Cleopatra (69 B.C. - 30 B.C.)
Cleopatra was one of the most famous queens in ancient Egypt. She was known in that time as Cleopatra VII because she was the seventh woman in her family to have that name - but she is the only one that we remember. Her family ruled Egypt for over 100 years alone before she was born close to 69 B.C.
Cleopatra learned how to rule the kingdom by watching what her father – the king – did. Besides watching the way that politics worked she also learned several different languages that helped her to communicate with the diverse range of people in Egypt at that time and also helped with her diplomacy. She managed to rise to power in 51 B.C.
To begin with Cleopatra shared her throne with Ptolemy XIII her younger brother who was also her husband. The marriage of siblings was not at all uncommon during that time and was sometimes the only option if a woman even wanted to rule. However, this mutual leadership did not last for very long. In 48 B.C. Ptolemy took complete control of the government and forced Cleopatra to leave Egypt.
Yet, Cleopatra was very strong-willed and would not let herself be pushed away so easily and without a fight. She befriended Julius Caesar – the ruler of Rome – to help her. Caesar loved the way she charmed him and everyone else around her and the fact that she was intelligent. Together the two of them regained power - which she once again shared with another brother/husband – Ptolemy XIV.
While Cleopatra was happy that she had regained power she wanted to be with Caesar and was even bearing their child – Caesarion. After Caesarion was born, Cleopatra and her son left Egypt for Rome in 46 BC to be with Caesar. Unfortunately, the relationship ended in tragedy when Caesar was assassinated by some of his former friends in 44 BC.
After his death Cleopatra took her son back to Egypt where she managed to find a way to make her son the co-ruler. Many scholars believed that she had her brother/husband assassinated. Not many years later she met yet another Roman leader – Mark Antony. The two fell in love and she gave birth to twins.
A son was named Alexander Helios and a daughter Cleopatra Selene. Antony returned to Rome and later married Octavia, the sister of another Roman leader, Octavian. Antony left his wife around 37 BC and soon met up with Cleopatra again. He hoped she would help him gain more power and lands. The two joined forces politically and personally. They married and had a third child together Ptolemy Philadelphus. With their children, they ruled many lands besides Egypt, including Cyprus, Crete, and Syria.
Antony’s actions angered Octavian and he convinced the Roman senate to go to war against Egypt in 32 BC. The next year Antony and Cleopatra suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Actium. Soon after Antony killed himself. By some accounts, he did this after hearing a false report that Cleopatra was dead. Cleopatra did not want to be captured by Octavian so she committed suicide in 30 BC. many scholars believed that she killed herself by allowing herself to be bitten by a poisonous snake.