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Quick Facts
- NAME: Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator
- OCCUPATION: Queen
- BIRTH DATE: c. 69 BCE
- DEATH DATE: c. 30 BCE
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Egypt
- PLACE OF DEATH: Alexandria, Egypt
- AKA: Cleopatra
Best Known For
As queen of ancient Egypt, Cleopatra is one of the famous female rulers in history. The stories surrounding Cleopatra's tragic life inspired a Shakespeare play.
Videos see all videos
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Cleopatra - Powerful Woman (1:52)
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Cleopatra - The End (1:50)
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Cleopatra - Born to Rule (1:48)
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Cleopatra - Powerful Woman
A look at the life of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt and lover of Julius Caesar and Antony.
Cleopatra - The End
Cleopatra's death on August 12th, 30 BC was consequence of Augustus, legal heir of Caesar, and Cleopatra's love for his rival Mark Antony.
Cleopatra - Born to Rule
A look into the childhood and grooming of the lovely Egyptian ruler.
Cleopatra - Attraction to Power
Cleopatra was exiled to the Roman Empire after giving birth to Julius Caesar's son Caesarian and alienating his wife Calpurnia.
Cleopatra VII. (2012). Biography.com. Retrieved 01:16, Feb 09, 2012 from http://www.biography.com/people/cleopatra-vii-9250984
Cleopatra VII [Internet]. 2012. http://www.biography.com/people/cleopatra-vii-9250984, February 09
" Cleopatra VII." 2012. Biography.com 09 Feb 2012, 01:16 http://www.biography.com/people/cleopatra-vii-9250984
' Cleopatra VII', Biography.com,(2012) http://www.biography.com/people/cleopatra-vii-9250984 [accessed Feb 09, 2012]
" Cleopatra VII," Biography.com, http://www.biography.com/people/cleopatra-vii-9250984 (accessed Feb 09, 2012).
Cleopatra VII [Internet]. Biography.com; 2012 [cited 2012 Feb 09]. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/cleopatra-vii-9250984.
Cleopatra VII, http://www.biography.com/people/cleopatra-vii-9250984 (last visited Feb 09, 2012).
Cleopatra VII, http://www.biography.com/people/cleopatra-vii-9250984 (last visited Feb 09, 2012).
Synopsis
As queen of ancient Egypt, Cleopatra is one of the famous female rulers in history. Her family had ruled Egypt for more than 100 years before she was born around 69 BC. The stories and myths surrounding Cleopatra's tragic life inspired a number of books, movies, and plays, including Antony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare. Cleopatra has become one of the most well-known ancient Egyptians.
(born 70/69 —died August of 30 , Alexandria) Egyptian queen, famous in history and drama as the lover of Julius Caesar and later the wife of Marc Antony. She became queen on the death of her father, Ptolemy XII, in 51 and ruled successively with her two brothers Ptolemy XIII (51–47) and Ptolemy XIV (47–44) and her son Ptolemy XV Caesar (44–30). 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. 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.
Life and reign
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 and its annexation by Rome in 30 . The line had been founded by Alexander's general Ptolemy, who became King Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. Cleopatra was of Macedonian descent and had little, if any, Egyptian blood, although the Classical author Plutarch wrote that she alone of her house took the trouble to learn Egyptian and, for political reasons, styled herself as the new Isis, a title that distinguished her from the earlier Ptolemaic queen Cleopatra III, who had also claimed to be the living embodiment of the goddess Isis. Coin portraits of Cleopatra show a countenance alive rather than beautiful, with a sensitive mouth, firm chin, liquid eyes, broad forehead, and prominent nose. When Ptolemy XII died in 51 , the throne passed to his young son, Ptolemy XIII, and daughter, Cleopatra VII. It is likely, but not proven, that the two married soon after their father's death. The 18-year-old Cleopatra, older than her brother by about eight years, became the dominant ruler. Evidence shows that the first decree in which Ptolemy's name precedes Cleopatra's was in October of 50 . Soon after, Cleopatra was forced to flee Egypt for Syria, where she raised an army and in 48 returned to face her brother at Pelusium, on Egypt's eastern border. 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.
Cleopatra realized that she needed Roman support, or, more specifically, Caesar's support, if she was to regain her throne. Each was determined to use the other. Caesar sought money for repayment of the debts incurred by Cleopatra's father, Auletes, as he struggled to retain his throne. Cleopatra was determined to keep her throne and, if possible, to restore the glories of the first Ptolemies and recover as much as possible of their dominions, which had included southern Syria and Palestine. Caesar and Cleopatra became lovers and spent the winter besieged in Alexandria. Roman reinforcements arrived the following spring, and Ptolemy
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Marc Antony and Cleopatra
View groupAfter Caesar's assassination, Cleopatra set her sights on the dashing Roman general Marc Antony. The two began an affair, resulting in twins in 40 B.C. Antony wed Cleopatra in 36 B.C., and appointed his new wife ruler of Egypt, Cyprus, Crete, and Cyria. This abuse of power so outraged the Roman Senate that they denounced him a traitor. After losing a major battle at sea, Antony and Cleopatra were forced to flee to Egypt in 31 B.C. In desperation, Cleopatra spread rumors of her own suicide. Antony, unaware of her plan, stabbed himself to death. When Cleopatra heard of this, she took her own life by inducing a poisonous snake to bite her.
Marc Antony and Cleopatra 1 people in this group
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Loved to Death
View groupWhen one lover attacks another in a moment of unbridled emotion—or tries to eliminate their romantic competition—it's traditionally been known as 'a crime of passion.' These days, fits of rage over lost love are often chalked up to 'temporary insanity.' Whatever you call them, crimes committed in the name of love have been part of our cultural history since ancient times. Here are some of the most famous examples of passion-gone-wrong, from those who couldn't bear to part with their true love to those who found themselves on the receiving end of an obsessive romance.
Loved to Death 18 people in this group
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Famous Queens
View groupBrowse notable queens such as Cleopatra VII, Queen Rania, and Anna Ivanovna.
Famous Queens 28 people in this group
