Cleopatra was born in 69 BCE into a line of Greek rulers known as the Ptolemaic dynasty. Her father, Ptolemy XII, died in 51 BCE, leaving her and her 10-year-old brother, Ptolemy XIII, as co-rulers of Egypt. However, Ptolemy XIII soon deposed his sister, and she was forced to flee Egypt.
Cleopatra sought help from Julius Caesar, the Roman general who was then governing Gaul (present-day France). In 48 BCE, Caesar invaded Egypt and defeated Ptolemy XIII's forces. Cleopatra was then restored to the throne, and she became Caesar's lover and ally.
After Caesar's death, Cleopatra allied herself with Mark Antony, one of Caesar's most powerful generals. Antony and Cleopatra became lovers, and they had three children together. In 31 BCE, Antony and Cleopatra were defeated by Octavian (later known as Augustus), Caesar's adopted son, at the Battle of Actium. Cleopatra committed suicide rather than be taken prisoner by Octavian.
What did Cleopatra do during her reign?
Cleopatra was a skilled politician and diplomat who managed to maintain Egypt's independence despite being surrounded by powerful enemies. During her reign:
>* Egypt enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity.
* Increased Egypt's trade and wealth.
* Embarked on a series of building projects, including the construction of the Temple of Dendera and the expansion of the Library of Alexandria.
* Cleopatra was also a patron of the arts and sciences. She was fluent in several languages and was a skilled mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher.
* Cleopatra's reign marked the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the beginning of Roman rule in Egypt. However, she remains one of the most famous and influential women in history.