Cleopatra: The Most Powerful Woman in the Ancient World Cleopatra VII was one of the most powerful women in history whose reign brought Egypt nearly twenty-two years of stability and prosperity. Throughout history much of her success has been discredited and she has instead been depicted as a seductress who used copulation to obtain power. Cleopatra was crowned queen at the age of eighteen and essentially controlled the entire eastern Mediterranean coast. She inherited a kingdom in decline and had the difficult task of salvaging Egypt. Through her incredible intellect and resourcefulness she was able to make a positive difference in her kingdom. Unfortunately, she did not go down in history as “the sole female in the ancient world to rule …show more content…
The underlying reality of Cleopatra’s strength has been undermined throughout history, but the truth is she was astute in the management of her country’s affairs, knew how to build a naval fleet, …show more content…
Cleopatra was much more cunning and intelligent than her brother had expected, and even though she was excommunicated from the palace in Alexandria, she managed to sneak in to see Caesar. She successfully convinced him that she was entitled to ruling beside her brother as her father had wished. Ptolemy was enraged and gathered a crowd together to mob the palace. However, Ptolemy’s efforts were thwarted and Caesar was remained determined. He gathered the formal assembly together and read aloud the document written by Ptolemy XII where he had explicitly stated that both Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII should rule alongside one another.
Cleopatra returned to the palace and took her rightful place as co-ruler. The time her and Caesar had spent with one another caused them to develop feelings for each other, and together they had a son named Caesarion. Ptomely XIII died shortly after Caesarion’s birth in an attempted rebellion, and his younger brother, Ptolemy XIV, took his place as co-ruler. Cleopatra was merciless and intent on having control so she later had Ptolemy XIV executed along with her older sister Arsinoe IV. This left her son Caesarion to rule alongside