Cleopatra’s story was told in many ways, but the best found was written by a historian named Plutarch, who lived about a century after Cleopatra. Cleopatra was born in 69 B.C. Although her family ruled Egypt, Cleopatra was Macedonian Greek. She became queen of Egypt at eighteen years old in 61B.C. She led Egypt with her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, who was ten. She did not get along well with her brother, and they started a civil war in Egypt. Cleopatra feared losing her power, so she decided to sneak into Caesar’s palace by having Apollodorus wrap her up in a piece of bedding. She wanted to make allies with Caesar because he was such a powerful man. When Cleopatra and Caesar met, they decided to get married for political reasons. Egypt had …show more content…
When Mark Antony met Cleopatra, he married her not only for political reasons, but because he fell in love with her. Cleopatra and Mark Antony had three children together. The oldest children were twins, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. The youngest child was Ptolemy Philadelphus. Mark Antony held a ceremony Known as The Donations of Alexandria. During this ceremony, Mark Antony gave Cleopatra and all her children a part of Rome’s eastern provinces. He also gave Cleopatra and her children land that had not been conquered yet. After this, he gave Caesarian the title king of kings and Cleopatra the title Queen of Kings. The Romans were shocked that Mark Antony had given Roman land to a foreign ruler. Then Mark Antony decided to divorce Octavian’s sister Octavia, who he had a political marriage with. This enraged Octavian, so declared war on Cleopatra only. If he would have declared war on Mark Antony, it would have looked like Octavian was trying to begin a civil war. After this they went to battle at Actium, which they lost. Cleopatra and Mark Antony had to go into hiding because they had lost the war. Then, Mark Antony killed himself in a panic because he received false information that Cleopatra was dead. He killed himself by driving his sword through his chest. Cleopatra knew that if she would have stayed alive Octavian would have paraded her through the streets of Rome, and put her to shame. Cleopatra did not want to be dishonored, so She decided to commit
Camryn Cook History 337 Dr. Overtoom 02/26/23 Reading Summary #3 Group 2: Cleopatra Chapters 7-9 and Epilogue This summary paper examines chapters 7 “The Operation of the Kingdom”, 8 “Scholarship and Culture at the Court of Cleopatra”, 9 “Downfall”, and the Epilogue of Cleopatra by Duane W Roller. Chapter Seven “The Operation of the Kingdom” begins with the section titled “Royal Administration” which highlights the financial and political struggles of the empire the Cleopatra inherited and ruled over. Her father owed major debts to officials of the Roman Empire, which had not entirely been paid off, most notably to Caesar. These debts are one of the primary reasons for Octavian’s eventual attempts of conquering Egypt and ending Cleopatra’s
Why Americans Would Benefit from Reading Plutarch’s Roman Lives. A recent article by Rebecca Burgess and Hugh Liebert from the Wall Street Journal argues that Americans would benefit from reading Plutarch. The authors give very little evidence to support their case. Plutarch’s Roman Lives could be beneficial for not only Americans, but most of the population to read.
Plutarch’s opportune depiction of the statue of Julius Caesar’s enemy presiding over his death in a picture of fitting retribution is a bit too conveniently symbolic to fully believe the accuracy of his biography. Pompey and Caesar were bound to be rivals eventually due to their positions in the political schema of the time, and this was delayed only by their coalition with Crassus to form the First Triumvirate as well as Pompey’s marriage to Caesar’s daughter, Julia. However, after the deaths of both Julia and Crassus, nothing was left to veil the inevitable friction between the two men.
He also had several mistresses including the queen of Egypt, who he had a son with by the name of
Through diplomacy and her long affair with Julius Caesar, Cleopatra worked to maintain a measure of independence for Egypt and power for herself and her dynasty. After the death of Caesar, her romantic alliance switched to his supporter Mark Antony. Together, Cleopatra and Antony challenged Rome, now under the leadership of Octavian, for control of the eastern Mediterranean. Their disastrous defeat at the Battle of Actium sent them retreating to Egypt to await the final wrath of Octavian as he pursued his
This book didn’t just cover the lifespan of Cleopatra itself but also quite resourcefully shows the historical aspects of events that happened before and after Cleopatra’s lifetime. With Cleopatra being such central and well-known figure, not just back in her time but even now, she had a very strong impact on history herself and through her relationships with Caesar and Mark Anthony. Michael Grant went back as early as 323 BC to the death of Alexander the Great to explain the rise of the Ptolemaic Era through Ptolemy I and to show the proof of Cleopatra’s Hellenistic heritance. In detail he showed the hardships Caesar had to face while staying in Egypt with the Egyptian Queen but he also explained the happenings that lead to Caesar arriving
Finally, Cleopatra was known for making an alliance with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. When she was exiled from Egypt, she was wrapped up in a carpet and smuggled into Rome and met Caesar, to discuss getting her throne back. Cleopatra accomplished this by seducing Caesar with her charm and her good looks. The then became lovers and had a child named Ptolemy XV, or better known as Little Caesar. After the birth of Little Caesar, Julius Caesar was executed, making Cleopatra flee back to Egypt.
The author states “Cleopatra devised a plan to meet Julius Caesar on her own terms seeking a political alliance and a return to the throne” (Grochowski 1). By linking up with one of Rome’s powerful leaders it gave her a major power move, but it also gave her a part of Rome that she could control. The author states “Cleopatra and Mark Antony became allies and lovers and he returned with her to Alexandria in 40 B.C.E.” (Haughton 1). Since Cleopatra would do anything to keep Egypt successful, that also meant making new allies, especially if they were tied to Rome.
Cleopatra and Joan of Arc are two of the most powerful and influential women to ever have lived. Although each one led for their own purposes, and in their own style, the consequences of their actions still have ripples in today’s world. Whether it be because of Cleopatra’s beauty or ruthlessness, or Joan of Arc’s faith and purity both women are considered iconic figures in the global community. Throughout time both Joan of Arc and Cleopatra have been documented as extremely influential characters in history. Cleopatra and Joan of Arc were iconic in different ways, for different reasons but it is undeniable that without them, the world wouldn’t be as it is today.
His love for her trumps expectations from a soldier and a leader like Antony. Like Antony, Cleopatra overlooks her duties to her people and decides out of
Cleopatra’s Influence on the Roman Empire Cleopatra VII has become one of the most well-known ruler and Egyptian in era of the Roman Empire because of her suppose beauty, cunning personality and her influence on the Roman Republic which turned into an Empire shortly after her death. While she is not Roman citizen herself, her relations with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony are what brought her influence of power into Roman society and expanded her own in Egypt. Just like any ruler in history she sought power which was not something easily done as a woman in that time, however primary sources such as Josephus and Cassius Dio often do not refer to her as a great ruler, but as a seductress
The Life of Marius, written by Plutarch, is a fascinating ancient source detailing the career of the Roman Gaius Marius, 127-86BC. While there are interpretive and reliability issues, the Life of Marius is a particularly useful and significant source. It is our only extensive primary source on Marius, who was a key political figure of late Republican Rome. Additionally, Plutarch’s work indicates not only many crucial military and political development in Rome in the time period, but also gives a reflection of Plutarch’s own Rome and its values and political climate.
In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Marc Antony appears to be a strong advocate for Julius Caesar’s triumphs and increasing power. However, like Caesar, Antony is extremely manipulative and powerful. After Caesar’s death, Antony manipulated the conspirators into believing he was on their side before requesting to speak at Caesar’s funeral. While Brutus and the conspirators remained fooled by Antony’s innocence, Antony took the initiative to inform the Roman citizens of the conspirator’s horrendous actions towards their beloved leader, Julius Caesar. Caesar’s funeral was a time of reflection for the citizens of Rome, as Marc Antony caused them to question their allegiance to Brutus.
Following Caesar’s demise, Antony sought out to avenge his fallen friend; to defeat Brutus and the other conspirators. However, his endeavour made him the ultimate ruler at the end. He was motivated both by personal desire and love for Caesar. Mark Antony wanted the people to take actions as per his command, he wants more power, and he wanted to defeat the conspirators in order to avenge
To begin with, Caesarion was 17 when he, Antony, and Cleopatra died, but in the film he looks about 12, and Caesarion died after Antony and Cleopatra did, though not long after. Moreover, Cleopatra gave birth to three children with Antony, 9- or 10-year-old twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene II and a 6-year-old son Ptolemy Philadelphus; and Antony had a son Marcus Antonius Antyllus, whom all were not in the film. Furthermore, her entry to Rome scene is meant to indicate that Cleopatra entered the heart of the city and was received in the Forum, which is not correct.