Many countries have had important rulers who were well-known throughout the world. One country whose leaders particularly stand out is Egypt. The leaders of ancient Egypt were extremely essential in history. Cleopatra was a key example of these significant rulers of Egypt. The Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII was an extraordinary woman who used her knowledge and ambition to fulfill Egypts political goals. Cleopatra VII, more commonly known as Cleopatra, was born to Ptolemy XII and his sister Cleopatra Tryphaina in 69 B. C. (Nardo 9).
Although she lacked beauty, Cleopatra was regarded as a fascinating woman who was known for her intelligence and charm. Egyptian coins picture her with a countenance alive rather than beautiful, with a sensitive mouth, firm chin liquid eyes, broad forehead, and prominent nose (Cleopatra VII 377). After her fathers death in 51 B. C. , Cleopatra became queen. She ruled Egypt with her eldest brother and husband Ptolemy XIII. Marriage between siblings was a common practice in ancient Egyptian royal families (Sinnigen 662). She was the last ruler of the dynasty established by Ptolemy I.
Cleopatra was of Macedonian descent but took it upon herself to learn the Egyptian language and referred to herself as the daughter of the sun god (Cleopatra VII 377). Her capital was Alexandria, discovered by Alexander the Great, and was an excellent center of Hellenistic Greek culture and commercial activity (Krapp 615). Three years after Cleopatra gained rule over Egypt she was driven into exile by the supporters of her brother Ptolemy XIII (Cleopatra 489). Caesar arrived in Egypt in search of his rival Pompey. A civil war occurred between the two Roman men.
Cleopatra soon realized the need to cooperate with Rome to gain beneficial aid in regaining her throne (Nardo 24). After a long power conflict, Caesar defeated his opponent Pompey in a major battle. When Cleopatra discovered that Caesar was in her capital, she had one of her attendants take her to him rolled up in a rug and offered as a gift (Krapp 615). Caesar was overcome by Cleopatras charm, and the two quickly became lovers. She was twenty-one, and he was fifty-two at the time. Cleopatra and Caesar both intended to use one another.
Caesar needed money to pay for his campaigns and claimed that Cleopatra owed it to him for the expenses of her fathers restoration (Cleopatra VII 377). Cleopatra sought power and wanted to restore the glories of the first Ptolemies dominions. Caesar later demanded that Cleopatra marry her younger brother Ptolemy XIV and rule Egypt with him (Nardo 29). Cleopatra gave birth to Caesars son, Caesarion in 47 B. C. Throughout Cleopatras marriage with Ptolemy IV, she lived with Caesar in Egypt as his Mistress (Krapp 616).
When Caesar returned to Egypt, he requested Helivus Cinna to propose a law to the Senate allowing Cleopatra and Caesar to marry and for Caesarion to later become ruler of Egypt. Caesar was married to another woman named Calpurnia at that time, and the presence of Cleopatra and her son was an insult to the sacred vow of marriage (Nardo 32-33). Caesar was assassinated in Rome in 44 B. C. by a group of Roman aristocrats. Cleopatra returned to Egypt and ruled with her son Caesarion after having her brother Ptolemy killed (Sinnigen 663).
After Caesars assassination Mark Antony assumed most of the power in the eastern Roman Empire (Cleopatra 489). Antony invited Cleopatra to Tarsus, located in Asia Minor to discuss charges that she assisted his enemies. After a short delay to heighten Antonys expectation, she traveled to Tarsus on a grand river barge (Cleopatra VII 377). Within a few weeks Antony and Cleopatra became lovers. Antony was forty-one, and Cleopatra was twenty-eight (Nardo 40). Antony followed Cleopatra back to Alexandria forgetting his wife Fulvia in Italy. Fulvia had formed an army against Octavius requiring Antony to leave Alexandria in 40 B. C. Cleopatra had recently given birth to twins, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene (Sinnigen 663).
One year later Fulvia died, and Antony married Octavia, the sister of his co-ruler Octavian. Antony and Cleopatras relationship resumed in 37 B. C. when Antony summoned Cleopatra to Laodicea to supply his army with weaponry. He promised to marry her in return for her loyalty (Krapp 616). Antony was focusing all of his attention on Cleopatra and neglecting his affairs in Rome. Octavian took this opportunity to become the sole ruler of Rome by declaring war on Antony in 32 B. C. Cleopatra spread a false report that she had committed suicide which drove Antony to his death (Sinnigen 663).
Cleopatra attempted to make peace with Octavian but failed. In despair, she killed herself by placing and asp, a symbol of divine royalty on herself (Cleopatra VII 378). Cleopatras character was legendary throughout her life and after her death. The fascination of her life has remained constant through the ages. Her involvement with two powerful Roman men helped further her position as a ruler. Cleopatra was a liberated woman who assisted in strengthening the society of ancient Egypt.
