My Essay

Cleopatra VII was born in 69 B.C in Alexandria, Egypt. Cleopatra’s mother was Cleopatra V and her father’s name was Ptolemy XII. She had 2 older sisters 1 younger sister, and 2 younger brothers. They were Cleopatra VI, and Berenice IV, Arsinoe IV, Ptolemy XIII , and Ptolemy XVI. Upon the death of Ptolemy Auletes a Roman Leader name Pompey was left in charge of the children. The children then were allied with the Romans. Soon enough the Roman Empire was rising city after city as the Roman Empire conquered. The Ptolemies could do nothing but to create a pact with them. Later the Romans had more power over Egypt then they did before.

In Egyptian law, Cleopatra was forced to marry a brother or son when she ruled. She picked Ptolemy XIII her younger brother who was 12 years old.. She soon dropped her brother’s name with any official document even though the male presence be first among co-rulers. Soon enough Pompey had been defeated in 48 B.C. He then said he hoped to find a refuge with Ptolemy XIII. When he arrived he had been murdered as soon as he stepped on the seashore in September 28, 48 B.C. Then a war started it was called the Alexandria. This war started because Cleopatra had fall in love with this guy name Caesar and Ptolemy then screamed that he had been betrayed. Caesar planned Cleopatra the sole ruler of Alexandria and he would be part of it. Pothinus went to get Ptolemy XIII’s soldiers. Casear had Pothinus and Achillas murdered. Ptolemy XIII drowned in the Nile when he was trying to escape.

Caesar had helped her to be powerful again. Cleopatra became a sole ruler of Egypt. She then had to marry her brother, Ptolemy XIV who was 11 years old. Cleopatra got pregnant and it is believed to be Caesar’s and not Ptolemy’s. Cleopatra named the baby Ptolemy Caesar (Caesarion) which was born on June 23, 47 B.C. Caesar was assassinated in a senate building in Rome. He was killed by his Senators and Cleopatra went to Alexandria. Ptolemy XVI was assassinated by Cleopatra when she came back to Alexandria. Ptolemy Caesar was established as co-regent at age four. Cleopatra also had found out that her sister Arsinoe had also been assassinated. Cleopatra need to find out information and used Mark Antony to get it.

Cleopatra and Mark spent the winter of 41 to 40 in Alexandria. She found out information of the killing of her sister. Cleopatra had twin children with Mark Antony their names were Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. They had a third child named Ptolemy Philadelphus. Mark Antony was married when he was with Cleopatra. His wife gave him children but daughters not a son. Mark Antony gave Cleopatra the land of Cyprus which he took from her years before, the Cilician coast, Phoenicia, Coele-Syria, Judean and Arabia.

About 32 to 31 BC Antony divorced his wife. His ex-wife declared war on Cleopatra. His ex-wife Octavia joined forces with her brother Octavian to defeat Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Antony was defeated in Greece on September 2, 31 BC by Octavian’s admiral Agrippa. Antony somewhat defended Alexandria against the army of Octavian. Antony killed himself with his sword when he thought Cleopatra was dead but she was alive.

Cleopatra found out that Mark Antony had died. Octavian had captured Cleopatra. He let her organize Mark Antony’s funeral but he wouldn’t let her children rule Egypt. She then died because she committed suicide by having a asp snake bite her that was in a basket of figs that was allowed into her room by Octavian. She was buried next to Mark Antony in a temple called Tabusiris Magna. This temple was located in Alexandria in Northern Egypt. She died August 12, 30 BC at the age of 39.