Cleopatra is one of the most famous queens of ancient Egypt, his image has been immortalized in Hollywood as the most beautiful woman in history who won the most powerful Roman leader, Julius Caesar and then his faithful friend, Marco Antonio. However, Cleopatra's life was not as novel as many writers have wanted to tell.

The Greek Ptolemaic Egypt

Egyptian history was full of foreign invasions because of the great legacies that Pharaoh after Pharaoh, dynasty after dynasty and empire after empire were appearing in their arid land.

With the arrival of Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander the Great in 332 BC he seized the Persian Empire weakened the power on Egyptian soil. Then, after his death in Babylon, the Egyptian empire was taken by his brother and then by the son of Alexander, but they were killed. Thereafter, Lt. Alexander, Ptolemy I, went on to rule Egypt as the family of the Ptolemies founded a new dynasty. The Greek period was infested with multiple murders between parents and children, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives.

The Ptolemies ruled Egypt from the city which Alexander founded in the commercially strategic northern Mediterranean, called Alexandria.

After many coronations appears in 80 BC Ptolemy XII Neo Dionysos, also dubbed Auletes and flautist, was who became the ruler of Egypt under the Egyptian traditions and under the Roman sympathy.

By poorly performing his duties as ruler in 58 BC the Egyptians displeasure expressed as destabilizing in a revolt that Ptolemy XII was forced into exile in Rome. Instead what happened to his daughter, Berenice IV, who after his father expel foreign power was delegated to a cousin tiring. Shortly thereafter sent him to choke and married Archelaus. Possibly was involved in the disappearance of his other sister, Cleopatra VI. However, after convincing Ptolemy XII to Rome with attractive financial offers to Marco Antonio was preparing to retake the throne in 55 BC finally managed to take after the disastrous reign of his step daughter. After being in control in war and after the death of Archelaus in these events, captured his daughter Bernice and sent it to run.

The new regime lasted only 4 short Ptolemy years and the control of the Egyptian empire was bequeathed to her other daughter, Cleopatra, who was still very young.

Contrary to popular belief, the famous Cleopatra was none other than Cleopatra VII (69-30 BC), then, before it had been another six to his name.

The arrival of a queen

In the year 51 BC was only 18 when Cleopatra VII became Queen of Egypt. Undoubtedly his strongest weapon was her beauty, but his intelligence and cunning.

His father always ruled under the threat of Roman invasion but in those days this European empire was corrupted by corrupt generals whom the Roman dinner they could not trust the absolute power to govern the much coveted Egypt at the Roman Empire left the Cleopatra's father rule. But surely he's always had the fear of losing the throne so he tried by all means be well seen and nice to Rome.

Today, researchers do not know much of Cleopatra as anyone could want, why is unknown how exactly were the relations between the young queen in his day as a princess and her father. However, it may come to believe that Cleopatra and Ptolemy XII had a good relationship and escaped the terrible family customs that were part of everyday life of the Greeks and Romans. Envy and ambition for power was a sufficient excuse to give the death not only to anyone, but to their own parents, brothers and sisters, whatever only a small barrier to reach the coveted.

Cleopatra probably grew up with a very particular approach on Rome and that was that Egypt would never humiliate or subjugate to the Romans as usual nefarious going on.

Cleopatra's father wrote a paper that made her and her younger brother regents if they were united in marriage, ie, future kings of Egypt. His intention was more to ensure that Egypt continued in the hands of the Ptolemies and avoid the Roman invasion.

When Ptolemy XII died and his sons Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra become the kings of Egypt, things got complicated. Ptolemy XIII Cleopatra was much lower, possibly while she was 11 she was 18 but to keep the Egyptian tradition was necessary to govern as a partner.

It is known by subsequent events, the queen and her brother did not take her any good. In fact, for the actual functions that both were committed to carrying out altogether, he was excluded by it. Cleopatra was by its very nature a revolutionary who was in support of the poor of their land. In the third year of his reign, Ptolemy XIII and his other sister, Arsinoe exploited discontent against Cleopatra generated by dirty smear campaigns against you to kill and seize the crown. To safeguard your life Cleopatra was forced to march to Syria. There she was preparing to return to Egypt but not alone, but accompanied by an army with which to face the troops of his brother.

At that time Rome was plunged into a civil war when Pompey and Julius Caesar was disputing the power of his empire. Pompey sought foreign protection to deal with what Caesar landed in Pelusium to Ptolemy XIII and help him hide. There, he was cut off the head counselors and Aquila Pothinus that now strategically as Ptolemy XIII Julius Caesar would support to win their appreciation by killing his enemy.

Sculpted bust and statue in antiquity that reflect the image of Julius Caesar Roman

When Caesar arrives in Egypt for Pompey at Alexandria gave him his head. He considered it a betrayal of Rome and enraged announced that he would decide the future of the Ptolemaic monarchs and once and for all solve the dispute between them.

Rome was conquered by Cleopatra

Caesar called a meeting between Cleopatra and her brother, Ptolemy XIII husband and foe to take the most important decision for Egypt at the time.

Caesar was something that Egypt did not have the military power capable of crushing any opponent. Cleopatra therefore had to use another weapon that was not military to protect his beloved people from the hands of foreigners and secure the rule over the Two Lands, Upper and Lower Egypt. She was a very intelligent young woman and there is no doubt that she knew and he took probecho.

For several years before Queen was devoted to the study of science, religion, music, literature and about 7 or 9 languages including ancient Egyptian who by then was not spoken or by the Ptolemies, or by high society but the priests in their temples still retaining their religious traditions and language. The Ptolemies always kept respect for the Egyptian traditions and they are credited with building the best preserved temples in Egypt but did not speak or read the Egyptian language at all times maintained Greek as its language.

In the city founded by Alexander the Great a hundred years before, Alexandria, was in his room Julius Caesar. Cleopatra cleverly devised a plan to get him going unnoticed by the guards who cared.

Rolled in a carpet made his servants bring her to the room of Caesar and planned excuse to say that the carpet was a gift from the Queen of Egypt. The guards at the welcome normal routine gave way to the servants of Cleopatra. In front of Caesar himself placed on the floor carpet and unrolled until the queen appeared. This presentation was so unheard inevitably the beginning of his fall at the feet of Egypt and his queen.

I was very young Cleopatra and Julius Caesar was about 40 years. The meeting had been as shocking to him that same night the two became lovers.

Ptolemy XIII The next day on his way to the call made by Caesar to definitively resolve the situation between him and his sister Cleopatra, he realized the events and knew from that moment that Cleopatra had a great advantage over him having conquered Caesar . However, the beauty of Cleopatra is not what most impressed him Caesar because the archaeological remains of reliefs and statues of Egyptian style as both Greek-style show that there was a stunningly beautiful woman.

For cultural customs men who were more thoughtful and instructed a woman educated on many subjects was not very common to find so we can conclude that what seduced Julius Caesar was the personality and intelligence of Cleopatra that left you breathless all men. These were the greatest qualities he possessed and that all admired, qualities that Caesar could not resist.

For its part, Ptolemy XIII with his sister Arsinoe out of Egypt, after being given some agreed to attack foreign lands to Cleopatra and Julius Caesar to prevent govern Egypt and so she could regain the crown that she was threatening to win and Julio Caesar certainly would support. So he started the war between the two forces behind this conflict that lasted no less than six months, Julius Caesar and Cleopatra defeated their opponents. Unfortunately, during this time was the library of Alexandria burned, the place was the center of the wisdom of the ancient world where some 700,000 papyrus scrolls were housed knowledge of the arts, science, religion, philosophy, astronomy and entire history of mankind.

Could be saved only a few thousand papyri and roughing the flames of fire and ashes was buried ruins much of the knowledge of the ancient world would never be recovered. There were multiple responses to the puzzles that face today Egyptology as the construction of the pyramids and the answers to questions many other sciences.

When Arsinoe knew he had lost the war fled. Later, Julius Caesar captured and brought to Rome as a prisoner to glorify himself. His brother Ptolemy XIII did not run with the same fate, trying to escape the soldiers of Caesar is believed to have drowned in the River.

The adventure of Cleopatra and Caesar was not more than that, an adventure. For she was the queen as the Egyptian traditions dictated to preserve the royal blood, had to marry another member of his own family was chosen as his younger brother, Ptolemy XIV. However, Julius Caesar did not fail to be her lover.

She seemed to show Caesar as a prize he had won and took him and accompanied him on a boat to find interesting places of Egypt while both having fun. This banal attitude of Caesar the Romans were concerned and began to question his reputation. Julius Caesar was forced to leave Egypt and Cleopatra for a while, even his advisers recommended to do so to protect his image and thus avoid any conflict that would harm.

The son of Cleopatra and Caesar

Cleopatra was also conquered by Rome because he knows that his relationship with Julius Caesar was not limited to the political interest that she had over him but loved him. For when Caesar left Egypt Cleopatra was pregnant with him and when the child was born both conceived, Cleopatra gave the name of Ptolemy XV Caesarion to evoke their ancestors and their beloved Caesar.

This decision was not merely sentimental Cleopatra, was also a way to link it to Julius Caesar, his son and Egypt, was his pass from that time. Moreover, Julius Caesar had no sons and she gave him one.

After giving birth to Caesarion, between year 47 and 44 BC, Cleopatra went to Rome to meet with Caesar. He took his villa on the outskirts of the city and stayed there. Although it was a great stir among the inhabitants of Rome Cleopatra's visit generated many important people in that society looked upon with distaste his presence. They said that Julius Caesar was making plans to become king with Cleopatra at the time was married to another woman.

In a way the Romans were right in their rejection of the queen, could not be possible for the great leader of Rome was in an affair with a stranger while he was married. The most important of the visit of Cleopatra in Julius Caesar's Rome is that despite not officially recognize it, was understood that the son of the Queen of the Nile, Ptolemy Caesarion, wore his blood.

However, Cleopatra had plans for her son with Julius Caesar and later she could rule her son with the assurance that it would not be threatened by another foreign power.

The Romans of the dinner did not like the idea that Cleopatra beside the mighty Caesar had the opportunity to govern as well as Egypt to Rome. To avoid at all costs took a drastic decision and unfortunately Cleopatra plans collapsed after the assassination of Caesar.

The death of Julius Caesar

On the 15th day of March of 44 BC when Caesar was preparing to enter the dinner he found the plot that took his life. Several members of the dinner conspired against him during his absence and did not hesitate to stab him.

Now things to Cleopatra would be completely different without Julius Caesar to his side to support it. While still in Rome when Caesar was murdered is found cornered and rushed fearing for his life and his son. He returned to Egypt fully affected by the facts, especially since Julius Caesar had not officially recognized as his son Caesarion. This was a big problem because he was threatened again by the Roman Empire in an invasion that could take power in their own land.

Cleopatra had to do something about it and it apparently decided to poison Ptolemy XIV Caesarion then appoint co-ruler of Egypt and thus was assured in advance to the next few years in the hands of his son Ptolemy XV.

The Roman people was enraged by the death of Caesar after his most loyal lieutenant and loyal friend, Marco Antonio, delivered his speech in honor of Cesar and against the traitors. Since then Cleopatra knew that Rome was still an ally and that all was not lost as would have come to believe.

The conspirators were quick to flee and join other troops in the east to protect themselves. Meanwhile, the Romans wanted to avenge the death of their leader.

Cleopatra in Egypt looked forward to see who would replace Julius Caesar in Rome. When he learned that his nephew Octavius was appointed by Caesar's heir was certainly very concerned about it. Octavio not hesitate to conquer Egypt and Cleopatra then efforts to retain power would be lost completely. He had the political and military power that his uncle had also inherited Caesarion saw as a possible threat.

Marco Antonio despite not having played a political role in place of Caesar started the fight and catch the conspirators who were treacherously killed Caesar.

The empire was divided into nearly supporters of the avenger of Caesar, Mark Antony, and who were against him.

Octavio dared not face Marco Antonio, to retain power. This was a very strong military and a confrontation between the two would mean plunging Rome into civil war. To avoid war at all costs, Octavian, Antony and Caesar's second commander came to an agreement among the three ruled the Roman Empire in a triumvirate without the need to fight among themselves. What they did was to divide the territories and spread so that all were satisfied.

The ideal of the union, in addition to avoiding war was to punish the traitors who had escaped after killing Caesar. Cleopatra stayed out not to involve his country in war. Another reason for not showed their inclination towards any of the Roman rulers was because I prevented a fight between them and still remembered that in Alexandria were the troops that Caesar had left to protect it and a wrong decision could mean much.

In Greece in 42 BC took place the battle between the armies and finally Mark Antony and Octavian were victorious.

Marco Antonio

For their direct involvement in the battle, Marco Antonio was considered the new leader of Rome. Then it was liberating the lands east of Republican murderers, Antony went to Egypt and nearby lands where Cleopatra convened a meeting which she attended. It was also convened a second time to meet him and she went missing. It was the third call when finally agreed to meet with defender Cesar.

Cleopatra had to start again to ensure the future of their country, hers and his son so he would try again to conquer a Roman leader. His new plan was Antony and she saw in her royal barge in the middle of a lavish party and there would be conquered. To achieve this, dressed in the finest clothes and smeared with exquisite perfumes, with the weakness that Marco Antonio felt by women, he could not resist. Interest in it was initially because Marco Antonio now had the same power as Julius Caesar had some years ago on the future of Egypt. She was interested in him as their friend or something else and not as an adversary. In addition, he had been a faithful servant of Caesar and that should be important to her regarding the bias that might have for him. Two reached an agreement whereby Egypt would pay the invasion of Marco Antonio to Persia. After Julius Caesar conquered certainly felt very confident in her ability to dominate men and prepared and tired as the queen she was. Testing once again began her charms to seduce Mark Antony, and this, as once happened to Caesar, fell into his arms.

Foolproof tactics once again assured its permanence on the Egyptian throne. However, Antony continued to accompany him everywhere, in every activity he performed. All the time they spent together was to strengthen their relationship and she proposed to go to Alexandria, Mark Antony.

Marco Antonio had to take into account the main intention was Cleopatra, because after all, he was also a military strategist and ensures that nobody really fell in love or not. This combination of feelings made Cleopatra and Mark Antony made a deal to support each other. To that end Mark Antony publicly acknowledged to be the queen Cleopatra of Egypt.

Part of the deal was that a queen should have absolute control over Egypt and even on the island of Cyprus, Syria and Libya. It also allowed him to execute his sister Cleopatra and Arsinoe enemy in the company of her brother Ptolemy XIII had conspired against him long ago.

Antony leaves for Egypt to defend a territory that the Persians were attacking. Later, when he goes to Rome to solve a problem with Octavio, that he proposed to strengthen the delicate relationship that existed between them. In a gesture of mistrust Marco Antonio after his wife Fulvia Octavio act against this irrevocable offers to marry his sister Octavia and leaving it no choice, Marco Antonio accepts the deal and agrees to marry her combirtiendose both in-laws.

Cleopatra felt cheated because Antony seriously considered as a partner but not under the legal terms. Not seen again until three years during which he was in military campaigns in different places. She had given birth to twins of Marco Antonio and when he had the opportunity to get away from his wife that he intended to accompany him, soon include his beloved Cleopatra so that they look after those three years of his absence.

After his victory, Marco Antonio is going to celebrate his triumph in Egypt organized the celebration typical for such occasions.

She made sure not to lose it again and married him. Egyptian traditions were pagan for the Romans and obviously his marriage was not recognized in the empire of Rome, and this attitude of Marco Antonio was frowned upon because bigamy was not allowed between the Romans and the whole situation worse, publicly acknowledged Caesarion their children and the son of Caesar. However, Marco Antonio did not mind that, what really interested him was to live next to Cleopatra in the most magnificent of the Mediterranean.

In his new Egyptian family granted the Roman Empire under his power. Even with the support of Cleopatra invaded Parthia in 34 BC The many mistakes made by Marco Antonio finished disqualify against Rome. Although Cleopatra had supported him with money for the war, Marco Antonio lost many of its soldiers and ended up retreating back to Egypt after failing.

Octavio sent his sister Octavia to give her husband Marco Antonio in Greece about supplies. Marco Antonio came to the island but refused to see her. Octavio had achieved a ratio with the consent of the dinner to declare war on Antony and additionally placed as an excuse the news that Antony would be buried in Egypt and not in Rome, which in other words meant a betrayal.

However, Octavio did not attack at the time of Marco Antonio. He waited to return to Egypt to charge more particularly the territories that the Roman husband Cleopatra had delivered to her and her children. These territories were quite broad, Cleopatra and Mark Antony ruled together over territories in the Mediterranean, Europe and even Asia.

Octavio was gradually induce the Romans to turn against Marc Antony in speaking ill of his opponent intentionally, saying he was under the control of Cleopatra and that therefore the territories he controlled were also handled by Queen Egypt. This caused many Romans feel betrayed by Marco Antonio and started against him. Obviously, this manipulation of Octavio gave him a big advantage over his opponent.

The war between Octavian and Mark Antony

When Antony divorces Octavia, his brother openly declares war. Cleopatra and he built up their armies in Asia Minor and prepared to go to Greece to fight Octavian.

In the field of war, Antony had much more experience than Octavio on strategic issues. This fact caused him to commit a serious mistake to underestimate the strength and skill of his opponent who had made a general war enshrined in charge of his army.

Among men of Marco Antonio was a great discontent caused by it. Cleopatra as her husband was a very good strategist and did not hesitate to get involved directly in the battlefield and to give recommendations and help decide Marco Antonio about the tactics they used. The leaders of the army must have felt very bad when the queen was in the team and certainly when opposed to follow their advice and instead made the decisions to Marco Antonio.

Octavio took into account that the power of Marco Antonio if not superior to theirs, was a formidable opponent for what was also devoted to planning their attack tactics. Gradually led Antony to fight a naval battle.

In 31 BC, the Greek coast, specifically at Actium, just started the confrontation between the fleets of Octavian and Mark Antony when many of his supporters surrendered to Octavian. This proved that the support was Antony and Cleopatra and the Roman generals in Egypt was relative. Octavio soon was dominating the situation and expecting the worst Antony asked Cleopatra to retire in his barge to safety.

Octavio lay an ambush their enemies put at a total disadvantage to Antony and the situation was provided, it is believed "to be misinterpret the orders and this was also forced to withdraw behind the boat of the Egyptian queen. Many saw the act as cowardly reaction of Marco Antonio to abandon his men. However it is believed to have been a confusion in the strategy.

Everything could have been a strategy in the event of losing the battle, they had to protect the treasure that was in the boat with Cleopatra. Many would have seemed that Marco Antonio Cleopatra simply withdrew because he did and he was totally dominated by it.

Really intended to go after Cleopatra was another, it was vital to preserve the treasure that could pay the army for support and fight at his side.

The defeat of Antony and Cleopatra

When both return to Egypt defeated, begin to prepare for the following events. However, their attitudes toward Octavio changed much since that time. Cleopatra and Mark Antony Octavius wrote multiple times to stop their children rule over the territories which would be inherited.

Octavio did not accede to requests from both yet made known to Cleopatra that he would give anything to change the life of Mark Antony. Antony and Cleopatra were increasingly irreversible as more difficult territories Octavio had joined in the fight while they could not join forces again.

She was then in its hands the opportunity to reassure their children control over the territories which his father had given Marco Antonio. However, the love that Cleopatra was not allowed to betray him for no reason even though the customs of the time would have easily allowed. His decision was to reject the offer of Octavio and prepare for what might follow.

The Roman invasion arrives in Egypt

The following year, Octavio after defeating his opponents so easily and Cleopatra refuse the opportunity to have their children maintain the power to change the life of Mark Antony, did not hesitate to invade Egypt in search of them. Prepared to lead his army toward the Egyptian coast while Mark Antony was preparing for another confrontation.

Octavio's military superiority over the Egyptians and Romans who supported Mark Antony made a lot of them surrendered to make things easier still the invader.

Marco Antonio to see this disaster and defeat with his own eyes, on receiving false news that Cleopatra had committed suicide by Roman triumphal hopeless, emotionally dropped shot on his own sword.

Antony Impressively not die at that moment. By the time they found his body still keeping forces and was quickly taken to the place where Cleopatra was hiding from Octavio. Yet here, in the arms of his queen, he breathed his last breath.

The death of the last queen of Egypt

Shattered by the death of her beloved Marc Antony, Cleopatra is captured by the soldiers of Octavius. His son was executed Caesarion these while trying to escape and Cleopatra then lost everything.

The eldest son of Marco Antonio also was killed and three children he and his wife Cleopatra had two men had disappeared and the female was in foreign territory as wife of the African king Juba.

Octavio had decided to make a prisoner and taken to Rome to walk it through the streets as his prisoner. She was assured that at some point also be executed by the Romans and his pride would not let him live this situation so humiliating.

Looking for some way to keep your honor, Cleopatra arranged with his servants to bring him a snake asp hidden in a basket. El aspid como la cobra tenían un significado muy importante dentro de la religión egipcia; estas protectoras de los faraones le podrían servir de enlace para llevarla con los dioses a través de su sagrada y mortal mordida.

Colocándose la serpiente en su pecho desnudo sintió los afilados colmillos atravesar su carne. Allí tendida y vestida con sus mejores ropas agonizó y murió la última reina de Egipto a la edad aproximada de 39 años. Con ella sucumbió la postrera dinastía de faraones y el sueño de independencia de su pueblo que ahora se convertiría en otra vulgar provincia romana.

Octavio tuvo la generosidad de enterrar a Cleopatra junto a su esposo Marco Antonio. Al menos este hecho indica que a pesar de hacer sido derrotada físicamente, Octavio guardaba respeto por ella y lo demostró al permitir que la pareja permaneciera unida incluso en la eternidad.

En Roma Octavio se convirtió en el primer emperador romano y se llamó a si mismo César Augusto. Unificó los territorios y los puso bajo su mando terminando las guerras civiles que anteriormente había asediado al pueblo romano.

Cleopatra había muerto pero sus ideales seguían vivos ya pesar de que sus objetivos no los vio realizarse quedó inmortalizada por la huella que dejó de si misma en su pueblo y en sus rivales. Cleopatra fue recordada como la temible e inteligente mujer que casi gobernó a Roma al amar y ser amada por dos de sus más grandes líderes. En sus tiempos de reina fue vista por los egipcios como Isis y por los romanos como la ramera de César y Marco Antonio pero su inteligencia, sus habilidades, su osadía y valentía al enfrentar las situaciones que vivió al lado de ambos, y precisamente el tomar la decisión de suicidarse para evitarle a los egipcios el amargo trago de que su reina y simbólicamente su pueblo fueran humillados por los arrogantes romanos, la dejó como la triunfadora final de la guerra a pesar de haber perdido su vida. Hoy Cleopatra es recordada como una gran reina egipcia y Octavio, después llamado César Augusto, es recordado como el villano romano que la obligó a morir.