Cleopatra

Cleopatra was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. She is celebrated for her intelligence and her political skill and for her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

Early Life and Education

Cleopatra was born in 69 BC, the daughter of Ptolemy XII. She was of the Greek Macedonian descent and belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty.

She received a broad education in the Greek and the Egyptian culture. She was the first of the Ptolemies to learn the Egyptian language.

She became the queen in 51 BC after the death of her father. She ruled jointly with her brother Ptolemy XIII according to the custom.

The Rise to Power

Cleopatra was expelled from the throne by the advisers of her brother. She sought the support of Julius Caesar, who had arrived in Egypt in 48 BC.

She was smuggled into the palace to meet Caesar and charmed him with her wit. Caesar restored her to the throne and defeated Ptolemy XIII.

She bore a son to Caesar, whom she named Caesarion. She visited Rome and hoped to be recognised as the queen of the Roman ally.

After the assassination of Caesar in 44 BC she returned to Egypt. She continued to rule as the sole monarch.

The Alliance with Mark Antony

Cleopatra met Mark Antony in 41 BC at Tarsus. The alliance led to the marriage and the partnership in the government of the East.

She bore the twins to Antony and later the third child. She supported Antony in the struggle against Octavian.

The alliance was opposed by the Roman Senate and Octavian. The propaganda portrayed the couple as the enemies of Rome.

The forces of Antony and Cleopatra were defeated at the battle of Actium in 31 BC. They fled to Egypt and the end followed.

The Death and the Legacy

Antony committed suicide after the defeat in 30 BC. Cleopatra was captured by Octavian but died shortly afterwards.

The tradition holds that she died from the bite of the asp. The exact manner of her death remains a subject of the speculation.

Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire and the Ptolemaic dynasty ended. She was the last of the pharaohs.

She is remembered as one of the most famous of the ancient rulers. The image of her beauty and her intelligence has been celebrated in the art and the literature.

The Administration and the Wealth

Cleopatra was an able administrator and the manager of the economy. She reformed the coinage and the taxation.

She developed the trade with the East and the agriculture of the Nile. The wealth of Egypt made it the prize of the Roman politics.

She promoted the culture and the learning and the religion. She presented herself as the goddess Isis to the Egyptian people.

The End of the Dynasty

Octavian invaded Egypt in 30 BC after the defeat at Actium. Antony committed suicide and Cleopatra was captured.

She died shortly afterwards and the tradition holds that she was bitten by the asp. Octavian annexed Egypt as the Roman province.

Her children were spared except Caesarion, who was killed. The Ptolemaic dynasty came to an end after three centuries.

The Education and the Languages

Cleopatra received a broad education in the Greek and the Egyptian culture. She was the first of the Ptolemies to learn the Egyptian language.

She was skilled in the rhetoric and the diplomacy. She used her intelligence and her charm in the negotiation with the Roman leaders.

She was the author of the works on the cosmetics and the measures. The treatises are lost but the references survive.

The Rule of Egypt

Cleopatra ruled Egypt with the skill and the determination. She maintained the independence of the kingdom against the Roman power.

She reformed the coinage and the taxation. The economy of Egypt prospered under her rule.

She promoted the trade with the East and the agriculture of the Nile. The wealth of Egypt made it the prize of the Roman politics.

The Image and the Memory

Cleopatra has been portrayed in the art and the literature. The image of her beauty and her intelligence has been celebrated.

The Roman sources are hostile to her because of the conflict with Octavian. The modern scholarship has sought a more balanced view.

She is remembered as the last of the pharaohs. The queen who tried to preserve the independence of Egypt.

The Relations with Rome

Cleopatra maintained the relations with the Roman leaders. She sought the support of Caesar and later of Antony.

The alliances were intended to preserve the independence of Egypt. They brought her into the conflict of the Roman politics.

Her influence on the Roman affairs was considerable. The hostility of Octavian led to the war and the defeat.

See also

• Ptolemaic Kingdom
• Julius Caesar
• Mark Antony
• Ancient Egypt