Cleopatra VII, the last reigning queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, was an ancient leader who developed a relationship with two powerful Roman leaders to consolidate her rule. Cleopatra alliance with Julius Caesar was significant in restoring her place to the throne, however, his death resulted her to align with another powerful Roman to avoid annexation. Her alliance with Mark Antony gained the territorial expansion needed to consolidate her rule through the Eastern Acquisition and Donations of Alexandria. Thus, the source provided by ancient historian Appian and other historians presents us an insight into the impacts the alliances had on Cleopatra’s career. Cleopatra’s political relationship with Julius Caesar was significant to …show more content…
Undoubtedly, each has political motives to couple their attraction to each other with Antony offering her protection and Egypt, as well as the assassination of her last rival to throne Arisone IV to eliminate threats to her reign. In return, Cleopatra’s price was resources to aid Antony’s ambitions of conquest in Parthia. Ancient Historian Plutarch who wrote stories on great men articulates on “Caesar’s passion for Cleopatra”, which presents us an insight into Caesar’s relationship with Cleopatra. The romantic and political alliance progressed as she gave birth to twins named Alexander Helois and Cleopatra Selene in 40 BC, which also supported her claims to the throne In the source provided by Greek historian Appian it further reinforces on the significance of their relationship and her power as “whatever Cleopatra ordered was done, regardless of laws human or divine”. This is shown through their marriage as she achieved her political demands to gain ownership again of the Egyptian lands held by the Ptolemies two hundred years earlier in return for military support, in what was known as the Eastern Acquisition. As a result Cleopatra gained a number of territories such as Tarsus, Cyrene and Palestine. However, she was denied Judea as Antony had given it to Herod, which led to her taking fury out on Herod. This was Antony’s demonstration of how he was not as ‘bewitched’ by the queen as many historical sources suggested. Nonetheless, the Eastern Acquisition was a significant event to further strengthen the pair’s alliance and Cleopatra’s dreams of an enlarged empire. Furthermore, Cleopatra’s alliance with Mark Antony gained her territorial expansion through the Donations of Alexandria, which was significant in her plans to secure an Egyptian hegemony. The Donations of Alexandria was the opulent ceremony