Cleopatra's Influence On Julius Caesar

Cleopatra VII is a figure known in history as one of the most memorable and powerful female figures of the ancient era. After her death, much evidence of her legacy was destroyed; however, through years of studying and researching, historians have gathered a large portion of information on the Ptolemaic rulers. Even still, there are questions about her that remain unanswered to this day. What is known about her is that she was an excellent temptress and she used her beauty to move up in the world. A mysterious figure in history, Cleopatra VII skillfully manipulated her family, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony to make herself the well-known figure she remains today. Part of Cleopatra’s early family were her parents and her two brothers. Her

Cleopatra, having been previously overthrown by her consort-brother’s advisers, was seeking refuge in Syria at the time. She realized that she needed to be in Alexandra or she would miss important negotiations; however, she knew she was disliked by Ptolemy XIII’s advisers, and would therefore have a hard time getting into the palace. Her solution was simple: hide inside of a rolled-up rug and be taken into the palace while her consort-brother was away. It worked, and when the rug was unrolled, Cleopatra VII and Julius Caesar finally met. They warmed to each other quickly. When Ptolemy XIII came back to Alexandria the next morning, he felt that his sister had gained an upper hand over him in power and tried to flee, only to be caught by Caesar. The Alexandrian War started after Ptolemy’s advisers came to help, but after 6 months, an escape attempt by Ptolemy ended it when he drowned in the Nile River. Now back in power, Cleopatra needed a new consort-- she chose her 11-year-old brother, Ptolemy XIV. In 47 BC, Cleopatra gave birth to a son, whom she named Caesarion, or Ptolemy XV. A year later, Caesar’s return to Rome celebrated him as a hero; as a celebratory measure, he invited Cleopatra, her son, and their entourage to Rome, where he spoiled the queen and kept it no secret that he was Caesarion’s father. The Roman people did not approve of this at all, and a group of Caesar’s senators

So, in 41 BC, when she was asked to Tarsus by Mark Antony to discuss loyalties, she decided it best to make as grand of a first impression as possible. To accomplish this, Cleopatra “arrived in Tarsus dressed as Aphrodite … with attendants dressed as cherubs fanning her, and ladies-in-waiting dressed as mermaids” (Lovelady). Immediately smitten, Antony spent the following winter with the queen in Alexandria. They were wed in 36 BC after the birth of their twins, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, and soon after Cleopatra bore another son, Ptolemy Philadelphus. (Lovelady) Then, in 34 BC, Antony had a military victory, one that he celebrated with a parade called “the donations of Alexandria.” (Tyldesley) This involved Antony and Cleopatra raising themselves to god-like status by calling themselves the New Dionysus and the New Isis. Antony even gave their children the titles of kings and queens, and granted them land in Rome. He spoke of Cleopatra as the “Queen of Kings,” put her face on a Roman coin, and even divorced his other wife in 31 BC. However, Octavian, another Roman ruler, was appalled by this and set out to ruin the couple. He found that Antony intended to do many things that would make Cleopatra more powerful-- this was unacceptable to both him and the people of Rome. Octavian declared war on Egypt. There was to be a naval