THE LAST PHARAOH OF EGYPT - THE LEGEND OF CLEOPATRA

THE LAST PHARAOH OF EGYPT - THE LEGEND OF CLEOPATRA

 

 

                                   

 

                                            Cleopatra VII was a Queen and Goddess of Egypt 

 

 
The last true pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra VII (69-30 BC), has been immortalised through centuries of art, music and literature for her great physical beauty and love affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

 

Cleopatra VII (69–30 BC) was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, a dynasty that had ruled since Ptolemy I Soter took control after Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BC. Her reign was marked by both political brilliance and turbulent alliances, most famously with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony.

 

Born in Alexandria, Cleopatra was the daughter of King Ptolemy XII Auletes, who named her his heir before he died in 51 BC. Cleopatra began her reign alongside her brother Ptolemy XIII, but a falling-out between them led to a civil war. Roman statesman Pompey fled to Egypt after losing the 48 BC Battle of Pharsalus against his rival Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator, in Caesar's civil war. Pompey had been a political ally of Ptolemy XII, but Ptolemy XIII had him ambushed and killed before Caesar arrived and occupied Alexandria. 

 

Cleopatra travelled to Rome as a client queen in 46 and 44 BC, where she stayed at Caesar's villa. Cleopatra persuaded her servant to wrap her in a carpet and present her to the Roman general. In her best finery, she begged Caesar for his help to regain the throne. Caesar then attempted to reconcile the rival Ptolemaic siblings, but Ptolemy XIII's forces besieged Cleopatra and Caesar at the palace.

  

Caesar and Cleopatra became lovers and spent the winter besieged in Alexandria. Roman Reinforcements arrived the following spring, and Ptolemy XIII fled and drowned in the River Nile.


Caesar declared Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIV joint rulers, and maintained a private affair with Cleopatra, which produced a son, Caesarion.

 

Cleopatra, now married to her brother Ptolemy XIV, was restored to her throne.

 

In June 47 bce she gave birth to Ptolemy Caesar (known to the people of Alexandria as Caesarion, or “little Caesar”).

 

Cleopatra was living in Rome as Caesar’s mistress at the time of his violent death in 44 BC. His assassination put her own life in danger, and she fled with their young son across the River Tiber.

 

Cleopatra was known as the Queen of the Nile.

 

Although she was born in Egypt, Cleopatra was not an Egyptian. Her origins trace back to the Ptolemaic dynasty, a Macedonian Greek royal family.

 

                                       

                                      

 

 

She was a descendant of Ptolemy I ‘Soter’, a general and friend of Alexander the Great. The Ptolemies were the last dynasty to rule Egypt, from 305 to 30 BC.
 

After her father, Ptolemy XII, died in 51 BC, Cleopatra became co-regent of Egypt alongside her brother, Ptolemy XIII.

 
Cleopatra was much more than the femme fatale or tragic heroine history often portrays her as: she was a fearsome leader and brilliantly astute politician. During her rule between 51–30 BC, she brought peace and prosperity to a country that had been bankrupt and split by civil war.

 

Cleopatra’s reputation as merely a seductress or tragic lover of powerful men has often overshadowed her genuine brilliance as a ruler and strategist.

Let’s unpack that a bit to show just how capable she really was:

• A Shrewd and Capable Monarch:
  When Cleopatra ascended the throne in 51 BCE, Egypt was politically unstable, deeply in debt to Rome, and suffering from years of internal strife. Through careful diplomacy, fiscal reforms, and trade initiatives, she stabilized Egypt’s economy and restored prosperity.

• Diplomatic Genius:
  Cleopatra navigated one of the most dangerous political landscapes in ancient history — the rise of Rome as a global superpower — with remarkable skill. Her alliances with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony were not mere romantic entanglements but strategic partnerships meant to secure Egypt’s sovereignty.

• Economic and Cultural Achievements:
  Cleopatra implemented tax reforms, revitalized agriculture, and promoted international trade, particularly with regions along the Red Sea and the East African coast. Under her reign, Alexandria remained a flourishing cultural and intellectual hub, home to scholars, scientists, and philosophers.

• A True Pharaoh:
  Unlike her Ptolemaic predecessors, who often kept their Greek identity apart from native Egyptian culture, Cleopatra embraced Egyptian customs and presented herself as the living embodiment of Isis, the goddess of motherhood and magic. She spoke the Egyptian language (something few of her Greek ancestors had done), bridging the gap between ruler and people.

• A Legacy Beyond Myth:
  Ancient Roman propaganda — especially from Octavian’s circle after her defeat — painted her as a manipulative temptress to discredit both her and Mark Antony. Yet modern historians recognize her as one of the most capable, intelligent, and visionary rulers of her era.

She was also multilingual – historical accounts report her command of 5 to 9 languages, including her native Greek, Egyptian, Arabic and Hebrew.

 

During her youth, Cleopatra presumably studied at the Musaeum, including the Library of Alexandria.

 

Cleopatra believed herself to be a living goddess and was keenly aware of the relationship between image and power. Historian John Fletcher described her as “a mistress of disguise and costume.”

 

She would appear dressed as the goddess Isis at ceremonial events and surrounded herself with luxury.

                    

Hollywood has been fascinated with Cleopatra since one of the fathers of cinema, Georges Melies, featured her in a short silent film in 1899. The queen, described by Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chair Amy Pascal as “the greatest female heroine to ever live”, has since inspired more than 50 movies.

 

The title role was played by Hollywood sirens such as Elizabeth Taylor, Vivien Leigh and  Monica Bellucci which suggests she was a voluptuous beauty queen. 

 

Actresses like Elizabeth Taylor, Vivien Leigh, and Monica Bellucci — all renowned for their beauty and glamour — have reinforced the image of Cleopatra as a voluptuous seductress rather than a formidable stateswoman. 

 

                            

                                           Monica Bellucci as Cleopatra

 

Cleopatra VII remains one of history’s most celebrated figures due to her exceptional political acumen, her powerful alliances with Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and her dramatic reign as the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt. Renowned for her intelligence, charisma, and diplomatic skill, Cleopatra masterfully balanced personal relationships and political strategy to preserve Egypt’s independence amid Rome’s growing dominance. Her life — marked by power, passion, and tragedy — has been immortalized through centuries of art, literature, and film, securing her place as both a formidable ruler and an enduring romantic icon.

 

Cleopatra skillfully combined her political charisma, intelligence, and personal charm to forge powerful alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. These relationships were both romantic and strategic, enabling her to strengthen Egypt’s position on the world stage and directly influencing the fate of both Egypt and Rome. Through her partnerships with two of Rome’s most influential leaders, Cleopatra demonstrated remarkable political acumen and ensured her legacy as one of history’s most formidable and fascinating rulers.

 

Cleopatra was a highly intelligent and capable ruler who used her wit, eloquence, and strategic insight to navigate the complex political rivalries and alliances of her time. Her sharp intellect and diplomatic skill allowed her to maintain Egypt’s sovereignty amid the growing power struggles of Rome, proving her to be one of the most astute and resourceful leaders of the ancient world.

 

Her dramatic life, strategic mind, and famous relationships have made her a legendary figure, often portrayed as a femme fatale, though the reality is more complex, involving sharp intellect and political manoeuvring.

 

Her reputation as a dangerous and seductive temptress was, in fact, the creation of her enemy Octavian. Roman historians portrayed her as a harlot who used sex to bewitch powerful men into giving her power.

 

Cleopatra VII was known as "Thea Philopator" which means - "Goddess who loves her father".

 

Born: January 69 BC, Alexandria, Egypt

Died: 10 August 30 BC (age 39 years), Alexandria, Egypt

 

Incest was there in her family tree. Her father and mother, and their siblings and cousins, all had sexual relationships with each other. It seems incest was prevalent in Egypt at that time. Cleopatra married both her adolescent brothers, Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV and co-ruled their dynasty.

 

Cleopatra was married to her brother and co-ruler, Ptolemy XIII, who was 10 years old at the time (she was 18). In 48 BC, Ptolemy tried to depose his sister, forcing her to flee to Syria and Egypt.

 

Cleopatra knew that she needed the support of Rome and Julius Caesar to regain her throne. Caesar was also in need of money from Egypt to pay off the debts of Cleopatra’s father. During her marriage with Ptolemy III, Cleopatra continued to live with Caesar privately and act as his mistress. The two became lovers, and after Roman reinforcements arrived, Ptolemy XIII fled and drowned in the River Nile. Cleopatra then married another brother, Ptolemy XIV, and was restored to her throne.

 

 

After Caesar's assassination, followed shortly afterwards by the sudden death of Ptolemy XIV (possibly murdered on Cleopatra's order), she named Caesarion co-ruler as Ptolemy XV.

 

In the Liberators' civil war of 43–42 BC, Cleopatra sided with the Roman Second Triumvirate formed by Caesar's heir Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus.

  
After Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BCE, Mark Antony summoned Cleopatra to discuss her political position in the turbulent aftermath of Caesar’s death. Both leaders quickly recognized the advantages of an alliance: Antony sought Egypt’s immense wealth and resources to fund his military campaigns, while Cleopatra saw an opportunity to restore Egypt’s former power and secure her throne. Their partnership evolved into both a political and personal alliance, with Antony increasingly dependent on Cleopatra for financial and naval support during his campaigns against the Parthian Empire and the Kingdom of Armenia. Together, they sought to reassert control over the eastern Mediterranean, shaping the final chapter of both the Ptolemaic dynasty and the Roman Republic.

After their meeting at Tarsos in 41 BC, the queen had an affair with Antony. Mark Antony and Cleopatra formed a powerful political and romantic alliance; they together sought to consolidate power in the eastern Mediterranean. Cleopatra and Antony were truly in love. Mark Antony was fascinated by her goddess appearances and madly desired her.

 

As a result, the romantic couple had three children out of their wedlock, namely Ptolemy ‘Philadelphus’ and twins Cleopatra ‘Selene’ and Alexander ‘Helios’.  The Donations of Alexandria declared their children rulers over various territories under Antony's authority.

 

Octavian portrayed this event as an act of treason, forced Antony's allies in the Roman Senate to flee Rome in 32 BC, and declared war on Cleopatra. After defeating Antony and Cleopatra's naval fleet at the 31 BC Battle of Actium, Octavian's forces invaded Egypt in 30 BC and beat Antony. Cleopatra was captured by Octavian's army. The false news of Cleopatra's death resulted in Antony's suicide.

 

After Mark Antony’s death, Cleopatra chose to end her own life rather than suffer the humiliation of being paraded through Rome as a captive in Octavian’s triumphal procession. According to ancient accounts, she arranged for a venomous Egyptian cobra — the sacred asp — to be smuggled into her chamber and allowed it to bite her. Her suicide in 30 BCE marked the end of both her reign and the Ptolemaic dynasty, symbolizing the fall of independent Egypt and the dawn of Roman rule. Over time, her death became a powerful symbol of defiance, dignity, and the tragic end of an extraordinary queen.

None of her descendants lived to inherit Egypt.

  

After her suicide, Caesarion was killed under orders by the Roman emperor Augustus.

 

Cleopatra was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt (reigned 51–30 BCE), of Macedonian Greek descent.

 

After her death, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire, marking the end of the Hellenistic period in the Mediterranean, which had begun during the reign of Alexander (336–323 BC).

 

Historians grappled with a scandal that Cleopatra was raped during her life span, and got a negative result as there is no evidence to support that.  

 

However, later legends claim that Cleopatra’s body did not rest peacefully after her death. Some unverified accounts suggest that her corpse was stolen and desecrated by several men over the course of three days before being recovered. While these stories persist in folklore, historians regard them as scandalous inventions rather than credible reports. Such tales likely emerged from Rome’s long-standing efforts to vilify Cleopatra after her defeat, transforming her image from that of a powerful ruler into a cautionary symbol of female ambition and defiance.

 

                             

 

The historical record shows that Cleopatra engaged in political and romantic relationships with

Julius Caesar and Mark Antony on her own terms. 


Cleopatra was renowned not only for her beauty but also for her intelligence, charisma, and political acumen. She spoke several languages, was educated in philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy, and actively participated in the administration of her kingdom. She came to represent, as did no other woman of antiquity, the prototype of the romantic femme fatale.



The last pharaoh of Egypt:

As the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, her death marked the end of an era, which makes her story a pivotal moment in ancient history.                                                                           


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