Cleopatra was born around 69 B.C. She was the seventh child to receive that name but she made the name famous by her actions. Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of Egypt’s Ptolemaic dynasty. Her ancestor was Ptolemy. She learned how to govern from her father and learned many languages to communicate with the different people in Egypt and people outside of Egypt.

When Ptolemy XII died, it left Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII to rule. At the time she was only 17 years old and her brother was 11 years old. She ruled Egypt as Queen between 51 BC and 30 BC. Cleopatra originally shared her power with her father Ptolemy XII and then later on shared it with her other brothers. She had married one of her brothers Ptolemy XIV. They ruled Egypt for a while together but Ptolemy got help and made Cleopatra leave from Egypt in 49 B.C. She would not give up and be thrown out so she became friends with Julius Caesar, the Roman ruler who would hopefully help her win her place on the throne back. Since Cleopatra was so beautiful and smart Julius agreed eagerly. Ceaser helped her gain her place on the throne back, but she again shared it with her other brother, Ptolemy XIV. The problem was Cleopatra still wanted to be with Julius Caesar. She was pregnant with their son, Caesarion. After Caesarion was born, Cleopatra and her son left Egypt for Rome in 46 BC to be with Caesar. Sadly, the relationship ended in tragedy when Caesar was assassinated. Cleopatra went back to Egypt with her son. She found a way to make her son co-ruler but people thought that she killed Ptolemy XIV.

A while after Cleopatra met Mark Antony, another roman ruler. She soon started a relationship with him and they had twins. They were named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. Antony returned to Rome and later married Octavia, the sister of another Roman leader, Octavian. Antony left his wife around 37 B.C. and met up with Cleopatra again. He was hoping she would help him gain power again. The two joined forces, got married, and had a third child together Ptolemy Philadelphus. They ruled many lands besides Egypt, including Cyprus, Crete, and Syria. Antony’s actions started to anger Octavian and he convinced the Roman senate to go to war against Egypt in 32 BC. The next year Antony and Cleopatra suffered a huge defeat at the Battle of Actium. Soon after Antony killed himself. There are rumors that he did this after hearing a false report that Cleopatra was dead. Cleopatra did not want to be captured by Octavian so she committed suicide in 30 BC. She killed herself by having two servants bring her a basket but within the basket hid a snake. She let the snake bite her and kill the servants as well. Cleopatra is one of the greatest pharaohs of Egypt.

Cleopatra · famous · Ptolamaic