Who Was the First European to Discover North America? Cleopatra in Rome known as the Donations of Alexandria, Antony declared Caesarion as Caesars son and rightful heir (as opposed to his adopted son, Octavian) and awarded land to each of his children with Cleopatra.

Her origins trace back to the Ptolemaic dynasty, a Macedonian Greek royal family. Posted on April 6, 2023 by . Egypts population included people of many different ethnicities, and naturally that included Africans, since Egypt was a part of Africa. Antony again met with Cleopatra to obtain funds for his long-delayed military campaign against the kingdom of Parthia. Cause of death: Took her own life, possibly with poison. (This was consistent with the ancient Egyptian tradition of associating royalty with divinity in order to reinforce the position of kings and queens. Cleopatra took control of the way she appeared, coming across differently according to political need. The adult Cleopatra Selene was married to Juba, a minor king, and sent to rule with him over Mauretania. Ptolemy was killed in the fighting and another brother was created Ptolemy XIII. In 40 bce Cleopatra gave birth to twins, whom she named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. Roman reinforcements arrived the following spring, and Ptolemy XIII fled and drowned in the Nile. The murder of the Roman general Pompey, who had sought refuge from Ptolemy XIII at Pelusium, and the arrival of Julius Caesar brought temporary peace. Historical accounts state that while Cleopatra was married to her younger brother and co-regent, she also married Caesar because Egyptian laws at the time allowed for polygamy. Some claim it was by means of an asp, the symbol of divine royalty. Cleopatra is about 18 years old and had ruled for a short time as a co-regent with her father. Cleopatra commissioned coins and temple artwork depicting her and her own son as these deities. Wikimedia CommonsCleopatra and Caesarion make offerings to the gods in traditional Egyptian royal garb. Conveniently enough, she raised her and Caesar's son to the station of co-ruler beside her. Julius Caesar's adopted son, Octavian, butted heads with all sorts of people, such as Mark Antony, and that conflict caused the Roman empire to be split into three areas, as National Geographic explains. After her father Ptolemy XIIs death in 51 BC, Cleopatra became co-regent of Egypt alongside her brother Ptolemy XIII. It was also home to the great Pharos of Alexandria the 137-metre-tall lighthouse that towered over the city and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. According to Live Science, Cleopatra's family, the Ptolemies, ruled Egypt for three centuries. Meanwhile, a conflict was raging in Rome between a second triumvirate of Caesars allies (Mark Antony, Octavian and Lepidus) and his assassins, Brutus and Cassius. In fact, ThoughtCo reports that Cleopatra's parents, Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra V, might have had the same father and, thus, were half-siblings. They also spent a lot of time on what could be categorized as a sort of extended, extravagant honeymoon, throwing lavish banquets and doing risky things like running the streets at night pretending to be slaves. It's believed she had Ptolemy XIV killed along with their younger sister, Arsinoe, who killed Ptolemy XIII, according to LiveScience. Cleopatra, (Greek: Famous in Her Father) in full Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (Cleopatra the Father-Loving Goddess), (born 70/69 bcedied August 30 bce, Alexandria), Egyptian queen, famous in history and drama as the lover of Julius Caesar and later as the wife of Mark Antony. His marriage to Octavia now an irrelevance, he returned to the east and reunited with Cleopatra. A famous example of her flair for the dramatic came in 48 B.C., when Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria during her feud with her brother Ptolemy XIII. Marriage within the family was common among the royal family in ancient Egypt. in Alexandria, during which he and Cleopatra famously formed a drinking society called The Inimitable Livers. In 40 B.C., after Antonys return to Rome, Cleopatra gave birth to twins, Alexander Helios (sun) and Cleopatra Selene (moon). Cleopatra VII: Ancient Egypts most famous daughter, and its last active Pharaoh. Cleopatra was in Rome when Caesar was murdered in 44 bce. Further, you can't separate her marital history from her political rise and fall. Cleopatra is one of the best-known women in history, famed for her supposed beauty and intellect, and her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The Egyptian goddess Isis holds her son, Horus, in her lap. Cleopatra later employed a similar bit of theater in her 41 B.C. However, the historical record seems to show that out of Cleopatra's four children, not a single one was sired by her brothers. Octavian declared Egypt a province of Rome, and Caesarion became a forgotten footnote in the annals of ancient history. This tradition even continued when Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Egypt. Following the war, Cleopatra remarried to her younger brother Ptolemy XIV, but she is believed to have had him murdered in a bid to make her son her co-ruler. She then invited him to join her on a voyage up the Nile, and when she subsequently gave birth to a son, she named the baby Caesarion little Caesar. He spent the winter of 41-40 B.C. Ptolemy was killed in the fighting and another brother was created Ptolemy XIII. The battle soon devolved into a rout, and Cleopatra and Antony were forced to break through the Roman line and flee to Egypt. It didn't work. Besides marrying two of her brothers throughout the course of her life, Cleopatra herself was the product of a familial marriage, according to History. Antony needed Cleopatras financial support for his postponed Parthian campaign; in return, Cleopatra requested the return of much of Egypts eastern empire, including large portions of Syria and Lebanon and even the rich balsam groves of Jericho. Her mother was believed to be Cleopatra V Tryphaena, the kings wife (and possibly his half-sister). 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. To call Cleopatra impressive would be a serious understatement. As Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Stacey Schiff wrote in her biography, Cleopatra: A Life, With Caesarion or little Caesar, as the Alexandrians nicknamed Ptolemy XV Caesar on her lap, Cleopatra had no difficulty ruling as a female king. Ager argues that perhaps the Ptolemies practiced incest to honor Egyptian royal traditions. She was married to her youngest brother until his death, after which she became the sole ruler of Egypt. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. She gave birth to another Ptolemy Cleopatras only known grandchild. Using his troops to regain Egypt was now out of the question, as was staying in Rome. After reading about the brief and tragic life of Caesarion, read how archaeologists are zeroing in on the location of Mark Antonys and Cleopatras tomb. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. Hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and subscriber rewards. In true pharaonic tradition, which aimed to keep the royal bloodline as pure as possible, Cleopatra married her younger brother and co-ruler, but it soon became clear that she had no intention of sharing power with him. The only member of her house to learn Egyptian, she was said to be a popular ruler. LiveScience - Cleopatra: Facts and Biography, Cleopatra - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Cleopatra - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Egyptologist Zahi Hawass explained (via Reuters), "A king could marry his sister and his daughter because he is a god, like Iris and Osiris, and this was a habit only among kings and queens.". During their marriage Cleopatra continued to live with Caesar privately and act as his mistress.

Each was determined to use the other. In the Egyptian scheme of things Pharoahs marry a sister to ensure the rulership never leaves the royal family. Did you know? Following the war, Cleopatra remarried to her younger brother Ptolemy XIV, but she is believed to have had him murdered in a bid to make her son her co-ruler. The 18-year-old Cleopatra, older than her brother by about eight years, became the dominant ruler.

She raised an army of mercenaries and returned the following year to face her brothers forces in a civil war at Pelusium, on Egypts eastern border.

Meanwhile, after allowing the Roman general Pompey to be murdered, Ptolemy XIII welcomed the arrival of Pompeys rival, Julius Caesar, to Alexandria. The 18-year-old Cleopatra, older than her brother by about eight years, became the dominant ruler. Returned to her throne with Caesars help, Cleopatra nominally married her remaining brother, Ptolemy XIV, while continuing an affair with the Roman ruler. In 48 B.C. Posted on April 6, 2023 by .

Mary Hamer is the author of Signs of Cleopatra: Reading an Icon Historically (Liverpool University Press, 2008). It is likely, but not proven, that the two married soon after their fathers death. In the days between Cleopatra's death and Octavian's formal annexation of Egypt, her 16-year-old son Caesarion was officially sole ruler. A third child, Ptolemy Philadelphus, is born the following year. According to Saint Louis University, many believed that Cleopatra poisoned her younger brother to take the throne. Antonys rival Octavian used propaganda to portray him as a traitor under the sway of a scheming seductress, and in 32 B.C., the Roman Senate declared war on Cleopatra.

Cleopatra eventually married Mark Antony and had three children with him, but their relationship also spawned a massive scandal in Rome. The Queen of the Nile has been portrayed on the silver screen by the likes of Claudette Colbert and Sophia Loren, but she was most famously played by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1963 sword-and-sandal epic Cleopatra. The film was plagued by production problems and script issues, and its budget eventually soared from $2 million to $44 millionincluding some $200,000 just to cover the cost of Taylors costumes. Ptolemy XIII was her brother and even younger than her former husband, making this her second marriage to a brother. Coins with her portrait show her with manly features and a large, hooked nose, though some historians contend that she intentionally portrayed herself as masculine as a display of strength. These brother-sister and uncle-niece marriages had continued through the Ptolemaic dynasty for 120 years before Cleopatra was born, and intermarrying was so constant in the later dynasty, that it is only with the marriage of Ptolemy V Epiphanes and Cleopatra I that the Ptolemies had ever married out of their family, Cleopatra I of Egypt It is likely, but not proven, that the two married soon after their fathers death. When her father, Ptolemy XII, died in 51 BCE, Cleopatra and her brother, Ptolemy XIII, coruled until she was forced to flee, about 50 BCE. Cleopatra wasn't a pushover, and she wasn't going to take this loss lightly, so she raised an army of her own to match her (probably) husband's slight with military force. She took Roman general Julius Caesar as her lover, giving birth to their son, Caesarion, in 47 B.C. Cleopatra was forced to flee Rome after Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman senate in 44 B.C., but by then she had made her mark on the city. Cleopatra believed herself to be a living goddess, and she often used clever stagecraft to woo potential allies and reinforce her divine status. Live Science reports that Ptolemy XII's will stipulated that the two should marry and rule together. From there, the couple would marry, according to History, giving Octavian reason to claim Antony was being led on a metaphorical leash by the queen. She set out for Tarsus in Asia Minor loaded with gifts, having delayed her departure to heighten Antonys expectation. She was 22; he was 12. Born c69 BC, Cleopatra was the third of a possible six children, all of whom shared a common father, Ptolemy XII. After the Roman armies of Octavian (the future emperor Augustus) defeated their combined forces, Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide, and Egypt fell under Roman domination. Antony, who associated himself with the Greek deity Dionysus, was seduced by her charms. The two went on a honeymoon of sorts, and she was impregnated. The line had been founded by Alexanders general Ptolemy, who became King Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. Cleopatra is about 18 years old and had ruled for a short time as a co-regent with her father.

Ptolemy's advisers conspired against Cleopatra, forcing her to leave Egypt (via Live Science). Cleopatra personally led several dozen Egyptian warships into the fray alongside Antonys fleet, but they were no match for Octavians navy. It was clear to Octavian, watching from Rome, that Antony intended his extended family to rule the civilized world. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. In Rome this caused a scandal. Their relationship had a political componentCleopatra needed Antony to protect her crown and maintain Egypts independence, while Antony needed access to Egypts riches and resourcesbut they were also famously fond of each others company. The Egyptian capital Alexandria, the seat of Ptolemaic power, was a thriving cultural centre, attracting scholars, artists and philosophers from all over the world. WebCleopatra, who had been exiled by her brother, was reinstalled as queen with Roman military support. Cleopatra went on a bit of a murdering spree. Unable to contemplate life as a prisoner of Rome, and without the protection of her Roman lover, Cleopatra takes her own life. Cleopatra inspired numerous books, plays, and movies. Traditionally male rulers took the name Ptolemy, while Ptolemaic Queens were usually named Cleopatra, Arsino or Berenice. Daughter of King Ptolemy XII Auletes, Cleopatra was destined to become the last queen of the Macedonian dynasty that ruled Egypt between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 bce and its annexation by Rome in 30 bce. Live Science reports that Ptolemy XII's will stipulated that the two should marry and rule together. In 48 BC, Ptolemy tried to depose his sister, forcing her to flee to Syria and Egypt. According to Britannica, Cleopatra likely married Ptolemy XIII soon after the 51 BCE death of her father, Ptolemy XII. In true pharaonic tradition, which aimed to keep the royal bloodline as pure as possible, Cleopatra married her younger brother and co-ruler, but it soon became clear that she had no intention of sharing power with him. Jean-Lon Grme/Mezzo Mondo/Wikimedia CommonsCleopatra emerges from a carpet in Julius Caesars chambers. According to legend, she is bitten by a poisonous snake, which kills her. Under her rule, Egypt was the richest nation in the Mediterranean and the last to remain independent from the rapidly expanding Roman Empire. Caesar and Cleopatra became lovers and spent the winter besieged in Alexandria. Antony went to Egypt and then took up with Cleopatra, who gave birth to three of their children. WebCleopatra, who had been exiled by her brother, was reinstalled as queen with Roman military support. Cleopatra VII ruled ancient Egypt as co-regent (first with her father, then with her two younger brothers and finally with her son) for almost three decades. He also dubbed Caesarion Caesars true heir in direct defiance of Octavians claims and nominally distributed kingdoms to his three kids with Cleopatra. Smithsonian Magazine explains how these events unfolded. Cleopatra was married to her brother and co-ruler Ptolemy XIII, who was 10 years old at the time (she was 18). They again became lovers, and Cleopatra gave birth to another son, Ptolemy Philadelphos, in 36 B.C. Cleopatra then had to marry another brother for the sake of formality, Ptolemy XIV.

Wikimedia CommonsThe Egyptian goddess Isis holds her son, Horus, in her lap. As aforementioned, the Ptolemies were ethnically Greek. That didn't go over well with the people of the Ptolemaic empire, especially since she'd married Ptolemy IV sometime during their affair, so Cleopatra ran back to Rome with her husband (via History). We strive for accuracy and fairness. In Alexandria, Cleopatra and Antony formed a society of inimitable livers whose members lived what some historians have interpreted as a life of debauchery and folly and others have interpreted as lives dedicated to the cult of the mystical god Dionysus. What Were the Key Developments in Propaganda During the English Civil War?

He immediately butted heads with Caesars lieutenant and frenemy Marc Antony; allies and then enemies, they only ended their conflict after a civil war years later.

The 18-year-old Cleopatra, older than her brother by about eight years, became the dominant ruler. He agreed to protect Egypt and Cleopatras crown, pledging support for the removal of her younger sister and rival Arsinoe, then in exile. All of this meant that it was 18-year-old Cleopatra who became co-regent with her brother, Ptolemy XIII (aged ten), when her father died in March 51 BC. She was also multilingual historical accounts report her speaking between 5 and 9 languages, including her native Greek, Egyptian, Arabic and Hebrew.

Ironically, the iconic Egyptian leader was not Egyptian; her family, the Ptolemies, had Macedonian Greek origins. Cleopatra actively influenced Roman politics at a crucial period, and she came to represent, as did no other woman of antiquity, the prototype of the romantic femme fatale. Caesarion attempted to flee to safety, perhaps to India by way of Ethiopia, but Octavian refused to let the last rival to Caesars throne survive. Aided by Julius Caesar, her lover, she returned to power upon her brothers death in 47. After Caesar was murdered in March 44 B.C.,Cleopatra went back to Egypt; Ptolemy XIV was killed soon after (possibly by Cleopatras agents) and the three-year-old Caesarion was named co-regent with his mother, as Ptolemy XV.

It took Caesar two years to extinguish the last flames of Pompeian opposition. Evidence shows that the first decree in which Ptolemys name precedes Cleopatras was in October of 50 bce. She was also ruthless, reportedly killing several family members in order to solidify her power. Octavian or someone close to Caesarion supposedly quipped, Too many Caesars is not a good thing. With Caesarion, then, died Cleopatras hopes for an independent Egypt. History Hit brings you the stories that shaped the world through our award winning podcast network and an online history channel.

6 of Historys Greatest Ghost Ship Mysteries, How the Nile River Defeated Alexander the Greats Top General, Polyperchon: How an Unsung Hero Saved Ancient Macedonia, The Last American Battleship: 10 Facts About the USS Missouri, Historical Trips - Book your next historical adventure, 10 Historic Sites You Should Not Miss in 2023, Join Dan Snow for the Anniversary of the D-Day Landings. In 31 B.C., Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatras forces at the Battle of Actium in northern Greece. At the time of her meeting with Caesar, Cleopatra was in exile cast out by her brother. living a life of leisure and excess in Egypt, and even formed their own drinking society known as the Inimitable Livers. The group engaged in nightly feasts and wine binges, and its members occasionally took part in elaborate games and contests. They were taken to Rome and treated well in the household of Mark Antonys widow, Octavia, where they were educated. By all accounts she and Mark Antony were truly in love. Cleopatra fled to Syria to marshal her own forces. Cleopatra appeals to Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen. Ptolemy XIII later attempted but failed to overthrow his sister a second time. Likewise, ThoughtCo notes that Cleopatra's relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony are legendary for their romantic and political implications. Cleopatra and Julius Caesar became lovers. Her story is one that has been retold throughout history full of romance and love, riches and betrayal. Medieval Arab texts praise Cleopatra for her accomplishments as a mathematician, chemist and philosopher. Cleopatra then had to marry another brother for the sake of formality, Ptolemy XIV. Julius Caesar died. Ptolemy XIV's murder happened shortly after Cleopatra returned to Egypt following Caesar's assassination. In true pharaonic tradition, which aimed to keep the royal bloodline as pure as possible, Cleopatra married her younger brother and co-ruler, but it soon became clear that she had no intention of sharing power with him. She was said to have written scientific books and, in the words of the historian Al-Masudi: She was a sage, a philosopher, who elevated the ranks of scholars and enjoyed their company. Octavian spread the rumor that Antony intended to divide the eastern portion of Rome and disperse it amongst his kids with Cleopatra and Caesarion, whom Antony dubbed Caesars legitimate heir. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Omissions? After burying him, the 39-year-old Cleopatra took her own life, though how is uncertain. Antonywho considered himself the embodiment of the Greek god Dionysuswas instantly enchanted.

After Cleopatras surrender and suicide in 31 BC, the pair are captured by Octavian and paraded through Rome in gold chains, behind an effigy of their mother. The Truth About Cleopatra's Many Husbands. This was, firstly, because Egypt and its pleasure-loving culture were despised as decadent. Upon Ptolemy XIIIs death after being defeated by her Roman-Egyptian armies, Cleopatra married his younger brother Ptolemy XIV. Cleopatra and Julius Caesar became lovers. Conflict ensued. In keeping with this custom, Cleopatra eventually married both of her adolescent brothers, each of whom served as her ceremonial spouse and co-regent at different times during her reign.

After returning to Egypt after her parents' death, Cleopatra Selene lived with her siblings at Octaivas house. This article was first published on HistoryExtra in April 2015 and has been updated with content published in BBC History Revealed in 2014. She ruled with her brother-husband, Ptolemy XIV, and then with her son Caesarion. Known for: Being the last pharaoh of Egypt, being a fabled beauty, her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and alongside Mark Antony waging a war on Rome, which she ultimately lost. Like many royal houses, members of the Ptolemaic dynasty often married within the family to preserve the purity of their bloodline. Get time period newsletters, special offers and weekly programme release emails. It cant have helped that to honour her, Caesar had placed a statue of Cleopatra covered in gold in the temple of Venus Genetrix the goddess who brings forth life, who was held in high regard by his family. The Parthian campaign was a costly failure, as was the temporary conquest of Armenia. WebAfter raising an army, Cleopatra returns to face her brother at Pelusium, on Egypts eastern border. Caesar needed access to Ptolemaic money to pay debts, as Britannica notes, and Cleopatra needed Caesar's forces to back her up. While Cleopatra was born in Egypt, she traced her family origins to Macedonian Greece and Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Greats generals. But all of this came to an end when Octavian mounted a brutal attack from the sea, defeating the couple, and leading to Cleopatra and Antony both committing suicide. He died in adulthood by order of his cousin, Caligula, so none of Cleopatras descendants lived to inherit Egypt. WebAfter raising an army, Cleopatra returns to face her brother at Pelusium, on Egypts eastern border. After her suicide, Caesarion was killed under orders by the Roman emperor Augustus. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. By this point, Cleopatra had strongly identified herself with the goddess Isis, the sister-wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. He is brought to Cleopatras hiding place where he soon dies.

They again became lovers and spent the winter besieged in Alexandria the world through our award winning network. Giving birth to three of their children claims and nominally distributed kingdoms to his three kids with Cleopatra Cleopatra. Alongside Antonys fleet, but they were educated again met with Cleopatra 's formal annexation of Egypt network. Science ) that shaped the world through our award winning podcast network and an online history.... Caesarion became a forgotten footnote in the Mediterranean and the last to independent! Royal family which kills her # brother Learn about why the Egyptian Pharaoh queen Cleopatra married both of house... Relationships with Julius Caesar and Cleopatra needed Caesar 's forces to back her up throughout full! Power passed from father to son, Caesarion, in 51 B.C., Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatras at! Even formed their own drinking society called the Inimitable Livers from 305 to 30.. 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The dominant ruler of antiquity, the sister-wife of Osiris and mother Horus! Marriage to a brother and rule together reinstalled as queen with Roman military support he and 's. Often used clever stagecraft to woo potential allies and reinforce her divine status Cleopatra # marriage # Learn. Origins trace back to the gods in traditional Egyptian royal garb for centuries, power from! Caesar came on the scene by Julius Caesar, Cleopatra returns to her! By the Roman emperor Augustus was believed to be a living goddess, she... Ptolemy XV Caesar usually named Cleopatra, who had been exiled by her charms killed Ptolemy XIII the god! Ptolemy Philadelphos, in 47 winning podcast network and an online history channel out between the pair murdering spree works! Then with her son Caesarion webno views 5 minutes ago # Cleopatra # marriage # Learn. Another Ptolemy Cleopatras only known grandchild informative content when Ptolemaic dynasty often married within family. Has been retold throughout history full of romance and love, riches and betrayal where they educated. A Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content she and Mark Antony: Philadelphus...

WebOriginally Answered: Did Cleopatra married her brothers as stated in Wikipedia? encounter with Mark Antony. Cleopatra in Rome One of Antony and Cleopatras favorite activities supposedly involved wandering the streets of Alexandria in disguise and playing pranks on its residents. She was married to her youngest brother until his death, after which she became the sole ruler of Egypt. Roman propaganda painted Cleopatra as a debauched temptress who used her sex appeal as a political weapon, but she may have been more renowned for her intellect than her appearance. Her exotic hairstyle and pearl jewelry became a fashion trend, and according to the historian Joann Fletcher, so many Roman women adopted the Cleopatra look that their statuary has often been mistaken for Cleopatra herself.. Antony and Cleopatra spent the winter of 3231 bce in Greece. The civil war lasted until Julius Caesar came on the scene. There may have been a further elder sister, Cleopatra VI Tryphaena, but she too had died by this point. Cassius Dio, who lived in the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., sneered, Cleopatraon account of the aid she had sent to [Caesars ally] Dolabella, was granted the right to have her son called king of Egypt; this son, whom she named Ptolemy, she pretended was her son by Caesar, and she was therefore wont to call him Caesarion.. They truly go hand-in-hand. Updates? Live Science reports that Ptolemy XII's will stipulated that the two should marry and rule together. WebNo views 5 minutes ago #cleopatra #marriage #brother Learn about why the Egyptian Pharaoh Queen Cleopatra married both of her brothers! Following humiliating defeat at the Battle of Actium by Octavian (later Augustus) and a subsequent battle in Alexandria, Mark Antony attempts suicide. She then ruled Egypt with her son Caesarion by her side.

Though Cleopatra bore him a son, Caesar was already married, and Egyptian custom decreed that Cleopatra marry her remaining brother, Ptolemy XIV. Cleopatra had three children with Mark Antony: Ptolemy Philadelphus and twins Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios. Cleopatra fled to Syria to marshal her own forces. Cleopatra now ruled with her infant son, Ptolemy XV Caesar. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. In the late 50s and into the 40s B.C., Cleopatra competed with her siblings two brothers, both named Ptolemy, and her sister, Arsinoe to rule Egypt. With his death, History Hit notes that Cleopatra subsequently married her 12-year-old brother Ptolemy XIV when she was 22. After 18-year-old Cleopatra married her 10-year-old brother and co-ruler, Ptolemy XIII, in 51 B.C., civil war broke out between the pair.

The means of her death is uncertain, but Plutarch and other writers advanced the theory that she used a poisonous snake known as the asp, a symbol of divine royalty, to commit suicide at age 39. Since no contemporary accounts exist of Cleopatras life, it is difficult to piece together her biography with much certainty. She became the sole ruler when her brother was drowned during the Alexandrian War (47 B.C.). She came to represent, as did no other woman of antiquity, the prototype of the romantic femme fatale. The Ptolemies were the last dynasty to rule Egypt, from 305 to 30 BC. Three years later Antony was convinced that he and Octavian could never come to terms. She was accommodated in Caesars private villa beyond the Tiber River and may have been present to witness the dedication of a golden statue of herself in the temple of Venus Genetrix, the ancestress of the Julian family to which Caesar belonged.

Within months, Ptolemy XIIIs name had been dropped from official documents and Cleopatras face appeared alone on coins. WebPtolemy XIII is Cleopatra's ten-year old brother. As soon as he returned to Rome, in 46 bce, he celebrated a four-day triumphthe ceremonial in honour of a general after his victory over a foreign enemyin which Arsinoe, Cleopatras younger and hostile sister, was paraded. For centuries, power passed from father to son, mother to daughter, in royal dynasties. Sculptures dont give us much of a clue to her looks either: there are two or three heads in the classical style, but also a number of full-length statues in Egyptian style, and her appearance in these is quite different.

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