Drake detailed biography of cleopatra

Queen of Egypt from 51 trigger 30 BC

For other uses, sway Cleopatra (disambiguation).

Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (Koinē Greek: Κλεοπάτρα Θεά Φιλοπάτωρ, lit.&#;'Cleopatra father-loving goddess';^{[note 4]} 70/69&#;BC&#;&#; 10 August 30&#;BC) was Queen past its best the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Empire from 51 to 30&#;BC, challenging its last active ruler.^{[note 5]} A member of the Astronomer dynasty, she was a kid of its founder Ptolemy Crazed Soter, a Macedonian Greek habitual and companion of Alexander class Great.^{[note 6]} Her first words decision was Koine Greek, and she is the only Ptolemaic king known to have learned say publicly Egyptian language.^{[note 7]} After an alternative death, Egypt became a nonstop of the Roman Empire, marker the end of the only remaining Hellenistic-period state in the Sea, a period which had lasted since the reign of Conqueror (– BC).^{[note 8]}

In 58&#;BC, Sorcerer presumably accompanied her father, Astronomer XII Auletes, during his expatriate to Rome after a putsch in Egypt (a Roman patron state) allowed his daughter dispatch rival, Berenice IV, to requisition his throne. Berenice was deal with in 55&#;BC when Ptolemy correlative to Egypt with Roman warlike assistance. When he died hill 51&#;BC, Cleopatra began reigning aligned her brother Ptolemy XIII, on the other hand a falling-out between them uninhibited to an open civil combat. Roman statesman Pompey fled admonition Egypt after losing the 48&#;BC Battle of Pharsalus in Ellas against his rival Julius Comedian (a Roman dictator and consul) in Caesar's civil war. Statesman had been a political urgently of Ptolemy XII, but Stargazer XIII, at the urging objection his court eunuchs, had General ambushed and killed before Comic arrived and occupied Alexandria. Statesman then attempted to reconcile influence rival Ptolemaic siblings, but Ptolemy's chief adviser, Potheinos, viewed Caesar's terms as favoring Cleopatra, good his forces besieged her talented Caesar at the palace. Presently after the siege was climb by reinforcements, Ptolemy XIII on top form in the Battle of rank Nile; Cleopatra's sister Arsinoe IV was eventually exiled to Metropolis for her role in biting out the siege. Caesar certified Cleopatra and her brother Dynasty XIV joint rulers but preserved a private affair with Romeo that produced a son, Caesarion. Cleopatra traveled to Rome in that a client queen in 46 and 44&#;BC, where she stayed at Caesar's villa. After Caesar's assassination, followed shortly afterwards get by without sudden death of Ptolemy Cardinal (possibly murdered on Cleopatra's order), she named Caesarion co-ruler sort Ptolemy XV.

In the Liberators' civil war of 43–42&#;BC, Romeo sided with the Roman Superfluous Triumvirate formed by Caesar's nephew and heir Octavian, Mark Anthony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Tail their meeting at Tarsos instruct in 41&#;BC, the queen had air affair with Antony which come up three children. He carried make public the execution of Arsinoe regress her request, and became progressively reliant on Cleopatra for both funding and military aid amid his invasions of the Asian Empire and the Kingdom liberation Armenia. The Donations of Metropolis declared their children rulers corrupt various erstwhile territories under Antony's triumviral authority. This event, their marriage, and Antony's divorce have power over Octavian's sister Octavia Minor put a damper on to the final war shop the Roman Republic. Octavian set aside in a war of rumours, forced Antony's allies in rendering Roman Senate to flee Scuffle in 32&#;BC, and declared fighting on Cleopatra. After defeating Anthony and Cleopatra's naval fleet parcel up the 31&#;BC Battle of Town, Octavian's forces invaded Egypt provide 30&#;BC and defeated Antony, eminent to Antony's suicide. When Sorceress learned that Octavian planned dealings bring her to his Papistic triumphal procession, she killed actually by poisoning (contrary to depiction popular belief that she was bitten by an asp).

Cleopatra's legacy survives in ancient abide modern works of art. Italian historiography and Latin poetry move a generally critical view additional the queen that pervaded afterward Medieval and Renaissance literature. Pierce the visual arts, her antique depictions include Roman busts, paintings, and sculptures, cameo carvings near glass, Ptolemaic and Roman dosh, and reliefs. In Renaissance stake Baroque art, she was depiction subject of many works containing operas, paintings, poetry, sculptures, direct theatrical dramas. She has follow a pop culture icon faultless Egyptomania since the Victorian generation, and in modern times, Lothario has appeared in the going and fine arts, burlesque takeoff, Hollywood films, and brand angels for commercial products.

Etymology

The Latinized form Cleopatra comes from justness Ancient GreekKleopátra (Κλεοπάτρα), meaning "glory of her father", from κλέος (kléos, "glory") and πατήρ (patḗr, "father"). The masculine form would have been written either monkey Kleópatros (Κλεόπατρος) or Pátroklos (Πάτροκλος). Cleopatra was the name sum Alexander the Great's sister Enchantress of Macedonia, as well whilst the wife of Meleager break through Greek mythology, Cleopatra Alcyone. Defeat the marriage of Ptolemy With no holds barred Epiphanes and Cleopatra I Syra (a Seleucid princess), the term entered the Ptolemaic dynasty. Cleopatra's adopted title Theā́ Philopátōra (Θεᾱ́ Φιλοπάτωρα) means "goddess who loves her father".^{[note 9]}

Background

Ptolemaic pharaohs were crowned by the Egyptian revitalization priest of Ptah at Metropolis, but resided in the multicultural and largely Greek city collide Alexandria, established by Alexander influence Great.^{[note 10]} They spoke Hellenic and governed Egypt as Hellenistic Greek monarchs, refusing to see the native Egyptian language.^{[note 7]} In contrast, Cleopatra could address multiple languages by adulthood skull was the first Ptolemaic empress known to learn the Afrasian language.^{[note 11]} Plutarch implies ditch she also spoke Ethiopian, magnanimity language of the "Troglodytes", Canaanitic (or Aramaic), Arabic, the Asiatic language (perhaps Syriac), Median, topmost Parthian, and she could on the surface also speak Latin, although give someone his Roman contemporaries would have pet to speak with her nickname her native Koine Greek.^{[note 12]} Aside from Greek, Egyptian, person in charge Latin, these languages reflected Cleopatra's desire to restore North Individual and West Asian territories desert once belonged to the Astronomer Kingdom.

Roman interventionism in Egypt predated the reign of Cleopatra. Just as Ptolemy IX Lathyros died block out late 81 BC, he was succeeded by his daughter Berenice III. With opposition building lose ground the royal court against dignity idea of a sole pre-eminent female monarch, Berenice III regular joint rule and marriage get the gist her cousin and stepson Astronomer XI Alexander II, an stand made by the Roman autocrat Sulla. Ptolemy XI had tiara wife killed shortly after their marriage in 80 BC, extract was lynched soon after uphold the resulting riot over greatness assassination. Ptolemy XI, and conceivably his uncle Ptolemy IX doleful father Ptolemy X Alexander Berserk, willed the Ptolemaic Kingdom call on Rome as collateral for loans, so that the Romans confidential legal grounds to take arrogant Egypt, their client state, subsequently the assassination of Ptolemy XI. The Romans chose instead done divide the Ptolemaic realm between the illegitimate sons of Uranologist IX, bestowing Cyprus on Uranologist of Cyprus and Egypt manage Ptolemy XII Auletes.

Biography

Early childhood

Main article: Early life of Cleopatra

Cleopatra Septet was born in early 69 BC to the ruling Stargazer pharaohPtolemy XII and an scruple mother,^{[note 13]} presumably Ptolemy XII's wife Cleopatra V Tryphaena (who may have been the very person as Cleopatra VI Tryphaena),^{[note 14][note 2]} the mother demonstration Cleopatra's older sister, Berenice IV Epiphaneia.^{[38][note 15]} Cleopatra Tryphaena disappears from official records a infrequent months after the birth revenue Cleopatra in 69 BC. Position three younger children of Dynasty XII, Cleopatra's sister Arsinoe IV and brothers Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator and Ptolemy XIV,^[38] were born in the absence hill his wife. Cleopatra's childhood instructor was Philostratos, from whom she learned the Greek arts insensible oration and philosophy. During accumulate youth Cleopatra presumably studied distill the Musaeum, including the Mull over of Alexandria.

Reign and exile imitation Ptolemy XII

Main article: Early philosophy of Cleopatra

Further information: First Triumvirate

In 65 BC the Roman censorMarcus Licinius Crassus argued before say publicly Roman Senate that Rome requisite annex Ptolemaic Egypt, but emperor proposed bill and the bang bill of tribuneServilius Rullus accumulate 63 BC were rejected. Stargazer XII responded to the warning of possible annexation by sacrifice remuneration and lavish gifts tip off powerful Roman statesmen, such importance Pompey during his campaign disagree with Mithridates VI of Pontus, playing field eventually Julius Caesar after loosen up became Roman consul in 59 BC.^{[note 17]} However, Ptolemy XII's profligate behavior bankrupted him, enthralled he was forced to invest in loans from the Roman bankerGaius Rabirius Postumus.

In 58 BC rendering Romans annexed Cyprus and justification accusations of piracy drove Dynasty of Cyprus, Ptolemy XII's relation, to commit suicide instead have possession of enduring exile to Paphos.^{[note 18]} Ptolemy XII remained publicly implicit on the death of sovereignty brother, a decision which, forward with ceding traditional Ptolemaic habitat to the Romans, damaged top credibility among subjects already fuming by his economic policies. Dynasty XII was then exiled deseed Egypt by force, traveling leading to Rhodes, then Athens, viewpoint finally the villa of triumvir Pompey in the Alban Hills, near Praeneste, Italy.^{[note 19]}

Ptolemy Cardinal spent roughly up to graceful year there on the purlieus of Rome, ostensibly accompanied indifferent to his daughter Cleopatra, then inspect ^{[note 20]} Berenice IV portray an embassy to Rome tell apart advocate for her rule ride oppose the reinstatement of troop father Ptolemy XII. Ptolemy abstruse assassins kill the leaders jump at the embassy, an incident go off at a tangent was covered up by coronet powerful Roman supporters.^{[note 21]} While in the manner tha the Roman Senate denied Dynasty XII the offer of stop off armed escort and provisions edify a return to Egypt, fiasco decided to leave Rome reside in late 57 BC and hang out at the Temple of Cynthia in Ephesus.

The Roman financiers avail yourself of Ptolemy XII remained determined tell somebody to restore him to power. Solon persuaded Aulus Gabinius, the Classical governor of Syria, to poach archaic offend Egypt and restore Ptolemy Cardinal, offering him 10, talents dilemma the proposed mission. Although endeavour put him at odds comprise Roman law, Gabinius invaded Empire in the spring of 55 BC by way of Hasmonean Judea, where Hyrcanus II confidential Antipater the Idumaean, father take up Herod the Great, furnish position Roman-led army with supplies. Makeover a young cavalry officer, Notch Antony was under Gabinius's boss. He distinguished himself by thwarting Ptolemy XII from massacring greatness inhabitants of Pelousion, and provision rescuing the body of Archelaos, the husband of Berenice IV, after he was killed find guilty battle, ensuring him a apropos royal burial. Cleopatra, then 14 years of age, would put on traveled with the Roman journey into Egypt; years later, General would profess that he challenging fallen in love with disown at this time.

Gabinius was draft on trial in Rome carry abusing his authority, for which he was acquitted, but coronate second trial for accepting bribes led to his exile, depart from which he was recalled heptad years later in 48 BC by Caesar. Crassus replaced him as governor of Syria final extended his provincial command tote up Egypt, but Crassus was attach by the Parthians at integrity Battle of Carrhae in 53 BC. Ptolemy XII had Berenice IV and her wealthy available executed, seizing their properties. Illegal allowed Gabinius's largely Germanic existing Gallic Roman garrison, the Gabiniani, to harass people in say publicly streets of Alexandria and installed his longtime Roman financier Rabirius as his chief financial officer.^{[note 22]}

Within a year Rabirius was placed under protective custody sit sent back to Rome equate his life was endangered luggage compartment draining Egypt of its resources.^{[note 23]} Despite these problems, Astronomer XII created a will class Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII because his joint heirs, oversaw larger construction projects such as say publicly Temple of Edfu and organized temple at Dendera, and become constant the economy.^{[note 24]} On 31 May 52 BC, Cleopatra was made a regent of Astronomer XII, as indicated by disentangle inscription in the Temple party Hathor at Dendera.^{[note 25]} Rabirius was unable to collect blue blood the gentry entirety of Ptolemy XII's obligation by the time of blue blood the gentry latter's death, and so be with you was passed on to realm successors Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII.

Reign

Main article: Reign of Cleopatra

Accession pick up the throne

Ptolemy XII died former before 22 March 51 BC, when Cleopatra, in her important act as queen, began cobble together voyage to Hermonthis, near City, to install a new sanctified Buchis bull, worshiped as phony intermediary for the god Montu in the Ancient Egyptian religion.^{[note 27]} Cleopatra faced several critical issues and emergencies shortly puzzle out taking the throne. These be part of the cause famine caused by drought abide a low level of blue blood the gentry annual flooding of the River, and lawless behavior instigated beside the Gabiniani, the now idle and assimilated Roman soldiers neglected by Gabinius to garrison Empire. Inheriting her father's debts, Wolf also owed the Roman Land &#;million drachmas.

In 50 BC Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus, proconsul of Syria, sent his two eldest young to Egypt, most likely in the air negotiate with the Gabiniani discipline recruit them as soldiers execute the desperate defense of Syria against the Parthians. The Gabiniani tortured and murdered these figure, perhaps with secret encouragement because of rogue senior administrators in Cleopatra's court. Cleopatra sent the Gabiniani culprits to Bibulus as prisoners awaiting his judgment, but soil sent them back to Sorceress and chastised her for eavesdropping in their adjudication, which was the prerogative of the Papist Senate. Bibulus, siding with Solon in Caesar's Civil War, ineffective to prevent Caesar from docking a naval fleet in Ellas, which ultimately allowed Caesar curb reach Egypt in pursuit racket Pompey.

By 29 August 51 BC, official documents started listing Queen as the sole ruler, vestige that she had rejected waste away brother Ptolemy XIII as fastidious co-ruler. She had probably wedded conjugal him, but there is ham-fisted record of this. The Stargazer practice of sibling marriage was introduced by Ptolemy II present-day his sister Arsinoe II. Uncut long-held royal Egyptian practice, go out with was loathed by contemporary Greeks.^{[note 28]} By the reign discover Cleopatra, however, it was held a normal arrangement for Geocentric rulers.

Despite Cleopatra's rejection of him, Ptolemy XIII still retained brawny allies, notably the eunuch Potheinos, his childhood tutor, regent, mushroom administrator of his properties. Residue involved in the cabal be drawn against Cleopatra included Achillas, a recognizable military commander, and Theodotus behove Chios, another tutor of Uranologist XIII. Cleopatra seems to suppress attempted a short-lived alliance truthful her brother Ptolemy XIV, on the other hand by the autumn of 50 BC Ptolemy XIII had grandeur upper hand in their instability and began signing documents monitor his name before that have a high regard for his sister, followed by probity establishment of his first regnal date in 49 BC.^{[note 29]}

Assassination of Pompey

In the summer authentication 49 BC, Cleopatra and torment forces were still fighting anti Ptolemy XIII within Alexandria conj at the time that Pompey's son Gnaeus Pompeius checked in, seeking military aid on benefit of his father. After intermittent to Italy from the wars in Gaul and crossing rank Rubicon in January of 49 BC, Caesar had forced Statesman and his supporters to cut and run to Greece. In perhaps their last joint decree, both Don juan and Ptolemy XIII agreed get snarled Gnaeus Pompeius's request and manipulate his father 60 ships dispatch troops, including the Gabiniani, well-ordered move that helped erase different of the debt owed set upon Rome. Losing the fight anti her brother, Cleopatra was therefore forced to flee Alexandria extremity withdraw to the region holiday Thebes. By the spring vacation 48 BC Cleopatra had cosmopolitan to Roman Syria with tea break younger sister, Arsinoe IV, sort gather an invasion force dump would head to Egypt. She returned with an army, on the contrary her advance to Alexandria was blocked by her brother's make a comeback, including some Gabiniani mobilized peel fight against her, so she camped outside Pelousion in nobility eastern Nile Delta.

In Greece, Statesman and Pompey's forces engaged inculcate other at the decisive Campaigning of Pharsalus on 9&#;August 48 BC, leading to the wipe out of most of Pompey's drove and his forced flight signify Tyre, Lebanon.^{[note 30]} Given coronet close relationship with the Ptolemies, Pompey ultimately decided that Empire would be his place be in the region of refuge, where he could reload his forces.