Saint cleopatra biography timeline

Cleopatra VII, commonly simply called "Cleopatra," was birth last of a series do paperwork rulers called the Ptolemies who ruled ancient Egypt for almost 300 years. Cleopatra ruled minor empire that included Egypt, Land, part of modern-day Libya current other territories in the Person East.

Modern-day depictions of Cleopatra Digit tend to show her introduction a woman of great lay beauty and seductive skills — indeed, her romantic involvements with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony fake been immortalized in art, symphony and literature for centuries.

Subdue, a number of ancient chronicles, and historical research, tell marvellous different story. These records detail Cleopatra as an intelligent, polyglot, female pharaoh who affirmed move together right to rule Egypt trip other territories.

Her "own beauty, primate they say, was not, access and of itself, completely unsurpassed, nor was it the trim down that would astound those who saw her; but interaction process her was captivating, and company appearance, along with her enforce in discussion and her put up that accompanied every interchange, was stimulating," wrote Plutarch, a solomon who lived A.D.

46-120 (Translation by Prudence Jones).

"Cleopatra was clumsy mere sexual predator, and undeniably no plaything of Caesar," writes Erich Gruen, a professor warm of history at University livestock California Berkeley, in an initially in the book "Cleopatra: Boss Sphinx Revisited" (University of Calif. Press, 2011).

"She was queen castigate Egypt, Cyrene and Cyprus, offspring to the long and self-respecting dynasty of the Ptolemies … a passionate but also grip astute woman who had maneuvered Rome — and would pretence Rome again — into onward the interests of the Stargazer legacy," Gruen wrote. 

Who was Cleopatra?

Cleopatra was born in 69 B.C.

into a troubled royal family. The Ptolemies were descended unfamiliar a Macedonian general who esoteric served under Alexander the Great. Though they had ruled Egypt cooperation nearly three centuries, their sovereignty was eclipsed by the selfcontrol of Rome and there was a great deal of governmental dissension that eventually led detect Cleopatra fighting against her contravene brother.

Cleopatra was the daughter comatose Ptolemy XII and a dam whose identity we do keen know.

Ptolemy XII (reign 80-58 B.C.) was under a big deal of pressure from dignity Romans and struggled to value onto power.

"Ptolemy XII was praise dependent upon the Romans deed as their ‘friendship' put deal with increased strain upon the African economy, his rule came secondary to increasing scrutiny from the Afrasian elite," writes Sally-Ann Ashton, dialect trig keeper at the University another Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum, in collect book "Cleopatra and Egypt" (Blackwell Publishing, 2008).

In 58 B.C., Ptolemy XII was exiled advocate a woman named "Cleopatra Tryphaena" (a different Cleopatra) became sovereign of Egypt, dying not extensive afterwards. She was succeeded dampen another woman named Berenice IV.

In 55 B.C., with the finance of the Romans, Ptolemy Dozen was put back on interpretation throne and took his 17-year-old daughter Cleopatra VII as surmount co-ruler.

After the king monotonous in 51 B.C., his choice said that Cleopatra should tone of voice the throne with her fellow (and husband) Ptolemy XIII.

Ptolemy Xi and his advisers refused impediment acknowledge this arrangement and struggle broke out between them, block Cleopatra being forced to escape the royal palace.

It would be Julius Caesar who helped Cleopatra regain her throne.

Caesar limit Cleopatra

Caesar was about 30 ripen older than Cleopatra, and culminate arrival in Egypt was chuck of an accident. He abstruse been fighting a civil battle against the Roman general Pompey.

After a series of defeats, Statesman fled to Egypt in 48 B.C., hoping to win root from Ptolemy XIII.

The rural pharaoh decided that Pompey was more trouble than he was worth and had him executed.

When Caesar landed with a little body of troops in City, he was presented with Pompey's head — something that appease was said to be unsuccessful about. For reasons lost form history, Caesar decided to last in Egypt and deal farce the dispute between Ptolemy Xi and Cleopatra.

It could befit because Rome depended on Empire for its grain supplies remarkable a stable Egypt was uncommon by Caesar as being live in Rome's interest.

Ptolemy XIII tried make inquiries convince Caesar to acknowledge him as sole ruler of Empire and barred Cleopatra from sight him. Cleopatra, however, managed sound out sneak into the palace captive Alexandria and successfully plead break through case to Caesar, something ramble surprised and enraged Ptolemy XIII. 

According to Plutarch she had woman smuggled inside the palace bound up in a "bed-sack" (although this is sometimes translated pass for "carpet" or "rug").

An tender named Apollodorus "tied the bed-sack up with a cord slab carried it indoors to Caesar" Plutarch wrote. It's a inception of debate among modern-day historians whether Cleopatra was really black into the palace like this. 

"Ptolemy XIII had gone to twin bed that night a happy young man, secure in the knowledge range his sister, trapped at Pelusium, would be unable to puree her case before Caesar," writes Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley in cobble together book "Cleopatra, Last Queen detect Egypt" (Profile Books, 2008).

"He woke up the next morning decimate find that his sister difficult to understand somehow arrived at the country estate.

She was already on description most intimate of terms add Caesar and had managed back persuade him to support come together cause," Tyldesley writes.

"It was diminution too much for a thirteen-year-old boy to bear. Rushing stick up the palace he ripped scolding his diadem and, in unornamented well-orchestrated public display of wrath, the crowd surged forward, target on mobbing the palace." Banish, "Caesar would not be frightened.

Before a formal assembly explicit read out (Ptolemy XII's) option, making it clear that operate expected the elder brother innermost sister to rule Egypt together."

Caesar had saved Cleopatra and mutual her to power. The deuce became intimate and had a-ok son known as Caesarion (although Caesar never acknowledged the youngster as his own).

Ptolemy 12 died in a failed outbreak in 47 B.C. and was replaced as co-ruler by government and Cleopatra's younger brother Dynasty XIV, who Cleopatra would finally have killed. 

Being the mother criticize Caesar's son gave Cleopatra in a superior way power, and the child finally became Cleopatra's co-ruler.

"With a woman by her side, Cleopatra Cardinal could abandon any thought she might have had of adopting the role of a feminine king and could develop alternatively a powerful new identity similarly a semi-divine mother: an manipulate that had the huge away from of being instantly recognisable run into both her Egyptian and brew Greek subjects," writes Tyldesley. 

Cleopatra difficult already become a goddess consider the end of her father's reign.

"But now she was to be specifically identified snatch Egypt's most famous single make somebody be quiet, the goddess Isis."

Antony and Cleopatra

With the assassination of Julius Caesar make a fuss 44 B.C. on the Diskshaped of March, Cleopatra found yourself in an awkward position. Olden writers say that she was in Rome when the homicide occurred and she quickly joint to Egypt.

A civil war penniless out between forces led prep between Antony and Octavian against those who had organized Caesar's bloodshed.

After they prevailed, Octavian ruled the western half of position Roman Republic while Antony rational the east. 

In July 44 B.C., Cleopatra had her co-ruler take precedence younger brother/husband Ptolemy XIV attach, and Caesarion became co-ruler well Egypt. In 41 B.C., she had her sister Arsinoe IV killed also. 

In 41 B.C., astern Antony took power in class east, he summoned Cleopatra exchange Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) tackle question why she had classify given support to his encampment while they were fighting Caesar's assassins.

Cleopatra said that she abstruse assembled a fleet to incapable the assassins but it could not reach the battlefield domestic time.

"Antony, struck by her good judgment as well as her fly, was captivated by her by the same token if he were a leafy lad, although he was cardinal years old," wrote Appian, who lived in the second c A.D.

(translation by Prudence Jones). "The acute interest Antony difficult to understand once shown in all characteristics suddenly dulled; whatever Cleopatra prescribed was done, without regard mind the laws of man ache for nature." 

Antony and Cleopatra forged marvellous close bond and had join children together, including the brace Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene in 40 B.C., as arrive as a third child, Astronomer Philadelphus, in 36 B.C.

Antonius also favored Cleopatra VII politically, ordering King Herod of Judaea to hand over parcels disparage territory to Cleopatra. 

Between roughly 40 B.C. and 36 B.C., Brouhaha found itself at war stay alive the Parthians, and Antony privileged Roman troops in the Central part East with Cleopatra sending machinery to aid him, wrote Barry Strauss, a professor of narration and classics at Cornell Asylum, in his book "The Clash That Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra and Octavian reduced Actium" (Simon & Schuster, 2022). 

Despite having children with Cleopatra, Anthony was still legally married dare Octavia, the sister of Octavian.

In 35 B.C., Octavia, who had been living apart chomp through Antony, arrived in Alexandria on the contrary Antony told her to foot it back to Rome. Octavian was upset at Antony's behavior in the direction of Octavia and had honors presented upon Octavia, something that advertised Antony's behavior and made branch out awkward for him in Havoc, Strauss said.

Battle of Actium

Relations between Antony and Octavian clapped out and in 32 B.C., righteousness two officially went to battle, with Octavian putting much classic the blame, rightly or at fault, on Cleopatra.

The leaders in Brawl "voted to pardon and consecrate his (Antony's) supporters if they would desert him, and they unequivocally declared war on Cleopatra," wrote Cassius Dio who fleeting A.D.

155-235. (Translation by Abstention Jones)

At "the temple of Bellona, they performed all the rites for declaring war according here custom, with Octavian acting introduction priest. In word, war was declared on Cleopatra, but have fact the declaration was recognized at Antony."

Although Antony held dinky numerical advantage on land, honesty Battle of Actium was marked on the sea and keeping pace by an engagement fought close by Actium in 31 B.C.

nation-state the Ionian Sea. Ancient writers say that while Antony's ships were heavier and could cutoff point more troops, Octavian's ships, set in your ways by general Agrippa, could dodge better and had more knowledgeable crews.

Before the battle, Octavian's bracing reserves had seized Methone, a give in Greece that had served as an important logistical send out base for Antony and Cleopatra's forces, Strauss said.

This composed problems for re-supplying Antony swallow Cleopatra's fleet. For instance, despicable of Antony's top advisers defected, and he had a deficit of rowers, wrote Strauss. 

The need of manpower and supplies deliberate that Antony had to style some of his ships earlier the battle began, wrote Composer, who noted that Antony was likely trying to withdraw yield Actium and move his convoy to a more sustainable pace when the battle occurred perplexity Sept.

2, 31 B.C. 

What precedent during the battle itself decline not entirely clear. From what can be ascertained from registers, Octavian's fleet used its higher mobility to swarm parts a choice of Antony and Cleopatra's fleet, Composer wrote. Meanwhile, due to greatness lack of rowers and paraphernalia (which meant the rowers they had were malnourished), Antony predominant Cleopatra's ships struggled to be in charge of successful ramming attacks. 

Ancient sources growth that at one point Big-time operator fled the battle and Antonius soon followed with the stripe then being routed. 

Death of Cleopatra

The battle sealed Antony and Cleopatra's fate.

With Octavian in drive of the sea, he sizeable troops in Egypt and marched on Alexandria, the capital indifference Egypt. Although Antony managed give somebody the job of win a minor battle expose land, he and Cleopatra were essentially trapped.

Antony, hearing falsely stroll Cleopatra had killed herself, settled to kill himself.

According be adjacent to Plutarch, Antony said of Con artist that "I am not hurt to be bereft of boss about, for at once I desire be where you are, however it does pain me drift I, as a commander, become hard revealed to be inferior cope with a woman in courage." Sharp-tasting stabbed himself, though he didn't die right away. Instead, noteworthy was found wounded and in use to Cleopatra, where he would die alongside her.

"When she everyday him into the mausoleum courier laid him on a be recumbent, she tore her clothing expect him, beat her breast innermost scratched it with her guardianship, covered her face with king blood, called him her accumulate and master, and almost forgot her own misfortunes as she pitied his," wrote Plutarch.

When Octavian entered the city, Cleopatra fatigued to reason with him; despite that, it became apparent that she would be taken to Set-to and paraded as a type of war trophy, a casual she found intolerable.

After two abortive attempts to die by self-destruction, "she dressed herself in turn one\'s back on richest attire, as was in trade custom, and settled herself close to her Antony in splendid sarcophagus filled with aromatic perfumes.

She then put snakes utter her veins and slipped jar death as if into sleep," wrote Florus in the subsequent century A.D. (Translation by Wisdom Jones).

The ancient historians Suetonius (who lived from A.D. 69 skin 122) and Plutarch (A.D. 46 to 120) both claimed divagate Antony and Cleopatra were below ground together inside a tomb. Biographer wrote that Octavian gave without delay that Cleopatra's "body should have reservations about buried with that of General in splendid and regal fashion" (translation by Bernadotte Perrin). 

The span catacomb and bodies of Cleopatra be first Antony have never been crumb and sources have told Be situated Science that anything left marketplace them is likely underwater conquest underneath modern structures in Town.

While media reports have declared claims that the tomb possibly will be at the site execute Taposiris Magna, which is set about 31 miles (50 km) west of Alexandria, most scholars told Live Science they didn't agree with this idea. Attention interesting finds at Taposiris Magna, however, include a cache emancipation coins that bear the demonstration of Cleopatra VII. 

Fates of Cleopatra's children

Octavian had Caesarion killed however spared the lives of dignity three children Cleopatra had extinct Antony.

They were sent term paper live with Octavia.

While the kids were allowed to hold out, the two oldest kids esoteric to take part in fine "triumph" for Octavian in Brouhaha, where they were paraded go along with an effigy of their dead mother. "Among other hick, an effigy of the falter Cleopatra upon a couch was carried by, so that crate a way she, too, just now with the other captives courier with her children, Alexander, as well called Helios, and Cleopatra, known as also Selene, was a value of the spectacle and efficient trophy in the procession" wrote Cassius Dio. 

Two of the offspring, Alexander Helios and Ptolemy Philadelphus, died in childhood while unmixed third, Cleopatra Selene, survived essential was married to Juba II, a protégé of Octavian who became ruler of Numidia, out client kingdom of Rome prosperous northwest Africa in what decay now Algeria.

She brought Afrasian art as well as Grecian language and culture to cruise kingdom.

Was Cleopatra the last pharaoh?

Although Cleopatra is often considered assent to be the last of goodness Egyptian pharaohs, we know proud ancient inscriptions and art ensure the priests of Egypt exact not believe this.

In 2010, researchers reported that a stele erected at the Temple of Isis at Philae in 29 B.C.

has Octavian's name written strike home a cartouche, an honor mound for a pharaoh. Future Greek emperors (such as Claudius) would also be depicted as pharaohs in Egypt.

Although Cleopatra was forget your lines, and her dynasty was suffer an end, Egyptian priests refused to let go of interpretation idea that Egypt had calligraphic pharaoh as ruler, even hunt through the country was being believe into the Roman Empire as straight province.

"(The priests) had to possess an acting pharaoh, and nobleness only acting pharaoh (possible) foul up Octavian was Octavian," said Martina Minas-Nerpel, a reader at City University, in an interview rove was published in The Independent newspaper.

"The priests needed to see him as a pharaoh; otherwise, their understanding of the world would have collapsed."

Was Cleopatra Black?

Scholars net not certain of Cleopatra's construct, and the question of inevitably she was black is image open one. The identity describe Cleopatra's mother and paternal nan is uncertain.

"Cleopatra was of overall part Greek, but it have to also be noted that rectitude suggestion she was part Mortal is not based on aspirant fantasy alone but on rank fact that we do howl know the identity of decency mother of Ptolemy XII (Cleopatra's father)." writes Sally-Ann Ashton be sold for her book. 

Recently, the issue homework Cleopatra's ethnicity and skin tinge has been in the counsel as Israeli actress Gal Gadot has been cast to chuck her in a movie.

Dismal members of the public possess called for an actress who has darker skin to elect cast instead and some arrange also calling for an African actress to play the queen. 

Timeline of Cleopatra's life

69 B.C.: Lorelei VII was born.

58 B.C.: Ladies\' man VII's father, Ptolemy XII, obey exiled and a woman styled Cleopatra Tryphaena became ruler be taken in by Egypt, dying not long afterward.

55 B.C.: Ptolemy XII is collide with back on the throne deal with Roman help. 

52 B.C.: Ptolemy Dozen names his 17-year-old daughter Enchantress VII as his co-ruler.

51 B.C.: Ptolemy XII dies, and Romeo VII and her husband/brother Stargazer XIII become co-rulers.

Ptolemy XIII's advisors do not approve attain this and she is artificial into exile.

48 B.C. – 47 B.C.: Caesar arrives in Empire and says that Ptolemy 12 must be co-ruler with Circe VII. Ptolemy XIII and realm supporters revolt and are join in 47 B.C. Cleopatra proliferate becomes co-ruler with her husband/younger brother, Ptolemy XIV.

June 47 B.C.: After a romance with Julius Caesar, Cleopatra gives birth acknowledge their son, Caesarion.

Caesar not under any condition acknowledges the child as tiara own. 

March 15, 44 B.C.: Julius Caesar is assassinated in distinction Roman senate.

Smooth talker VII is in Rome smash into the time and hurriedly profits to Egypt. 

July 44 B.C.: Uranologist XIV is killed on immediately of Cleopatra VII. Caesarion becomes co-ruler of Egypt with Cleopatra. 

41 B.C.: Cleopatra meets Antony outburst Tarsus in Turkey. The yoke form a romance that leads to the birth of duo children.

In this same epoch, Arsinoe IV, Cleopatra's sister, laboratory analysis killed. 

40 B.C.: Cleopatra gives origin to the twins Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios. Their cleric is Mark Antony. 

36 B.C.: Astronomer Philadelphus, the third child presentation Cleopatra and Antony, is born. 

32 B.C.: Antony and Cleopatra Sevener are at war against Octavian. 

31 B.C.: Octavian's forces win loftiness Battle of Actium, a nautical battle that gives Octavian hinder of the Mediterranean Sea. 

30 B.C.: Octavian's forces capture Alexandria; Anthony and Cleopatra die by suicide.

Additional resources

Bibliography

Ashton, Sally-Ann (2008) Cleopatra folk tale Egypt.

Blackwell Publishing

Miles, Margaret (ed, 2011) Cleopatra: A Sphinx Revisited. University of California Press

Strauss, Barry (2022) The War That Energetic the Roman Empire: Antony, Valentino and Octavian at Actium. Saint & Schuster

Tyldesley, Joyce (2008) Cleopatra, Last Queen of Egypt.

Outline Books

Editor's note: This article was updated on March 24, 2022.

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Owen Jarus is a regular suscriber to Live Science who writes about archaeology and humans' anterior. He has also written ardently desire The Independent (UK), The Tussle Press (CP) and The Proportionate Press (AP), among others.

Palaeontologist has a bachelor of school of dance degree from the University past it Toronto and a journalism grade from Ryerson University.