Queen Cleopatra of Egypt

Early Life: 

Cleopatra VII Philopator Theo was born in January 69 BC. Her mother was Cleopatra V of Egypt, and her father was Ptolemy XII Auletes.

Not much is known of her early life. However, she encountered the events surrounding the loss of public sympathy for her father. He survived 2 attempts at murder. Cleopatra's oldest sister Tryphaena also tried to poison her. It was this that led her to hire food tasters among its employees. When Ptolemy died in 51 BC, he Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIII common kings in Egypt. At the time Cleopatra was 18 and her brother was 12 

It is said that Cleopatra was very beautiful and extremely intelligent. She later also proved to be an elegant diplomat, strategist and politician.

The first few years of their reign was marked by famine and economic difficulties. Political conflicts were also significant part of the picture. Finally, Cleopatra began to issue coins depicting just her image and rebelled against his brother. But Ptolemy's armies forced her to flee from Alexandria. 

Cleopatra and Caesar: 

Around the same time as Cleopatra's exile from Egypt, Pompey came to Alexandria to seek protection from Julius Caesar. Ptolemy decided that Pompey be beheaded and his head was pickled and preserved in a jar. This was done to please Caesar because Egypt was under a lot of debt to Rome.

Two days later, when Caesar reached Alexandria, he was presented with Pompey's head. Instead of Caesar happy, this move only managed to infuriate him.

Since news of the emperor's reach Alexandria reached Cleopatra, she hid in a Persian rug, and it was presented to the emperor as one of its employees. When she rolled out the carpet, Caesar was charmed.

Caesar took over the capital and arbitrated claims of Ptolemy and Cleopatra. He placed Cleopatra on the throne of Egypt, and she became his mistress. She had a child with him Ptolemy Caesar or Caesarion. With this move, she ensured that Egypt would not be linked to Rome. Also, since Caesar had no sons, she arranged for Caesarion would eventually become the heir to the throne, not only in Egypt but also in Rome. 

Between 47 BC and 44 BC She visited Caesar in Rome. Caesar was assassinated on 15 March in 44 BC. And Caesar had already appointed his grand-nephew Octavian as his legal heir. Disappointed, she returned to Egypt and was nominated by her Caesarean co-regent and heir to the throne of Egypt.

Cleopatra and Mark Antony: 

In 42 BC Mark Antony Cleopatra visited, so he could question her loyalty. They met in high style (characteristic of Cleopatra) in Tarsus. He was captivated by her beauty, and spent years with her.

In 40 BC she gave birth to twins, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. In 37 BC, Antony visited her again while he was on his way to fight the war with the Parthians. After this he made Alexandria his home base and even married Cleopatra, according to

Egyptian rites.

It was rather unfortunate, for his position in Rome, because he was already married to Octavian Minor, sister of Octavian. Mark Antony and Cleopatra had another child, Ptolemy Philadelphus.

Given the outrageousness of Antony's behavior convinced Octavian, the Roman senate to wage war against Egypt. Battle of Actium took place in 31 BC. It was a naval war and Antony's troops were not experienced to handle this type of struggle, as they were more accustomed to fighting on land. It is said that when Cleopatra saw that Antony's troops were losing the battle, she fled the scene and see her go, Antony also ran to join her.

After this battle, Octavian marched on Egypt. In 30 BC second match should have been fought, this time on earth. But Marcus Antonius troops left him and he was helpless.

How did Cleopatra Die: 

It is said that when Cleopatra heard about the disaster on the battlefield, she knew that all was lost. She went into his tomb (pyramid) with her two handmaidens and a basket of figs which contained two ASPS. Stories, says she did it because she would not know when she would die because she wanted to eat.

While Mark Antony came to know that Cleopatra was dead. Then he committed suicide. He was apparently bought for her grave and died in her arms.

When Octavian came to know that Cleopatra had committed suicide, he went to his grave to see that for them.

After Cleopatra died, Egyptians proclaimed caesarean as their Pharaoh. But Octavian felt something else. According to his famous statement at the time: "Two Caesars is one too many." He had a Caesarean caught and killed.

Cleopatra's children by Mark Antony was taken by Octavia Minor and was taken back to Rome, where she got them.

It was the end of the line of Pharaoh in ancient Egypt.