Cleopatra dropped Ptolemy's name from official documents and her face appeared alone on coins, which went against Ptolemaic tradition of female rulers being subordinate to male co-rulers. In August 51 BC relations between the sovereigns completely broke down. Although Cleopatra was married to her young brother, she quickly showed indications that she had no intentions of sharing power. The first three years of their reign were difficult due to economic difficulties, famine, deficient floods of Nile and political conflicts. ''Italic text''''Italic text''Insert non-formatted text here Small Text Italic text=The accession to the throne= Pharaoh Ptolemy XII died in March 51 BC, making the 18 year old Cleopatra and the 12 year old Ptolemy XIII joint monarchs. This left Cleopatra with her husband and younger brother, Ptolemy XIII, joint heirs to the throne. With the assistance of the Roman governor of Syria, Aulus Gabinius, Ptolemy XII overturned his eldest daughter in 55 BC and had her executed. In 58 BC Cleopatra's older sister, Berenice IV seized power from her father. This led to uprising in and loss of Cyprus and of Cyrenaica, making Ptolemy's reign one of the most calamitous of the dynasty. This occurred for many reasons, including physical and moral degeneration of the sovereigns, centralization of power and corruption. Her eldest sister Tryphaena also tried to poison her, so she hired food-tasting servants. It is said that her father survived an assassination attempt when a servant found a deadly puff adder in his bed. Little is known about Cleopatra's childhood, but she would have observed the disordered events and loss of public affection for the Ptolemaic dynasty under the reign of her father.
#Child of cleopatra and julius caesar full#
"Cleopatra" is Greek for "father's glory," and her full name, Cleopatra Thea Philopator, means "the Goddess Cleopatra, the Beloved of Her Father." She was the third daughter of the king Ptolemy XII Auletes, probably born to her father's sister, making her third in line to rule after her two other sisters died.
A Greek by language and culture, Cleopatra is reputed to have been the first member of her family in their 300-year reign in Egypt to have learned the Egyptian language. Her legacy survives in the form of numerous dramatizations of her story, including William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and several modern films.Ĭleopatra was a direct descendant of Alexander's general, Ptolemy I Soter, son of Arsinoe and Lacus, both of Macedon. Her unions with her brothers produced no children.Īfter Antony's rival and Caesar's legal heir, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian, brought the might of Rome against Egypt, It is said that Cleopatra took her own life on August 12, 30 BC. In all, Cleopatra had 4 children, 3 by Antony ( Cleopatra Selene, Alexander Helios, Ptolemy Philadelphus) and 1 by Caesar ( Caesarion). Related subjects: Ancient History, Classical History and Mythology Historical figures Cleopatra Selene PhilopatorĬaesarion, Alexander Helios, Cleopatra Selene, Ptolemy PhiladelphusĬleopatra was a co-ruler of Egypt with her father ( Ptolemy XII Auletes), her brothers/husbands Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV, consummated a liaison with Gaius Julius Caesar that solidified her grip on the throne, and, after Caesar's assassination, aligned with Mark Antony, with whom she produced twins.
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