Biography On Queen Cleopatra Of Egypt
Not much was written about Queen Cleopatra of Egypt before her death. Whatever is available about her was printed after her death and she was represented as a menace to Rome and its solidarity. |
Cleopatra’s father Ptolemy XII strived to sustain his weak position in Egypt by giving bribery to influential Roman authorities. In 58 BCE, when her father Ptolemy XII went to Rome, her mother Cleopatra VI Tryphaina along with her eldest daughter Berenice IV became the head of the empire. By the time Ptolemy came back, his wife was no more. He recaptured his sovereignty with the assistance of Roman army and Berenice was put to death. He then wedded his small 9 year old son to his 18 year old daughter Cleopatra. So, Cleopatra took all the responsibility alone as his brother was too young. In 48 BCE, her ministers snatched power from her. Simultaneously, Pompey, a supporter of Ptolemy XII, emerged in Egypt, pursued by Julius Caesar’s soldiers and was killed. Then Ptolemy XIII became the ruler.
Cleopatra, then, tried to win Julius Caesar’s favor. Caesar killed Ptolemy XIII in a battle and handed over the power of Egypt to Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIV. Even, the newborn son of Cleopatra was named Ptolemy Caesar to tell that his father was Julius Caesar. Though Caesar never acknowledged his fatherhood properly, he took Cleopatra along with him to Rome. Caesar was already married, but Cleopatra also declared herself his wife. After Caesar’s murder in 44 BCE, she came back to Egypt. Here her brother and co-ruler Ptolemy XIV passed away, most likely killed by Cleopatra to make her son Ptolemy Caesar her co-ruler.
Cleopatra won the favor and support of the next military governor Marc Antony. Antony lived with her in Alexandria in 41 BCE and went back. She gave birth to twins from Antony. In the meantime, Antony went to Athens and married Octavia, his opponent Octavius’ sister. He had a daughter from Octavia in 39 BCE, and in 37 BCE he came back to Antioch where he again met Cleopatra and married her in 36 BCE. Cleopatra gave birth to his another son named Ptolemy Philadelphus. Marc Antony officially re-established to Egypt and granted a huge territory to Cleopatra. Octavian used Antony and Cleopatra’s affiliation to lift Roman apprehensions over his fidelity. Cleopatra supported Antony financially to combat with Octavian in the Battle of Actium, but some wrong decisions perhaps from Cleopatra’s side, caused their defeat.
Cleopatra wanted Octavian to help her children gain the power, but was not successful. This failure led her to kill herself. When, in 30 BCE, Antony heard that Cleopatra is no more, he also killed himself.
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