Intro To Cleopatra's Life: Cleopatra

Cleopatra

Intro to Cleopatra’s Life

In 69-68 B.C. Ptolemy XII (Auletes) and Cleopatra the V gave birth to Cleopatra the VII. In part of the Macedonian dynasty, Cleopatra, her two younger brothers, and her son ruled ancient Egypt for about three decades. Cleopatra was a well educated, clever, and dominant ruler, she also spoke various languages. She was also known for her power of beauty and seduction, which had earned her her long lasting place in history.

Start of Cleopatra’s Ruling

After the death of Cleopatra’s father in 51 B.C., Cleopatra, at age 18 ,and her brother (Ptolemy XIII) at age 10, had the throne passed down to them. Her brother went against her and she was forced to flee Egypt. Cleopatra had fled to Syria in 49 B.C. a year after she had returned to Egypt with an army of mercenaries.

Cleopatra

During that time Egypt was becoming more wealthy with Cleopatra ruling over it.

In 37 B.C., Mark Antony had met with Cleopatra to get funds for his military campaign that was against Parthia, in exchange for his funds, he had given Cleopatra much of Egypt’s eastern empire (Cyprus, Crete, Cyrenaica (Libya), Jericho, and large amounts of Lebanon and Syria). Mark Antony and Cleopatra had then become lovers again and she had given birth to another son (Ptolemy Philadelphos).

The War Between Octavian and Cleopatra

In 36 B.C. Octavian had declared war on Cleopatra in late 32 B.C.. Octavian had done this because after the defeat in Parthia, instead of of accepting Octavia’s wanting to rejoin Mark Antony, he went back to Egypt to Cleopatra and Octavian felt that Mark Antony was under Cleopatra’s control.

Also in that time the Roman Senate had taken away Mark Antony’s titles. In September 2, 31 B.C., Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s forces were defeated by Octavian’s.

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