Cleopatra Research Paper

It is important to look at the factors and event in Cleopatra’s life that influenced her rise and later, her ultimate demise. The surpass achievement of Ptolemy XII, her father, Ptolemaic dynasty was when Cleopatra first took over the throne. Cleopatra is a legendary figure in ancient history. It is her fame and glory as being a female pharaoh that has made her an ideal icon for many people worldwide. Cleopatra’s ethics and morality is something that truly defines the type of person she was during her reign. There is more to Cleopatra than just being recognized as a strong political figure and military strategist, she was also a charismatic and loving woman. It is known that “... the princess of the house of the Ptolemies had always apparently

been very much averse to taking casual lovers, especially from outside the royal house.” Being the mistress of Julius Caesar and empress of Mark Anthony took a serious toll in her career. Cleopatra was a strong influential women who, in her time, was known for being one of the most powerful and intelligent females during this century. In history, a zenith point can only last so long, Cleopatra’s fall was a series of forsaken events. Her fall in power unfortunately led to the discontinuation of the title “Pharaoh” in ancient Egypt. Not only did Cleopatra’s fatal demise end her reign of power, it ended the era of the “Pharaohs” in Egypt. Consequently enough, Cleopatra’s fall was brought upon by none other than herself because of her choices. Was she really protecting her dynasty with all good intentions and well thought out plans or was it just her impulsive decisions that had bad outcomes.
In 51 B.C. Ptolemy XII, the father of Cleopatra VII was passed down the thrown to her and her brother Ptolemy XIII. They both ruled Egypt after their father’s death and later married. In Egypt the law states “for any female ruler” she must need to have a “consort who is either a brother or a son.” It was normal for pharaohs to marry within the family and was a necessity for women. Cleopatra’s brother was younger than her at the time, so the age difference drove her to take any sort of action without having any type of consent with her brother, who was co-regent. She “dropped Ptolemy XIII name from all administrative documents” and had her own portraits made for about three years until “Pothinus” her brother’s advisors convinced him to plot against her. 48 B.C. Ptolemy XIII wanted to actuate a fight against Cleopatra, obviously to banish her off the throne. His army of men revolted against her and that caused Cleopatra to then be driven out of Alexandria, Egypt. Cleopatra later then assembled an army in Syria because she was not giving up her throne that easily.
While Cleopatra was uniting members along Syria she met Julius Caesar. She bared one of his child, Caesarion. Who turned out to be his only son because his daughter died sooner before. Julius made a big impact on Cleopatra politically and romantically. Cleopatra’s charmed him with her strategies more in comparison to her beauty and wits. She convinced him to interfere and fight with her to get her Empire back. Cleopatra knew what she was doing at the time she met Caesar. Roman and Egypt were neighbors so what better way for her to gain power then to collaborate with Caesar. He was a popular success in Rome that was still rising in power during this time and so she wanted to take part in that.
Years later she met Marcus Antonious, Antony, who was a fellow soldier who fought alongside Caesar in the battle that occurred in Egypt.

He rose as a leader right after Julius Caesar’s death, making him a very popular Roman general. Antony was a good friend to Caesar and he wanted to take his title in the Roman Empire. Antony was not the only one who wanted to have a part in the Empire. Octavius is Julius Caesar’s adopted son and he rose and wanted power as well. They both created an alliance against the murders of Julius Caesar for Caesar justice. In 42 B.C. that is when the Battle of Philippi is fought and their alliance won. This defeat caused the Roman Empire to split and that is where Antony takes the eastern side and Octavious the west. Octavoious returns to Rome and Antony stays in the East. The Parthian attack was a “military campaign” Julius Caesar was “preparing” long before his tragic death. Antonious decided to build an army to attack Parthia. Cleopatra, in Egypt, was ruling with her son, Caesarion, at the time and that is when Mark Antony reached out to her in need for help in order to invade Parthia. He contended help from Cleopatra because he was desperate for her “financial” and “military” support. She was extremely wealthy in Egypt “... she began calling her silver and gold…”ceramics”, demonstrating both her great wealth and her disdain for it…” Cleopatra was intelligent on how she decides to go about situations. She knew that maintain a close relationship

with Mark Antony was essential because he ruled half of the Roman Empire and that can only benefit her power. Julius Caesar was no longer in the picture so her captivating way attracted Anthony and he decided to dropped the Parthian Empire Invasion. They both fell in love and he stays in Alexandria with her. Later, in 40 B.C., Cleopatra gives birth to two twins, a boy named Alexander Helios and a girl named Cleopatra Selene. Antony was the father of her children. In 37 B.C. Antony gives Cleopatra the legal proof of love and got married under the law of Egypt. This action caused a dramatic alarm in Roman, because it was illegal to have Roman marry a foreigner. Octavious was extremely defensive as well because Antony’s legal wife was his sister, Octavia. This betrayal stirred up tension between both the Roman rulers. “Octavianus capitalized on the situation by reading a supposed copy of Antony's will which gave much of his control to Cleopatra's children.” In 32 B.C. Antony made the “Donations of Alexandria” by giving up land in the Roman East and giving in to Cleopatra’s children. Antony formally divorced his wife during this time. This was the last straw for Octavious and gave the perfect excuse to battle Antony and Cleopatra. This divorce was frowned upon in Rome, so Romans including most of Anotony’s remaining soldiers, that later join Octavian, turned against him. In 31 B.C., The senate in Rome allowed Octavious declared war between Antony and Cleopatra and that is when the battle of Actium occurred. This battle was the end of lives and as well as titles. The battle at sea between the Egyptian navy and the Roman navy was crucial because it was for power of the Roman lands and this would determine who can rule all of Rome. After a quick war by the sea Octavious won the battle and consolidated his power for Rome.
Cleopatra and Mark Antony flee together back to Egypt. The Egyptian defeat was obvious on how cowardly they both have grown. In less than a year after the battle at sea Mark Antony had committed suicide by running a sword through his body and committing suicide. Cleopatra was then capture by Octavious and was then offered a proposition that involved “parading Cleopatra across the Roman Empire as an abject slave to Octavian.” Cleopatra then did what she assumed would be the best choice for her and Egypt and decided to escape by killing herself. The way she ended her life is not completely known but it is said that she used an asp as her choice of weapon to commit the crime. The unforsaken suicide of Cleopatra ended the Ptolemaic Dynasty and the era of the pharaohs.
Cleopatra’s decisions in life can only be justified and explained by herself.

Looking at her choices through a historical point of view, it can be seen that everything that she did was more or less for the greater good of her people. Although, it may seem that she was more focused on her love life than ruling, her relationship with Mark Antony eventually led to an alliance with Egypt. Cleopatra’s first priority was always ensuring the stability and protection of Egypt. Overall, Cleopatra is more commonly known for being in relationships with iconic roman figures, but let us not forget that she too was also a person of power. Let us remember Cleopatra for being the strong, powerful, yet charismatic pharaoh of Egypt that she deserves to be recognized

for.