CLEOPATRA VII
69 - 30 BC
 

Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator was born 69 B.C. and killed herself August 30, 30 B.C.

She inspired countless playwrights and artists because she masterfully blended love with politics. The epitome of a femme fatale, Cleopatra became Julius Caesar's lover and Mark Antony's wife.

She spoke several languages and was said to have been the only one in her household who spoke Egyptian. Cleopatra was also complimented for her pleasant voice. She had - you got the idea by now - immense charisma, was very intelligent, knew how to play her charm and could be captivating, enchanting, and extremely hard to resist.

When her father, King Ptolemy XII Auletes, died in 51 B.C., she first ruled with her brother Ptolemy XIII from 51 - 47 B.C. After he was killed in the Alexandrian War, Cleopatra co-ruled with her other brother, Ptolemy XIV, from 47 - 44 B.C.

After a trip to Rome with his sister Cleopatra, Ptolemy XIV suddenly died. Evil tongues suggest that he died at his sister's command in order to make way for Cleopatra's son Ptolemy XV Caesar, with whom she co-ruled 44 - 30 B.C.

CLEO'S FOLKS
Cleopatra's family wasn't really Egyptian. She was a descendant of the Macedonian Ptolemy, a general in the army of Alexander the Great. Ptolemy ruled Egypt 250 years before Cleopatra's birth.

As mentioned, Cleopatra's father was King Ptolemy XII Auletes, her mother is not known. Some are of the opinion that her mother was Cleopatra V, the wife and sister of Ptolemy XII.

Cleopatra had five siblings and four children: One son, Caesarion or Ptolemy XV, by Julius Caesar, and three children by Mark Antony: Alexander Helios, Cleopatra Selene and Ptolemy Philadelphus. 

MEETING JULIUS
Julius Caesar was in pursuit of Pompey, his Roman opponent, who fled to Egypt. Cleopatra reflected on Egypt's future and decided that it would benefit her country if she were to befriend the Roman world power.

MEETING MARK
Cleopatra was in Rome, accompanied by her brother Ptolemy XIII, when Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 B.C. The siblings retreated to Egypt. Soon after, Roman General Mark Antony ordered Cleopatra to meet him in Tarsus to explain the rumor that she supported Roman enemies.

Cleopatra managed not only to vindicate herself but also to make a lasting impression on the general. Antony, completely taken by Cleopatra and by now suffering from a hormone overdose, abandoned his previous political plans and sailed back to Alexandria with her.

CLEOPATRA'S DEATH
Cleopatra always wanted to secure and protect Egypt, and to see her kingdom, if possible, live up to its former glory days. As it turned out, both of the men to whom she looked for help eventually failed her. She made one last effort to get on good terms with Octavian but he rejected her outright.

Antony and Cleopatra both committed suicide. He was 52 at the time, and she was 39. According to their wishes, they were buried together. The location of their tomb is unknown.

FAVORITE CLEOPATRA QUOTE BY BLAISE PASCAL
Had Cleopatra's nose been shorter, the whole face of the world would have changed.

CLEOPATRA TRIVIA
Here you will find Cleopatra's timeline.

See more under Ancient Egyptians.