Cleopatra is perhaps the most famous queen of the ancient world. She is renowned not only for her beauty but also for her sharp intelligence, becoming a subject of exploration in numerous films and theatrical works. The following article will help readers gain a clearer understanding of key aspects of the life and events surrounding this powerful woman.
Cleopatra came to power when she was just 17 years old, ruling ancient Egypt from 51 to 30 BC. As a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, Cleopatra was of Macedonian descent, yet she was revered as a queen of Egypt and worshipped as a goddess by her people. Cleopatra was also the last Pharaoh of Egypt and is famous for her complex political relationships with the Roman Empire. Her relationships with Roman leaders Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and her eventual adversary Augustus led to Cleopatra’s tragic death and have inspired many scripts for theater and film.
The Woman Who Ruled Egypt
According to the customs of the Egyptians at that time, Cleopatra was forced to marry her younger brother Ptolemy XIII when he was just 12 years old to inherit the throne from their deceased father. However, she soon erased her husband’s name from official documents, disregarding the Ptolemaic tradition that required a male presence in the sharing of power. Cleopatra also had her own portrait and name minted on coins of that era, sidelining her brother. So why could the Queen of Egypt act this way? The answer lies in the recognition that Egyptian women were acknowledged to have the ability to wield power and manage court affairs.
Despite having many rights, Egypt was not a fair society, with social stratification in place. Women did not have equal inheritance rights with men, and only a few were educated. Furthermore, although not legally restricted, customs dictated that women of the middle and upper classes were often responsible for child-rearing and daily household activities.
Cleopatra and Caesar
In order to eliminate her ties to Ptolemy XIII, who had forced her into exile after a period of ruling Egypt alone, Cleopatra needed Roman support. After she approached and charmed Caesar, Ptolemy was killed. In 47 BC, to restore her throne, Cleopatra married another younger brother, Ptolemy XIV, who was only 11 years old. It was during this time that the romantic relationship between Cleopatra and Caesar began. After gaining control of Egypt with Caesar’s help, she put Caesar in a difficult position by insisting that he take her back to Rome.
The alliance between Cleopatra and Julius Caesar was further solidified with the birth of their son, Caesarion, aiming to restore Egypt to its former glory after a long period of decline. The Roman republicans, who called themselves the Liberators and were led by Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus, thwarted these plans by deciding to assassinate Caesar right in the Senate at Pompey. Following this assassination, Cleopatra returned to Egypt and established Caesarion as co-regent and heir after her second brother was also murdered.
Mark Antony
After Caesar’s assassination on March 15, 44 BC, Mark Antony, one of the members of the Triumvirate ruling Rome during the power vacuum following Caesar’s death, planned to meet with Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. Although married to a Roman woman, Octavia, the sister of Octavian—Caesar’s legal successor—Antony remained deeply in love with the powerful queen. Octavian led the Romans to believe that Mark Antony was preparing to transfer power, which rightfully belonged to them, to Cleopatra. Faced with this potential threat, the competition for Caesar’s legacy created extreme tension in Rome. Ultimately, Mark Antony divorced his Roman wife after Octavian declared war against him and his lover.
Egypt Belongs to Rome
Ultimately, after suffering defeat at the Battle of Actium off the coast of Greece in 31 BC, Antony committed suicide along with Cleopatra, reportedly by placing a venomous snake to her chest. Roman forces under General Octavian invaded Egypt and ended Cleopatra’s dynasty. The Ptolemaic family had ruled Egypt since the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. However, Rome had always sought to conquer Egypt, and only through tribute could the Ptolemaic family survive in the face of the powerful Roman Empire. But after Cleopatra’s death, Egypt finally came under Roman control.
