StMU Research Scholars

Featuring Scholarly Research, Writing, and Media at St. Mary's University

During 46 B.C.E. while Cleopatra had been exiled to Syria following the disagreements with her brother’s adviser, Pothinus, at the early age of twenty-one, she began to realize that it would not be feasible for her to take control over Egypt again. She strategically devised to meet secretly with Julius Ceasar. She believed that if she could meet with him, she would be able to work out a political deal with Rome that would grant her desire to reclaim her throne. In addition to being sophisticated and cultured, Cleopatra was a very brilliant woman. This meeting took place at the palace on the island of Antirhodos in the Portus Magnus in Alexandria, Egypt. With audacious courage, she reportedly wrapped herself in a rug to be carried by one of her followers directly to Julius Caesar, who was awestruck by her beauty when he unrolled her. She began to seduce him once she was in his presence in order to get what she desired. After spending an entire night with her target, Cleopatra’s objective had been accomplished.1

Rehabilitating Cleopatra | History| Smithsonian Magazine
Rehabilitating Cleopatra | Courtesy of Smithsonian Magazine

It’s unclear what first drew Caeser to her; possibly her beauty, her bravery, or the fact that she was a direct descendent of Alexander’s general, Ptolemy I Soter. A partnership with Cleopatra gave Caesar the assurance that he would gain control over the grain trade, amass more troops for his campaigns, and lastly, that the Ptolemaic dynasty rulers who had caused the Egyptians’ unhappiness would be overthrown. Cleopatra was believed to be the richest woman during that time. The only ruler in the Ptolemaic dynasty Egyptians did like was Cleopatra. Even though her brother was enraged, she was reinstated to her throne and became allies with Rome as she became Julius Caesar’s lover. Cleopatra made such a bold move because she was determined to oversee the throne she had inherited from her father.2

The couple spent a long time in the palace as they were under siege from Ptolemy’s supporters. At the time there was a civil war between Cleopatra’s supporters against her brother Plotemy’s XIII supporters. Following Caesar’s declaration that he would settle Cleopatra’s and her brother’s dispute so that both would rule Egypt, he had come under attack from Plotemy’s supporters. They ended up spending a total of six months together and even cruised throughout the Nile. Sailing throughout the Nile was a common activity that pharaohs in Egypt would do to make their presence known.3 During that time, she was married to her brother Ptolemy XIII, who drowned in the Nile during a battle with Caesar. Once Caesar restored Cleopatra to the throne, she married her youngest brother, Ptolemy XIV so they could co-rule Egypt. Even though she had married her brother she was still in love with Caesar and during their time together the couple got married in Alexandria in the manner of the Egyptians, meaning in Egypt polygamy was legal since Julius Caesar was already married and she was married to her brother. After spending a long time together Ceasar was called to lead his armies into battle and once he won it, he returned to Rome instead of going back with Cleopatra to Egypt.

ANCIENT ART — Section from the rear wall of the temple of Hathor...
Cleopatra and Caesarion on Temple of Hathor 54-20 B.C.E. | Courtesy of Don Knebel

Caesar had become very unpopular with his senate for making changes without asking their opinion. Then, during a meeting on March 15 of 44 B.C.E., some politicians and members of the Roman Senate assassinated Julius Caesar. This incident sparked a string of civil wars, which culminated with Octavian, Caesar’s grandnephew and adopted son, taking power as the ruler of Rome. When the civil wars began, Cleopatra took her son and went back to Egypt, killed her brother/husband Ptolemy XIV, and made her son Caesarion her co-ruler so she could rule Egypt again. Egyptians had no problem with having a female rule them; they believed women were as capable as men to protect Egypt.4 This move she made guaranteed her to be the ruler of Egypt unlike her previous marriages with her brothers where she had to co-rule with them. Cleopatra has always been viewed as a symbol of alluring beauty. Miles once said: “Her actual beauty was not in itself so remarkable, it was the charm of her presence that was irresistible.”5 However, she was far more than that; in fact, she had the brains to lead a nation to unprecedented success. She preempted the fall of Egypt to the Roman Empire and restored Egypt to its former glory during such a turbulent period. During her reign, Cleopatra maintained Egypt as an independent state during a time when it was rare for a woman to have political control. She was aware of her political and cultural actions for Egypt. She was the best leader they had ever had, and they were all extremely content with the way she ran the nation. She did a lot for her people while she was at her best, and for that, she will be remembered forever as the last pharaoh of Egypt.

Cleopatra was no Beauty, Coins Shows - World Archaeology
Cleopatra is no beauty coin | Courtesy of World Archeology
  1. Joyce A. Tyldesley, Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt (London: Profile Books, 2008), 94.
  2. Stanley Mayer Burstein, The Reign of Cleopatra (Westport: Greenwood Press, 2004), 18.
  3. Joyce A. Tyldesley, Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt (London: Profile Books, 2008), 98-99.
  4. Sally-Ann Ashton, Cleopatra and Egypt, Blackwell Ancient Lives (Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub, 2008), 10.
  5. Margaret M. Miles, Cleopatra: A Sphinx (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2011), 34.

Yanelle Nicholson

Author Portfolio Page

Recent Comments

7 comments

  • Priscilla Leal

    I love reading about ancient egypt and its rulers. I recently read about Cleopatras love story with Marc Antony. I like how even though she was a royal she was able to find love several times in her life. She is a very respectable woman in power, she always go what she set her mind to. she made egypt powerful and known.

  • Elliot Avigael

    Your article was short and sweet and to the point. I always knew Cleopatra as a “queen” from the popular tales but never as an effective ruler and administrator. Considering Cleopatra was from Greek ancestry, I found it interesting that she still followed the ancient Egyptian custom of marrying immediate family members. If this was Egypt’s last pharaoh, she definitely went out with a bang.

  • Anaely Caez Santana

    this article was very well written. Cleopatra has such interesting stories that are always entertaining when they are written well.some of her actions are interesting, such as marrying her brother, which was not so uncommon back then. cleopatra always went for what she wanted, such as the throne. She knew in order to achieve great things you have to work for it.

  • Fatima Esparza

    This article was fascinating. Cleopatra married many men during her time, but marrying her brother is very questionable, especially in today’s society. Cleopatra is an excellent example of the way men underestimate women. Even though her story ended in a bittersweet way, she was able to achieve many things during her reign and was loved by her people. Cleopatra can be seen as a role model even though some of her ways to get to the top are questionable. It is ironic how the last pharaoh of Egypt was a woman.

  • Azeneth Lozano

    What an interesting read with some good entertainment that I never known about. Although many know about the alliance and relationship that Cleopatra and Julius Caesar had, not many know what had risen from the two. If the two were to not have met Egypt would have not thrived or succeed the way it did and in such a productive manner. I believe that Cleopatra was one of the best pharaohs to have ruled and was very well respected.

  • Morgan Cassias

    Wow!! What a great article. Very well written, and such an interesting topic. Never knew how persistent she was when it came to her throne. I loved this story of Cleopatra I believe you told it very well. I do agree with you she will be remembered forever for what she. From being a leader to being an impressive character.

  • Sanaa Johnson

    This article was very helpful and i enjoyed learning so much about the last pharaoh of Egypt.

Leave your comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.