Cleopatra Thesis

Cleopatra VII of the Ptolemaic dynasty was born in 69 B.C.   Her name means, "Glory of the father."   In Egypt, she was actually referred to as Kleopatras Basilisses, not Cleopatra.   Her father was Ptolemy XII, and her mother was unknown. It is believed by some scholars that her mother could have been Cleopatra Tryphene, or a woman who belonged to the high priests of Memphis.   Cleopatra was a very intelligent and wealthy little girl.   At the early age of eighteen she inherited the throne with her co-ruler, Ptolemy XIII, who was eight years younger. Incredibly, he was both her brother and her husband.   In the Ptolemaic dynasty, they often married their siblings to keep the throne in the family.   It was either a father-daughter marriage or a brother-sister marriage.   Soon Cleopatra met Julius Caesar and fell in love.   Julius Caesar was a very popular leader in the Roman Empire.   Cleopatra had a son with him named Caesarion.   Their relationship continued until his death in 44 B.C.   Throughout this time period Cleopatra was having a difficult time with her family.   Her brother drowned in the Nile during the Alexandrian War, and she witnessed the murder of her older sister.   After Julius Caesar's death, she met another Roman leader named Mark Antony.   The provinces of the Roman Empire were divided after the defeat of the Republicans.   Mark Antony received control over the East, along with the power over certain parts of Egypt. Like her relationship with Caesar, she was also with Antony for a very long time.   Cleopatra had three children with him named Alexander Helios, Cleopatra Selene, and Ptolemy Philadelphus. Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene were twins. During her relationship with Antony, Cleopatra left her military while in war, causing Antony to do the same.   They both suffered a great loss for doing this. Many Egyptians considered her an enemy of their country because of what she had done.   Later in 30 B.C., Antony committed suicide after being told by his... [continues]

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