Cleopatra VII

Queen of Upper and Lower Egypt (r. 48-30 b. c.e.)

Born: 69 b. c.e.; Alexandria, Egypt Died: August 3, 30 b. c.e.; Alexandria, Egypt Also known as: Cleopatra Philopator Category: Government and politics; women

Life Cleopatra VII was the third child born to Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysus (Auletes). She was educated in Greek and Egyptian traditions and bred for politics. As a child, she showed not only a remarkable intelligence but also a talent for learning languages. She was the only member of the Ptolemaic line able to speak the common language (Egyptian) of their subjects, a skill that would serve her in uniting Upper and Lower Egypt during her reign as pharaoh (51-30 b. c.e.).

Upon the death of Ptolemy XII in 51 b. c.e., Cleopatra became queen at the age of eighteen. According to Egyptian tradition, she married her brother Ptolemy XIII, then aged ten, to serve as co-ruler with him. This was a marriage in name only, and as the elder of the sovereigns, she was free to rule as she chose.

In 48 b. c.e., Ptolemy XIII’s guardians forced Cleopatra from the throne. At about this time, Roman ruler Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria in pursuit of Pompey the Great. He and Cleopatra met and fell in love. Caesar helped Cleopatra regain her throne, and she became co-ruler with her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV.

In 47 b. c.e., Cleopatra gave birth to Caesar’s son. The child, Ptolemy XV Caesar, was called Caesarion by the Egyptians. At Caesar’s invitation in 46 b. c.e., Cleopatra went to stay in Rome and took Caesarion and Ptolemy XIV with her. They remained in Rome until Caesar was assassinated in 44 b. c.e.

In41 b. c.e., Marc Antony invited Cleopatra to Tarsus (Turkey). She and Antony fell in love, had twins, and married in 37 b. c.e. The two had ambitious goals for an Egyptian-Roman alliance. Antony, one of three rulers of Rome, hoped to become sole ruler. Cleopatra hoped to put their children,

Cleopatra VII is unrolled from a carpet in front of Julius Caesar. (F. R. Niglutsch)

But especially her son Caesarion, in line as future Roman rulers.

Her ambitious plans for Egypt came to ruins in 30 b. c.e. Antony mistakenly thought Cleopatra was dead and killed himself. She committed suicide soon after learning of his suicide. Upon her death, the Ptolemaic line of Egyptian pharaohs ended. Caesarion was executed by the Romans, who feared he would claim to be heir to Caesar and thus Roman ruler.

Influence Cleopatra’s diplomatic acumen and facility for foreign languages allowed her to unite, for a brief time, the Upper and Lower Nile valleys, earning her the title “mistress of two lands.” She successfully ruled with her two brothers and with her son, Ptolemy Caesar. Her ability to speak Egyptian, and her concern for the welfare of her subjects, earned their respect and admiration. As the last ruler of the Macedonian Dynasty in Egypt, Cleopatra kept Egypt out of Roman hands through political and romantic alliances with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony.

Further Reading

Burstein, Stanley M. The Reign of Cleopatra. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2004.

Flamarian, Edith. Cleopatra: The Life and Death ofaPharaoh. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1997.

Foss, Michael. The Search for Cleopatra. New York: Arcade, 1997. Walker, Susan, and Sally-Ann Ashton, eds. Cleopatra Reassessed. London: British Museum, 2003.

Lisa A. Wroble

See also: Actium, Battle of; Ptolemaic Dynasty; Ptolemaic Egypt.