Cleopatra Vll was born in 69 BC in Alexandria, Egypt.
Despite her glamorous and stunning perception, she actually had a different physical appearance. Ancient coins depict her with a long nose that was hooked and masculine traits. However, despite lacking conventional beauty, she possessed an alluring charm that she employed for political purposes in Egypt. Additionally, she had a melodious singing voice.
Cleopatra, a highly intelligent individual fluent in multiple languages including Egyptian, became the first Ptolemy pharaoh to possess such linguistic skills. At just seventeen years old, Cleopatra took on the role of ruler of Egypt after her father Ptolemy XII Auletes passed away in 51 BC. As per their father’s will, her twelve-year-old brother Ptolemy XIII was selected as her husband.
At first, Ptolemy and his advisers shared the rule of Egypt. However, under their influence, he assumed full authority in their third year of reign. As a result, Cleopatra was compelled to go into exile and find refuge in Syria. Nonetheless, she eventually came back with an army, which prompted Ptolemy to dispatch his own troops to confront her.
While in Egypt, Cleopatra had to hide inside a rolled-up rug to save herself from an enemy seeking help from Ptolemy during Julius Caesar’s visit. This act of concealment allowed her to escape death. When the rug was finally unwrapped before Caesar, he instantly developed intense emotions for her. As a result, Caesar now faced the challenge of deciding which Egyptian ruler he should back in order to preserve his power.
He chose Cleopatra as his lover and restored her to the throne in 47 BC. This happened after her older brother, Ptolemy Xlll, drowned in the Nile while trying to escape. After Ptolemy Xlll’s death, tradition required Cleopatra to marry her youngest brother, named Ptolemy XlV, who was around eleven years old at that time. Once Cleopatra and Ptolemy XlV became co-regents, she and Caesar went on a two-month journey along the Nile.
During this period, according to common belief, Cleopatra conceived and later gave birth to a son. Officially named Ptolemy XV Caesar but commonly known as Caesarion, there were doubts about his biological father. However, due to their resemblance, Caesar acknowledged him as his son. After the cruise, while Cleopatra returned to Egypt, Caesar went back to Rome.
Caesar assigned three men from the army to ensure Cleopatra’s protection and asked her to accompany him to Rome in 46 BC. Cleopatra agreed, bringing Caesarion with her. Later that year, in September, Caesar celebrated his victorious war campaigns with a grand event known as the March of Triumph. During this march, he proudly showcased his captured prisoners, among them Cleopatra’s sister Arsinoe.
After betraying Cleopatra, Arsinoe’s life was spared by Caesar, but later Mark Antony executed her as per Cleopatra’s orders. Cleopatra resided in Caesar’s villa near Rome for close to two years, during which Caesar lavished her with gifts and fulfilled all her desires. Rumors circulated that Caesar planned to pass a law enabling him to marry Cleopatra and make their son his heir. Additionally, it was said that Caesar, who had accepted a lifetime dictatorship and occupied a golden throne in the Senate, had intentions to become the king of Rome. On March 15, 44 BC, a group of conspirators encompassed Caesar during a Senate meeting and fatally stabbed him.
Cleopatra, aware of the threat to her safety, promptly departed Rome accompanied by her protectors. Shortly after their arrival in Egypt, Ptolemy XIV passed away, with rumors suggesting Cleopatra’s involvement in his death. Consequently, Cleopatra appointed her son, Caesarion, as co-regent. Following Caesar’s assassination, Rome faced a power vacuum and erupted into civil war. Ultimately, the empire became divided among three individuals.
Caesar’s great-nephew Octavian, later known as the emperor Augustus, along with Marcus Lepidus and Marcus Antonius, also known as Mark Antony, were present. In 42 B.C., Mark Antony summoned Cleopatra to Tarsus in order to interrogate her regarding her alleged assistance to his enemies. Cleopatra made an impressive entrance on a barge adorned with a gilded stern, purple sails, and silver oars.
Her maids, dressed as sea nymphs, sailed the boat while Cleopatra, dressed as Venus, the goddess of love, lounged beneath a gold canopy. She was fanned by boys wearing Cupid costumes, impressing Antony with this opulent demonstration of luxury.
Cleopatra had arranged for this event to occur. That night, she entertained Antony on her barge. The next evening, Antony asked her to dine with him in an attempt to outdo her in magnificence. Regrettably, he did not succeed but he took it lightheartedly and made jests about it. Cleopatra didn’t seem bothered by his inappropriate sense of humor and even joined in. Like Caesar before him, Antony was falling in love with Cleopatra. He neglected his responsibilities as a ruler and traveled to Alexandria with her, where they spent the winter.
After saying goodbye to Cleopatra, Antony returned to his duties as the ruler of the Roman empire. Six months later, Cleopatra gave birth to twins named Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios. It took four years for Antony and Cleopatra to meet again. During that time, Antony married Octavia, who was actually Octavian’s half-sister.
In 37 BC, Antony visited Cleopatra while preparing to invade Parthia. Having three children, he swiftly completed his military campaign and returned to Cleopatra, making Alexandria his permanent residence. Cleopatra became his sole focus.
In 36 BC, Cleopatra married Antony and had a son named Ptolemy Philadelphus. Meanwhile in Rome, Octavia remained faithful to her unfaithful husband and decided to visit Antony. While she was in Athens, she received a letter from him informing her of their planned meeting. However, Cleopatra was determined to prevent Antony from reuniting with his other wife and employed tactics such as crying, fainting, and starving herself. These strategies ultimately proved successful as Antony canceled his trip, leaving Octavia to return home without seeing her husband.
Octavia’s mistreatment and Cleopatra and Antony’s self-proclamation as gods deeply shocked the Roman people. Moreover, Antony’s decision to appoint Alexander Helios as king of Armenia, Cleopatra Selene as queen of Cyrenaica and Crete, and Ptolemy Philadelphus as king of Syria only exacerbated the situation. Caesarion was declared “King of Kings,” while Cleopatra assumed the title of “Queen of Kings.” These actions provoked Octavian’s fury, ultimately convincing the Roman Senate to initiate a war against Egypt in 31 B.C.
Antony’s forces engaged in a naval battle against the Romans near Actium, Greece. Cleopatra accompanied him with her own fleet of sixty ships. Observing that the Romans’ agile vessels were overpowering Antony’s slow and poorly manned galleys, Cleopatra departed the scene. Antony, in turn, deserted his men to pursue her.
The Romans interpreted Antony’s retreat as a manifestation of his obsession with Cleopatra and his inability to make independent decisions. Despite the possibility of prearrangement, Antony spent three days in isolation at the forefront of Cleopatra’s vessel, rejecting any interaction with her. Eventually, they returned to Egypt where Antony secluded himself for a period. Meanwhile, Cleopatra made arrangements in anticipation of an imminent Roman invasion. Upon discovering that his troops had surrendered at Actium and his allies had switched allegiance to Octavian, Antony abandoned his solitary existence and reunited with Cleopatra to savor their remaining time together. Cleopatra commenced experimenting with various toxins in search of the least agonizing means of death.
In 30 B.C., Octavian arrived in Alexandria and Mark Antony departed the city with his army to confront the opposing forces. Antony anticipated a naval confrontation between his fleet and the Roman fleet, as they were situated on elevated terrain. However, he was taken aback when he witnessed his own fleet honoring the Romans by lifting their oars and coordinating with them.
Prior to this event, she had constructed a mausoleum wherein she relocated all her wealth, encompassing gold, silver, emeralds, pearls, ebony, ivory, and various other precious possessions.
After Antony’s cavalry abandoned him, his infantry was defeated. Upon returning to the city, Antony accused Cleopatra of betraying him in anger. Fearing Antony’s wrath, Cleopatra sought sanctuary in a monument where she stored her treasures and locked herself inside. To trick Antony, she instructed her servants to inform him that she had died. Astonishingly, Antony fell for the fake news and went to his room. There, he opened his coat and expressed his longing to reunite with Cleopatra.
Antony instructed his servant, Eros, to end his life, but instead Eros took his own life. In desperation, Antony inflicted a self-inflicted stab wound to his stomach and collapsed onto a couch. Upon awakening, he pleaded with his servants to end his suffering, but they fled. Finally, Cleopatra’s secretary arrived and informed him that Cleopatra wished to see him. Filled with relief upon learning Cleopatra was still alive, Antony was transported to her mausoleum.
Cleopatra, fearing the arrival of Octavian’s army, hesitated to open the door. However, she and her two serving women devised a plan to hoist him up by ropes through a window. In distress, Cleopatra placed Antony on her bed and she mournfully lamented her loss, referring to him as her lord, husband, and emperor. Antony advised her not to pity him but to recall their past happiness. Shortly thereafter, he passed away. Upon reaching her monument, Octavian and his soldiers were denied entry by Cleopatra. She conversed with them from behind the door, demanding that her children be granted control of her kingdom.
Octavian directed one individual to engage her in conversation while the rest prepared ladders and ascended through the window. Upon spotting the men, Cleopatra brandished a dagger and endeavored to inflict harm upon herself; however, she was disarmed and apprehended. Similarly, her children were captured but treated favorably. Octavian permitted Cleopatra to organize Antony’s burial ceremony. Following the funeral, she fell into bed, consumed by sorrow.
Despite her desire to end her own life, Cleopatra was closely watched by Octavian. On a particular day, she threw herself half-naked at his feet, expressing her will to continue living. With Octavian’s consent, she paid a visit to Antony’s tomb before returning to her own mausoleum. After taking a bath, she requested a lavish feast. While the meal was being prepared, a man arrived at her monument carrying a basket of figs. Though the guards inspected the basket and found nothing suspicious, they allowed the man to present it to Cleopatra.
Cleopatra wrote a letter to Octavian after eating. She sealed it and requested to be buried in Antony’s tomb. Octavian opened the letter and became alarmed by Cleopatra’s plea. He sent messengers to warn her guards about her plans to commit suicide, but they arrived too late. They discovered the 39-year old queen dead on her golden bed, with her maid Iras dying beside her.
It was rumored that Cleopatra had intentionally allowed herself to be bitten by an asp, which had been smuggled in with the figs, resulting in two puncture marks on her arm. Consistent with her final wishes, she was laid to rest alongside Antony.
