the late queen's supporters would dare defend her. Writings by her rivals were the only source for her life. These stories have had a great impact on all that was written about Cleopatra from ancient times until this day .
According to Egyptian law, she was married to her brother, Ptolemy the Thirteenth, but she felt that this marriage stood in the way of her political plans. After three years of her rule, she was accused of attempting to take over.
Cleopatra fled to the Eastern Desert to gather an army of Arabs, hoping to attack Alexandria and take over the rule. Julius Caesar, who had entered Egypt, tried to put an end to the dispute between Cleopatra and her brother, Ptolemy. Cleopatra sneaked past her brother's armies and hid inside a large rug that one of her followers carried as a gift to Caesar.
When the man entered the palace, she appeared out of the rug. She and Caesar had an affair, which suited Cleopatra since she aimed to take over the throne. Caesar decided that Cleopatra and her brother must share the throne according to their late father's will.
Ptolemy objected and fought against Caesar, but was drowned. Cleopatra made a deal with Caesar that she would announce their marriage in Egypt and he would announce it in Rome when he became emperor there. Cleopatra gave birth to Caesar's baby and recorded on the walls of the Armant temple that Caesar had made love to her in the form of Amun Re. This made her Caesar's legitimate wife in the eyes of the Egyptians.
She then moved to Rome to await the day Caesar would become emperor and officially announce their marriage. Then she would share his throne of the Roman Empire. But the Republicans became displeased with Caesar's ambition and killed him in March 44 BC Cleopatra returned to Egypt.
Caesar's supporters were victorious in the autumn of 42 BC, led by Mark Antony and Octavian, also called Augustus. Mark Antony, in charge of the Eastern side of the Roman Empire, summoned Cleopatra to Cilicia to persuade her not to assist Caesar's supporters. Cleopatra cast her magic on Mark Antony. She returned to Alexandria confident that he would follow her, which he did. Mark Antony spent the winter of 41-40 BC with Cleopatra, enjoying himself and allowing her to shift his heart and mind from Rome to Alexandria.
But due to dramatic events in Rome, Mark Antony hurriedly returned and married Augustus' sister, Octavia. He remained far from Cleopatra until he went to Syria to supervise his expedition. Mark Antony then summoned Cleopatra to his side and announced his marriage to her and acknowledged fatherhood for her twins. He returned victorious from the expedition and held celebrations in Alexandria. The Romans worried that Mark Antony wanted Alexandria to become the capital of the Roman Empire. Days later, Cleopatra was named the "Queen of Queens" and she distributed the Roman states of the east to her and Mark Antony's children.
Cleopatra saw herself as Empress of the world for the second time. All that remained was for Mark Antony to overthrow Augustus. However, Mark Antony was defeated in 31 BC and they both fled to Alexandria.
Before Augustus entered Alexandria, Mark Antony killed himself and Cleopatra hid in her tomb in the royal district of Alexandria where her famous palace was located. Cleopatra had placed all her treasures in the tomb.
She threatened to set the tomb on fire, thereby killing herself and destroying the treasures as well as Rome's hopes to display Cleopatra during Augustus's victory festival. But Augustus tricked Cleopatra and seized her and her treasures. Augustus intended to take her as a prisoner to Rome. She saved herself the embarrassment by killing herself. Rome controlled the world for a few centuries thereafter.
Contemporary writers and poets of the time would compete to win the emperor's approval by ridiculing Cleopatra. None of the late queen's supporters would dare defend her. Writings by her rivals were the only source for her life. These stories have had a great impact on all that was written about Cleopatra from ancient times until this day .
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