Essay, Research Paper

Cleopatra VII ( referred to hereafter as Cleopatra ) was the last Ptolemic swayer of Egypt. She ruled from 51-30 BC. Her household ruled Egypt get downing in 305 BC, when Ptolemy I declared himself King of Egypt. The Ptolemy household was non of Egyptian decent, but of Macedonian decent. The capital metropolis in which they ruled from was Alexandria.Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos & # 8220 ; Auletes & # 8221 ; was Cleopatra & # 8217 ; s male parent. He started governing Egypt in 80 BC. He was non good respected and thought of as weak. Cleopatra & # 8217 ; s female parent may be Cleopatra V Tryphaena, who either died or disappeared in 70 BC, right after Cleopatra & # 8217 ; s birth in 69 BC. Cleopatra had two older sisters, Cleopatra VI and Berenice IV, and one younger sister, Arsinoe IV. She besides had two younger brothers, Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV both of whom she married. Who separately end up either traveling against Cleopatra s parents or her for the opinion of Egypt.In 58 BC, Berenice IV ( and perchance Cleopatra ) took over Egypt, and forced Ptolemy XII & # 8220 ; Auletes & # 8221 ; to travel to Rome. Berenice IV ruled the land until her male parent got the throne back in 55 BC. Berenice IV was beheaded, and Cleopatra disappeared between 58 and 55 BC. Ptolemy XII & # 8220 ; Auletes & # 8221 ; so ruled until his decease in 51 BC. His will named Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII as inheritors to the throne. Some leaders in Rome were named as defenders of the two. In the will their male parent made it compulsory for the two to get married in order to govern. This ritual began when Ptolemy II married his sister Arsinoe II. Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII ruled jointly and did get married, though it was a matrimony merely in jurisprudence. She was approximately 18 old ages and Ptolemy XII was 10 old ages old, when they were named Queen and King of Egypt in 51 BC. Cleopatra did most of the opinion, and left Ptolemy XIII out of it. Ptolemy XIII, being so immature, did non cognize much about opinion. He served as a marionette for power-hungry advisors ( in specific a curate named Pothinus ) and in 48 BC kicked Cleopatra out of the castle. She got back by constructing her ain ground forces outside the metropolis. Civil war was close. In Rome, there was besides a civil war between Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar. Pompey had been an ally of the Egyptians and, in an effort to derive aid, he fled to Egypt. Pothinus knew that Caeser would win the Civil War. He told Ptolemy XIII that in order to acquire Caeser s support they should kill Pompey. Pothinus beheaded Pompey and gave it to Caeser when he arrived. Caesar came looking for Pompey in Egypt. Caeser was asked to be a invitee in the castle for his stay in Egypt. When he arrived Ptolemy XIII gave him Pompey s caput trusting that Caeser would be thankful and give Ptolemy XIII his full support. Caesar did non like Ptolemy s actions by Pompey & # 8217 ; s caput being presented to him. Caesar had been friends with Pompey and did non like to hold him treated so disrespectfully. Cleopatra knew it was of import that she speak to Caesar and have him hear her side of the narrative. She was unable to acquire into the castle because of the difference between her and her brother/husband and cognize if she tried and was discovered, she would be killed. So she wrapped herself in a carpet and was smuggled in. Caesar was fascinated by Cleopatra and the two spent the dark together. The following twenty-four hours, Ptolemy was called to a meeting and was shocked to happen that Cleopatra was at his side. The war had switched custodies now, it was between Ptolemy XIII with Cleopatra s younger sister, Arsinoe IV, on his side contending against Caeser. In order to do peace, Caesar gave Cyprus back to Egypt, and Arsinoe IV and Ptolemy XIV were named swayers. Arsinoe was non happy with that, she wanted to be the Queen of Egypt. So she remained on good footings with Ptolemy XIII who was still against Caesar. Pothinus was killed. It is diffident if Caeser killed him because of what he did to Pompey or if he died in war. Ptolemy XIII was upset. Arsinoe IV was taken captive by Caesar to be displayed as a spoil of war in Rome. Due to Caeser, Cleopatra returned to being Queen of Egypt. Because of her male parents will she had to get married her following brother, Ptolemy XIV. It was so 47 BC, and Cleopatra was 22 old ages old, and Ptolemy XIV was 12. Cleopatra ruled Egypt largely by herself, and kept Ptolemy silent in her opinion. Since Arsinoe IV was captured by Caeser, Cyprus was controlled by Cleopatra. Arsinoe IV was in Caesar & # 8217 ; s March of Triumph in 46 BC. She was marched through the streets of Rome loaded down with ironss. Caesar let Arsinoe IV leave Rome alternatively of being beheaded, . She went to Ephesus, in Asia Minor.Cleopatra took Caesar on a circuit of her state with a sail on the Nile. She became pregnant and claimed Caesar was the male parent. Caesar had one childfrom a different adult female, a girl named Julia, and was known to hold many personal businesss with adult females. Caesar & # 8217 ; s first kid was born in 47 BC. Cleopatra & # 8217 ; s names her boy Ptolemy XV Caesar. His moniker was & # 8220 ; Caesarion & # 8221 ; , intending & # 8220 ; Little Caesar & # 8221 ; . Caeser invited Cleopatra s household to Rome in 46BC. Cleopatra, Ptolemy XIV and Caesarion stayed a Villa of his exterior of Rome. Cleopatra stayed in Rome for 2 old ages. While Cleopatra was in Rome, Caesar was killed in 44 BC outside the Senate Building, by the senators. The senators did non care for him because they thought he was traveling to seek to go King and destroy their signifier of government.After Caesar & # 8217 ; s decease, Cleopatra went place to Egypt. Ptolemy XIV is thought to hold survived the ocean trip back to Egypt, but he died shortly after. It is diffident if he died of natural causes, or if Cleopatra killed him. Peoples think she killed him because of he was 15 and would seek to be King.In 41 BC Antony invited Cleopatra to Tarsus. Mark Antony was a portion of the Second Triumvirate. Mark Antony was in charge of the vitamin E

astern states, Octavian was in charge of Rome and Gaul, and Lepidus was in charge of northern Africa. Mark Antony was in demand of money to establish a run against the Parthians, and he hoped Cleopatra would give him the money he needed. Legend says, she met him dressed as Aphrodite, goddess of love. Mark Antony fell in love with her. He spent the winter with her.

Cleopatra agreed to give him the money on the status that Arsinoe IV be killed. Cleopatra felt threatened by her, and convinced Mark Antony to acquire rid of her. He agreed and Arsinoe IV was executed. Mark Antony married Octavia, Octavian & # 8217 ; s sister, in 40 B.C. He married Octavia to do a trade with Octavian. After the Triumvirate ended the two would both be swayers the Roman universe, though Lepidus remained in northern Africa and governed the country. Octavian held all of Western Europe and Mark Antony held the eastern terminal of the Roman universe. This same twelvemonth Cleopatra gave birth to twins, Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios. She was really unhappy that Mark Antony had married Octavia, and really angry when Octavia became pregnant. In 37 BC Mark Antony sent Octavia back to Rome to her brother. He so went to Alexandria to be with Cleopatra. Antony gave her and her kids a batch of land as gifts. In approximately 36 BC Cleopatra began governing with her boy, Ptolemy XV Caesar. She besides gave birth to another kid by Mark Antony, Ptolemy Philadelphus. When Mark Antony invaded Armenia in 34 BC, he held the victory March in Alexandria. As portion of the celebrations, he gave money off. The Romans felt that they should be having the nutrient and money and were upset with him. Besides in 34 BC Cleopatra and her kids received land from Mark Antony. Cleopatra Selene, Cleopatra & # 8217 ; s six-year-old girl, was made Queen of Crete and Cyrenaica ( on the northern seashore of Africa ) . Alexander Helios, besides six-years-old, was made King of Armenia and master of Media. Media already had a male monarch, and in fact Alexander Helios was bethrothed to his girl, but now Alexander held a higher place than the King did. The youngest, Ptolemy Philadelphus ( two-years-old ) , was named King of Syria and master of portion of Asia Minor. Cleopatra & # 8217 ; s was Queen of Kings and Ptolemy XV Caesar was named King of Kings. Now the Ptolemaic Empire covered a big part of the eastern Mediterranean universe. The contributions were unpopular in Rome and did non assist MarkAntony repute in Rome. In 32 BC, Octavian declared war on Cleopatra, non Mark Antony. The Romans felt it was Cleopatra who was act uponing Mark Anthony. The last conflict took topographic point at Actium, in Greece. The conflict was in 31 BC and was non good planned on Antony & # 8217 ; and Cleopatra & # 8217 ; s portion. Cleopatra left and Mark Antony left shortly thenceforth. They went back to Egypt and Octavian waited a twelvemonth to capture them. Cleopatra and Antony decked their ships out so it appeared that the conflict had been successful. They wished to be greeted favourably in Egypt. Cleopatra planned to direct Caesarion off to India so he could conceal from Octavian and retain the throne of Egypt. . Cleopatra was set uping for ships to be moved from the Nile to the Red Sea, but this program was unsuccessful. She stayed in Egypt. Both she and Mark Antony tried corrupting Octavian inquiring him to go forth them in peace, but none were successful. Cleopatra built a excessive mausoleum. Octavian sent messages to Cleopatra claiming that she would non kill her when she was captured, Octavian did non desire her to fire all of her riches.. When Octavian came in 30 BC, Cleopatra shut herself in her mausoleum with her two retainers, Irish republican armies and Charmion. Mark Antony heard this, thought she was dead and, killed himself. He was brought to Cleopatra and so died.While Cleopatra was speaking to a individual outside the door ( sent to deflect her ) members of Octavian & # 8217 ; s staff climbed up to the opened window used to convey Mark Antony in. She was taken captive and moved to the castle, where she killed herself. Her retainers Iras and Charmion besides committed self-destruction, and when the three were found Cleopatra was dead. Legend says she poisoned herself with an asp bite. She could hold used any of the many types of toxicants known at the clip, though the serpent narrative has been the most popular. There were two assholes on her arm which might hold been caused by a serpent, but so they might hold been caused by an armband she was have oning. No grounds of a serpent or any toxicant was found. No 1 knows for certain how she died. Caesarion was strangled by his coach, Rhodon, on their manner out of Egypt. The remainder of Cleopatra & # 8217 ; s childern might hold been rasied by Octavian & # 8217 ; s married woman. Cleopatra Selene married King Juba II of Mauretania. They had a boy which they named Ptolemy who became King in 23 AD and ruled until he was killed by Caligula 40 old ages subsequently. Alexander Helios and Ptolemy Philadelphus were non killed ; they may hold gone to populate with their sister in Mauretania but it is non known what happened to them.Cleopatra demonstrated enormous strength and bravery throughout her life. She made personal life determinations that benefited all of Egypt. Whether those determinations were knowing because of her love for Egypt regulation or for her ain love are unknown. In the beginning of her regulation her determinations positively affected her power, but in the terminal of her clip, killed her and her household s presence in Egypt. References Renaud Calvat, Chronology of Cleopatra, hypertext transfer protocol: //pharos.bu.edu/Egypt/Alexandria/History/cl_his.html ) Microsoft Encarta, Cleopatra VII, Microsoft Corporation, hypertext transfer protocol: //www.netsrq.com/-dbois Cleopatra, The Last Pharaoh, hypertext transfer protocol: //pharos.bu.edu/Egypt/Alexandria/History/cleo.html Hughes-Hallett, Lucy. Cleopatra, Histories, Dreams, and Distortions. Harper & A ; Row, 1990.