Who was Cleopatra's lover? Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt: biography

Nobody remembers the names of the pharaohs of Egypt, but Cleopatra is on everyone’s lips. Some considered her a courtesan, a woman of rare cunning, who became the cause of a number of civil wars, while others, on the contrary, took her as a standard of virtue.

Egyptian Aphrodite

Cleopatra came from the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty, which was founded by the ally and commander of Alexander the Great - Ptolemy. After the conquest of Egypt, he was appointed satrap (ruler) of that country.

Today the name Cleopatra has become synonymous with beauty, but scientists cannot say anything definite about her appearance. They begin to write about her unprecedented beauty only a couple of hundred years after her death. The most famous is considered to be Plutarch’s description of it, given in his Comparative Lives. The Roman historian characterized Cleopatra as the owner of an irresistible charm, whose appearance, combined with the rare persuasiveness of her speeches, was firmly etched into the soul: “The very sounds of her voice caressed and delighted the ear, and her tongue was like a multi-stringed instrument, easily tuned to any mood, to any dialect.” "

The historian Sextus Aurelius Victor, who had a negative attitude towards Cleopatra, wrote about her: “She was so depraved that she often prostituted herself, and had such beauty that many men paid with their death for possessing her for one night.”

Since Cleopatra's mummy has not been found, busts are considered the most reliable source for her appearance. The most famous is the damaged bust from Cherchell in Algeria, created after the death of the queen on the occasion of the wedding of her daughter. A typical Greek face with the same hooked nose and wavy hair, collected in a bun.

Femme fatale

This is exactly what Cleopatra was like for all her husbands and cohabitants, starting with sibling and the first husband - King Ptolemy XIII, who at the time of his accession to the kingdom was only 9 years old, while Cleopatra was already 17. For some time she ruled virtually alone, but then the courtiers seized power. Julius Caesar returned Cleopatra to the throne. When he was in Alexandria, the queen, in an attempt to enlist his support, approached him in a very original way.

Plutarch says that “Cleopatra, taking with her only one of her friends, Apollodorus of Sicily, got into a small boat and, at nightfall, landed near the royal palace. To remain unnoticed, she climbed into the bed bag and stretched out to its full length. Apollodorus carried him across the courtyard to Caesar. They say that this very cunning of Cleopatra seemed bold to Caesar and captivated him.”

In the dynastic struggle between sister and brother, he stood up for his sister. Started Civil War, during which the young king Ptolemy XIII drowned in the Nile while trying to escape.

Under Caesar

Thus begins Cleopatra's reign under Roman protectorate and her romance with Caesar, despite the fact that, in accordance with tradition, she was married to her other brother, Ptolemy XIV.

From the great commander she had a son, Caesarion (“little Caesar”), for whom she prophesied a great future. In the summer of 46 BC. Caesar summons Cleopatra to Rome, ostensibly to conclude a formal peace treaty between Rome and Egypt. He builds a luxurious villa for her in his gardens on the banks of the Tiber. This veneration of the Egyptian queen, which could lead to the proclamation of Caesar as king, did not please the Roman senators. On March 15, 44 BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.

Cleopatra left Rome and returned to Alexandria. According to the historian Josephus, there she poisoned her brother-husband, fearing an overthrow in the absence of a patron.

Antony and Cleopatra

The romance of Anthony and Cleopatra is one of the most legendary and tragic novels of the ancient world. After the death of Caesar, a struggle for power broke out in Rome between two groups: the killers of the dictator - Cassius, Brutus, and his comrades - Octavian and Mark Antony. Octavian and Antony defeated the conspirators. Anthony needed the wealth of Egypt. Having found out through her confidants about the amorous and simple-minded Anthony, who was more likely to be a brave soldier than a cunning politician, she arrived to him on a luxurious ship with a gilded stern and silvered oars, where she sat in the outfit of Aphrodite, accompanied by maids dressed as nymphs and boys dressed as Cupids. . Soon Anthony left the army and went with Cleopatra to Alexandria.

From him, Cleopatra gave birth to three children: twins - a boy Alexander Helios, a girl Cleopatra Selene and Ptolemy Philadelphus. Antony, who was himself married to the sister of his ally Octavian, left his legitimate wife and began distributing lands to his illegitimate heirs. Caesarion receives the title of king of kings, Alexander receives Armenia, Ptolemy - Syria and Asia Minor, Cleopatra Selene - Cyrenaica. He made this decision not without the influence of the queen. This signed his and Cleopatra's death warrant.

"Union of Suicide Bombers"

The noble couple lost the decisive battle with Octavian. Right in the middle of the naval battle of Actium, Cleopatra left the battlefield with her fleet. Anthony fled after her, leaving his soldiers behind. Returning to Alexandria, they awaited Octavian's invasion, spending their time in endless feasts and entertainment. Their vow to die together dates back to this time. They even organized a “suicide union,” whose members pledged to prefer death to captivity.

True, when Octavian’s legions entered Alexandria, only Mark Antony fulfilled the oath, throwing himself on his sword. Cleopatra allowed herself to be captured, apparently in the hope that she would be able to find an approach to the new winner. This is where Cleopatra's story ends. Not wanting to repeat the fate of her sister Arsinoe, who was once led through the streets of Rome in golden chains by her ally Julius Caesar, she decided to commit suicide. It is believed that even before Octavian's invasion, she was looking for a poison that would bring an easy and painless death, conducting tests on prisoners. According to the official version, her choice fell on the venom of the Egyptian cobra.

The name of Cleopatra is known to everyone - she was not only an outstanding ruler of Egypt, but also an amazing woman. More than two thousand years have passed since her death, but she is still remembered as one of the individuals who changed history.

Cleopatra was not a beauty by any standards Ancient Egypt, nor according to modern canons. However, she managed to fall in love with two powerful Roman generals and completely subordinate them to her influence. She was an unusual woman and possessed an extraordinary intellect.

What else do you remember about Cleopatra?

Cleopatra remained in history as the most famous ruler of Egypt. But it is worth noting that she originally came from the Ptolemaic dynasty, who migrated from Greece during the reign of Alexander the Great. Thus, Cleopatra, although born in Egypt, was not an Egyptian at all, but a representative of the ancient Greek dynasty.
Who knows about other Cleopatras? Nobody! But famous Egyptian queen was the seventh in the dynasty bearing the name of Cleopatra. Much is known about her father - he was the ruler of Egypt, Ptolemy XII. But the identity of the mother still remains a mystery. There is a version that she was the half-sister of the king himself, since relationships and marriages between brothers and sisters were the norm in this dynasty. It is absolutely certain that Cleopatra was not the legitimate child of Ptolemy XII, since he officially recognized only one daughter - Berenice IV.
Cleopatra's name when she ascended the throne was Thea Philopator (Θέα Φιλοπάτωρ), which translated means “the goddess who loves her father.” Afterwards she added “lover of the fatherland” to the title and became known as Fea Neotera Philopator Philopatris.

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Cleopatra had an extraordinary intellect and spoke at least nine languages. She was the only one of all the kings of her dynasty who learned the Egyptian language for 300 years. Before this, the Ptolemies spoke only Greek and did not bother learning the language of the country in which they ruled and lived. In addition to Greek and Egyptian, she knew Hebrew, Ethiopian, Aramaic, Persian and even Latin.
In addition to linguistics, she also studied mathematics, astronomy, oratory and philosophy. The queen, again alone of all her predecessors, accepted the religion and culture of Egypt. Before her reign, the Ptolemies were not interested in the gods and customs of their people.
She married her brothers, that was the law in those days. Despite her uniqueness, Cleopatra could not rule alone, without a male co-ruler. Therefore, she had, like many of her predecessors, to marry first with one brother and then with another. But she did not feel safe, since her brothers always wanted to take the throne from her. After their death, she gave birth to a son and secured a carefree future for herself, as she made the boy her co-ruler.
Cleopatra's younger brother and her first legal spouse did not want to put up with his sister's power. Therefore, a war broke out between them, which forced the queen to flee to Syria. Ptolemy XIII entered into an alliance with Caesar, but made the wrong move and killed the noble Roman Pompey. This turned the Roman commander away from his brother, and Caesar turned his attention to Cleopatra. He helped the queen overthrow her brother and regain her throne.

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According to legend, Cleopatra snuck into Caesar's chambers wrapped in a carpet. The losing queen understood that she could change the balance of power only by meeting Caesar in person. And she did not miscalculate - Caesar immediately became interested in her, although she was then 21 years old, and he was already 52.
According to rumors, Cleopatra was involved in the death of her brothers and sister. The first brother, Ptolemy XIII, drowned in the river while fleeing, very fortunate for Cleopatra. Sister Arsinoe was executed by order of the queen on the steps of a Roman temple. And the younger brother died after poisoning at the age of 14. This played into the hands of Cleopatra, who at that time gave birth to a son and could make him a co-ruler. She didn't need a growing brother who could encroach on her power.
Her arrival as Caesar's mistress in Rome was triumphant. They hated her, but they imitated her; Roman women began to style their hair like hers and wear pearl jewelry. She was in Rome at the time of her lover's murder and was forced to flee home to Egypt.
Cleopatra never got lost in the crowd. Her contemporaries noted the amazing charm and charm that the queen exuded. She took very good care of herself - she took milk baths, had in her arsenal a scrub, masks and shampoos made from egg yolks and honey. Cleopatra loved incense and selected aromatic oils for different purposes.

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Both of her affairs were scandalous, because the men were already married and had heirs in Rome. However, after Caesar, Cleopatra easily fell in love with his successor Mark Antony. For the first impression, she dressed as Aphrodite and arrived on a ship that more closely resembled the abode of the gods. She became his mistress and faithful companion, hunted with him, drank wine and had feasts.
Mark Antony and Cleopatra had three children. The first to be born were twins, a girl and a boy, named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. Translated, their middle names mean “Sun” and “Moon”.
The love between Mark Antony and Cleopatra led to the fact that in Rome the commander was considered a traitor. Octavian defeated the lovers' forces in naval battle, which led to their flight and downfall. None of Cleopatra's children survived, and Caesar's son Caesarion executed him step-brother Octavian.
Mark Antony and Cleopatra, as agreed, committed suicide after their defeat. He threw himself on the sword, and she is believed to have died from snake venom. Historians are still arguing how she managed to die in a locked room guarded by Octavian’s soldiers. It is worth noting that this is not the only mystery of her death. The tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony has not yet been found.

Cleopatra became the last queen of Egypt and a representative of the Ptolemaic dynasty. After her death, Egypt, which was ruled by Greek kings but had freedom, became a Roman province. This amazing woman, who died at the age of 39, became a symbol of the fall of Egypt as the greatest civilization of the Ancient World.

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Young girls imagine “the same career, but without a tragic ending,” and from older people you can often hear “here was the right woman—beautiful, smart, determined.” However, this image is inspired more by movies than by an actual study of publicly available facts. The legend “about an incredibly beautiful and sensual queen, before whom they bowed world's strongest this" began to take shape after death. In different eras, the legend changed “according to the demands of the time”: Cleopatra, in the minds of people, then became a fair ruler with “a number of successes in love front", then an example of a "smart beauty with strong man”, then, in the end, a prudent careerist who well “monetized” natural beauty. In our time, the idea of the Egyptian queen has crystallized into something between Disney's Little Mermaid and the Statue of Liberty: good, fair, powerful, faithful to her love and lived somewhere after Adam, but before Stalin.

As often happens, in reality everything is much more complicated and at the same time sadder. In fact, Cleopatra VII Philopator was married alternately to her two younger brothers, gave birth to four children and became the last representative of her royal dynasty. In fact, all the “pillars” on which the modern legend of Cleopatra rests turn out to be myths.

Myth 1. Egyptian

Cleopatra belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty, which is called “Greek” or “Macedonian”. The dynasty was founded by Alexander the Great's comrade and commander Ptolemy, son of Lagus. The legend even gives him a kinship with Alexander the Great himself. Whether this is true or not, after the Macedonians captured Egypt, Ptolemy was appointed satrap (ruler) of this country. He founded a dynasty, whose representatives tried to “preserve the purity of their blood,” in other words, they married their sisters. There is a theory according to which Cleopatra’s mother was a certain concubine, but in general her nationality is easy to determine - the last representative of the Ptolemies was Macedonian, or, to generalize, Greek. To her credit, it must be said that she was perhaps the only representative of the dynasty who deigned to learn the language of the submissive Egyptian people.

Myth 2. Queen-autocrat

Bust of Cleopatra VII from Cherchell in Algiers (Berlin Antique Collection). wikipedia.org

Formally, this is true, Cleopatra really was the queen of Egypt. However she had real power “periodically”, let alone talk about actual government independent state It won't work at all. We should not forget that we are talking about the ancient world, where the role of women was (at least officially) secondary. Cleopatra could not reign independently in Egypt. After her father's death, she "shared the throne" with her younger brother Ptolemy XIII. Officially they were married, although in practice the “husband” was only 9 years old at the time of joining the kingdom, while Cleopatra was already 17. However, her attempt to rule independently failed - hiding behind the name of the pharaoh, the courtiers actually drove the girl out of the capital, capturing power.

The failed queen was returned to the throne by her lover Gaius Julius Caesar. Rich, but almost no longer independent Egypt was a “close client” of the warlike center of the then world - Rome. Caesar (very opportune for Cleopatra) visited Egypt in a large company, as was customary among the Romans, his friends - smiling but well-armed legionnaires. The brother and husband of the disgraced queen were overthrown, and she was placed on the throne, not forgetting to formally marry her other brother, Ptolemy XIV. Having become the illegal but actual wife of the almighty Caesar, Cleopatra really ruled Egypt, but only in the direction that was convenient for Rome. It got to the point that Caesar, who applied the rule Divide Et Impera (“divide and conquer”) to both Cleopatra and Egypt, openly summoned the “independent ruler” to come to Rome, “closer.”

The period of the queen's reign after the death of Caesar is well illustrated by one fact: the legionnaires left in Egypt, without a strong hand, robbed the local population until Rome itself took them out of the controlled country. Subsequent cohabitation with Caesar’s comrade-in-arms, the ruler of the eastern part of the Empire, Mark Antony, gave Cleopatra more power, but also only within the framework that was beneficial to the “capital of the world.” The civil war that then began between Anthony and the official heir of Caesar, who was part of the era of omnipotence, Octavian, led to disaster for both Cleopatra the Seventh herself and all of Egypt.

Myth 3. Incomparable beauty

The most fundamental and most controversial “pillar” in the creation of the cult of Cleopatra. Paintings dedicated to the queen, even during the Renaissance, depicted a Greek woman in accordance with the beauty standards of that time. If desired, you can track the change in the image in accordance with changes in these standards. The current perception was rather inspired by the imagination of filmmakers: the roles of Elizabeth Taylor and Vivien Leigh were completely candied by Monica Bellucci.

Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor and Monica Bellucci as Cleopatra. Collage AiF Unfortunately, we cannot say exactly what Cleopatra looked like. There were a couple of thousand years left before the invention of photography, so we can only discuss busts that were close in production time to the life of the character. On those of them that are identified specifically as busts of Cleopatra, she appears as a woman with a large, slightly hooked nose, a narrow forehead and a thick lower lip. However, the most objective thing in this case is to study the opinions of her contemporaries; they certainly assessed her according to the “standards” of that time. People begin to write about the Egyptian queen as a woman of incredible beauty a couple of hundred years after her death. True, the same people also write about the “unprecedented depravity” of Cleopatra. In general, most of these assessments are questioned by historians, although they are at the origins of the creation of the legend. The most authoritative is the opinion of the famous Plutarch, cited by him in his work “Comparative Lives” (in the part where he talks about Marche Antonia, the queen did not deserve an independent biography from a historian). As Cleopatra’s advantages, he names “the irresistible charm of her address,” the persuasiveness of her speeches and the incredible beautiful voice. However, at the same time he mentions that “the beauty of this woman was not what is called incomparable and amazes at first sight.” At the same time, Plutarch is as close as possible to the period described and is considered a historian who rather sympathized with the last representative of the Ptolemaic family. Researchers most often agree that Cleopatra's main advantage was, undoubtedly, her intelligence and ability to find mutual language(hence the approach) with men.

Myth 4. Sensual and romantic

Cleopatra and Caesar. Painting by artist Jean-Leon Gerome (1866). wikipedia.org

According to legend, a carpet was brought to Caesar's chambers in which Cleopatra was hidden. The carpet was unrolled, and she supposedly suddenly appeared before the gaze of the powerful Roman, who was instantly struck by her slenderness and inexpressible beauty. Then the narrator of the legend must, apparently, become significantly silent, because “children under sixteen...”. Here you need to press stop, and then “rewind the film.” While pitying the romantic feelings of the girls, we will not dwell on the fact that they brought Cleopatra in a bag for bed linen. Let's focus on Caesar. By the time he met the Queen of Egypt, he was already over 50. He was an excellent commander, a very smart politician, a cunning intriguer and a decisive ruler. It’s just that his romanticism was, let’s say, special. Caesar was famous for his numerous connections, so much so that even the legionnaires he led into battle sang: “Hide your wives, we are bringing a bald libertine into the city.” Of course, the girl’s charms played a role in the fact that the Roman supported her in the fight for the Egyptian throne. However, he completely calculatedly “made” her a queen - he created a puppet ruler devoted to him personally. Apparently, it was more convenient for him to “combine business with pleasure” with twenty-one-year-old Cleopatra than with her teenage brother in the role of pharaoh. Subsequently, Caesar will order a gilded statue to be erected to his mistress, but in his will he will not mention either her or their joint child Caesarion at all.

Your next "Roman lover" Mark Antony Cleopatra conquered, of course, more powerfully. But this had to be done thoroughly and with serious preparation. Several days of feasts and receptions, demonstrating fabulous wealth to the detriment of the treasury, giving gifts, finding an approach. Antony turned out to be “an easier nut to crack” - realizing that the Roman was not stupid, but rather a brave soldier than a cunning politician, she chose the appropriate line of behavior. Rustic military humor, participation in “hooligan antics” - and here she is, a fighting friend, and with money at that. It doesn’t matter what recently she was choosing - in which direction to direct her hugs, who would be the winner in the “Roman squabble”.

The famous Italian historian Guglielmo Ferrero summed up his opinion about Cleopatra with the words "completely cold and emotionless, by nature incapable of sincere feeling".

Myth 5.Perfect wife

Jan de Brey, "The Feast of Antony and Cleopatra", 1669. wikipedia.org

Having contacted Caesar, Cleopatra started a war with her formal husband-brother Ptolemy. While fighting against the Romans and their allies, Ptolemy XIII drowned. Enjoying life with Caesar, the queen arrived in Rome - during her stay there she became the object of irritation of all the enemies, and often the allies of her lover. The cup turned out to be overflowing - a group of conspirators kills Caesar. Cleopatra returns to Egypt - her second formal husband and brother Ptolemy XIV dies. It is believed that he was poisoned, and most of all this death was beneficial (of course) to Cleopatra.

Supporting the whims of Mark Antony in everything, the queen of Egypt went to war with him and against Octavian, the future emperor Augustus. Along the way, with her intrigues, she alienated many of his associates from Anthony. Whatever the preparation was (feasts and parties), such was the war. In the decisive naval battle off the Cape of Actium, Cleopatra took command of part of Antony's fleet - about 200 (almost half) of the largest ships equipped in Egypt. At first, these ships did not enter the battle, standing in reserve, and when Octavian’s fleet began to win, the Egyptian ships completely left the battlefield. The defeated Anthony rushed after his beloved - his tragic end was only a matter of time.

Cleopatra on the terraces of Philae. Painting by Frederick Arthur Bridgman Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Myth 6.She died so as not to live without her beloved

Mark Antony and Cleopatra in the capital of Egypt were losing hope of victory and expected Octavian's invasion. To avoid getting bored waiting, they spent all their time feasting, at the same time vowing to die together. True, when Octavian’s legions actually entered Alexandria, the oath was unfulfilled. Anthony really threw himself on the sword, but Cleopatra allowed herself to be captured and, according to most historians, tried to pull off her signature trick. She allegedly tried to seduce Octavian, the heir of her first famous lover and enemy of the second. But this battle was a losing one from the start. On the one hand, she is a mother of four children, 39 years old. On the other hand, Anthony is not a simple warrior, but a cunning, calculating and tough ruler.

Cleopatra's story ended when she realized why Octavian was keeping her alive - to see her off to a triumph. In the winner's parade, she was given the role of a trophy and a museum exhibit - along with elephants and exotic plants. The queen killed herself (and at the same time, perhaps, two of her maids) with the help of poison - either a snake, or hidden in her clothes. Be that as it may, this was the end of the story of Cleopatra, the Ptolemaic dynasty and the independence of Egypt. The winners no longer wanted to play games with their mistresses and controlled queens.

"The Death of Cleopatra", painting by Reginald Arthur, 1892. wikipedia.org

P.S. Often in favor of supporting the myths about Cleopatra, the opinion “She was slandered by her victorious enemies” is heard. Of course, the enemies “corrected” their opinion about this woman, but the important thing is that we are talking about ancient world. In the absence of funds mass media it was difficult to launch an outright lie into a crowd of people who were direct witnesses of the events. Therefore, with an obvious discount, but still worth trusting the opinions of contemporaries of Cleopatra VI Philopator. In any case, much more than Hollywood directors.

In one of his studies, the American cultural theorist Harold Bloom noted that the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII is the world's first celebrity. It’s hard to disagree with him, because no other woman managed to perform more vividly on the historical stage. Even the famous Nefertiti pales in comparison. With all this, the image of Cleopatra is shrouded in the fog of fiction, and sometimes dirty slander. What do historians say about this woman more than 2000 years after her death?

Bust of Cleopatra VII

The girl who was destined to become the last queen of Egypt was born in Alexandria in 69 BC. She became another representative famous dynasty, founded by Alexander the Great's ally Ptolemy, who subsequently took possession of Egypt. Cleopatra's ancestors ruled Egypt for about three centuries, during which time they became famous for incest and bloody feuds within the family.

The queen's father was Ptolemy XII Auletes ("Fluteist"), and her mother was Cleopatra V Tryphena. Both were Ptolemies, but it is still difficult for scientists to accurately determine the extent of their relationship. There is also a hypothesis according to which Cleopatra was the daughter of one of the concubines of Ptolemy XII.

Be that as it may, the birth of Cleopatra was not something remarkable. She became the third daughter in a family that had been expecting a son for a long time. She was given a name traditional for the Ptolemaic dynasty (the meaning of the name is “the glory of the father”), without expecting that she would stand out in any way among the string of her namesakes.

However, the future ruler of Egypt began to stand out among others from childhood. The first thing that distinguished her from other descendants of Ptolemy XII was her thirst for knowledge. Scientists suggest that Cleopatra during her life managed to master languages such as Greek, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Abyssinian, Parthian and, of course, Latin.

It is worth noting that Alexandria, where the princess grew up, was the intellectual capital of the then world. Despite her Greek origin, the princess was in awe of the history and culture of Egypt. Before her, none of the Ptolemies bothered to learn the Egyptian language.

Cleopatra's worldview was influenced not only by books, but also by brutal feuds in her own family: the overthrow of Ptolemy XII by her daughter Berenice and the subsequent murder of Berenice by her father. Later, she will not disdain any means on the way to power.

images on coins

Beginning of the reign

Cleopatra received the kingdom according to her father's will; it was not for nothing that she was considered his favorite. According to the will of Ptolemy XII, Rome became the guarantor of the Egyptian state. The document also stated that the 18-year-old girl should become the wife of her brother, 10-year-old Ptolemy XIII, and rule the country with him. The royal couple ascended the throne in 51 BC.

But the actual rulers of Egypt are not Cleopatra and Ptolemy, but the so-called “Alexandrian trio,” which included the royal dignitaries Theodotus, Achilles and Pothinus. They manage to turn Cleopatra's younger brother against her. The queen is accused of wanting to rule alone, which was not far from the truth. As a result, she decides to flee to Syria for a while. Here she gathers an army that sets up camp near the Egyptian border. The army of Ptolemy XIII is ready to confront him.

Bust of Caesar from the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

Julius Caesar and Cleopatra

The acquaintance of Cleopatra and Caesar was preceded by the treacherous murder of the Roman commander Gnaeus Pompey, arranged by Egyptian dignitaries. In this way they hoped to gain Caesar's favor, but great commander Didn't appreciate the "service". When Pompey's head was presented to him, he turned away and began to cry.

At this time Cleopatra received detailed information about everything that happened in Alexandria. Having arrived in Egypt to collect his debts, Caesar declared that he was ready to become an arbiter in a dispute between the royal spouses. Soon he calls Cleopatra to his place. The Queen of Egypt appears before him suddenly and, importantly, impressively. According to one version, she arrived to Caesar wrapped in a carpet, according to another, she was secretly smuggled in a bed bag. An affair between the 53-year-old Roman consul and the 21-year-old queen breaks out that same night.

Why did she charm Caesar? This is perhaps the main question of her biography. The usual feminine charms were clearly not enough here. Most likely, he appreciated her intelligence, originality, courage and, as ancient authors say, the enchanting voice of an eastern ruler. In addition, in her person he could expect to receive a reliable Egyptian puppet. The morning after meeting Cleopatra, Caesar declares that sister and brother should rule together.

In response, Egyptian dignitaries proclaim her queen youngest daughter Ptolemy XII Arsinoe. A war begins, in which Caesar wins, Arsinoe is captured, and Ptolemy XIII dies. After this, the great Roman organizes the wedding of Cleopatra with her second brother, 16-year-old Ptolemy Neoteros. As a result, with the help of Rome, Cleopatra becomes the de facto sole ruler of Egypt. In 47 BC. The son of Caesar and Cleopatra is born - Ptolemy Caesarion. Caesar leaves Egypt, but soon enough calls Cleopatra to his place.

In Rome, the Egyptian queen was given Caesar's villa. Here she spends about two years. There was even a rumor that Caesar wanted to make an Egyptian his second wife. The great commander’s admiration for this woman greatly disturbed the Roman nobility and became another argument in favor of his liquidation. Caesar's murder forced Cleopatra to flee Rome.

Bust supposedly depicting Mark Antony

Cleopatra and Mark Antony

Shortly after Caesar's death, Queen Cleopatra's co-ruler, Ptolemy XIV, dies. There was a rumor that he would have been poisoned on the orders of his sister, who thus got rid of her future rival. In Rome, meanwhile, one of the prominent positions was occupied by Mark Antony, Caesar's comrade-in-arms. Without thinking twice, he decided to demand money from Cleopatra for a new military campaign.

The fateful meeting of Anthony and Cleopatra took place in 41 BC. in the city of Tarsus on board the queen's magnificently decorated ship. The Egyptian ruler appears before the amorous and vain Anthony in the image of the goddess Aphrodite. She invites the Roman for a sumptuous feast. As a result, Anthony selflessly falls in love with the queen. In the same year, with his hands, she gets rid of her sister Arsinoe, who is in Rome.

In an effort to be with Cleopatra, Anthony practically moves from Rome to the capital of Egypt. True, here he mainly indulges in drinking and entertainment. Soon the lovers have children, twins Alexander and Cleopatra. In 36 BC. Antony turns from Cleopatra's lover into her husband. The marriage takes place despite the fact that Anthony already had a legal wife. In Rome, this union begins to be viewed as a threat to the empire, especially after Mark Antony bestows Roman territories on his children from Cleopatra.

Antony's behavior leads Octavian to declare "war against the Egyptian queen." The culmination of this confrontation is the Battle of Actium, which took place in 31 BC. Its result is the complete defeat of the fleet of Anthony and Cleopatra. Modern historians believe that victory in this battle led Rome to world domination.

Death

In 30 BC. Octavian's troops entered Alexandria. At this time, Cleopatra, along with her trusted servants, locked herself in her own tomb. By mistake or intentionally, Anthony received false news of his beloved’s suicide, after which he threw himself on the sword. He died in Cleopatra's arms.

After the death of her husband, Cleopatra enters into negotiations with Octavian's envoy. Perhaps she still retained a faint hope of retaining the kingdom. Plutarch notes that a Roman officer in love with the queen warned her that Octavian wanted to lead her in chains during his triumph in Rome.

To avoid public humiliation, the Egyptian queen decides to commit suicide. Before this, she gives Octavian a letter asking him to bury her with Antony. Soon the ruler is found dead. Cleopatra died on August 12, 30 BC. in royal attire, reclining on a golden bed.

One of possible reasons The death of the queen is called a snake bite; according to another version, it was a pre-prepared poison. The location of Cleopatra's tomb and her mummy have not yet been discovered. After the death of Cleopatra VII, Egypt became a Roman province.

Appearancelast queen of Egypt. This woman is usually associated with the image of a fatal beauty. But even by the standards of her time, she looked quite ordinary. Plutarch wrote that it can hardly be called “incomparable.” According to him, she was more impressive with her charm and persuasiveness of speech.

The portraits on the coins depict a woman with big eyes, protruding chin and long nose with a hump. The queen's height was no more than 152 cm, while she was plump and stocky.

Cleopatra's underwater palace. The proposed palace is located off the coast of Alexandria. The ruins of this ancient building were flooded as a result of an earthquake that occurred one and a half thousand years ago. Now it is located at a depth of 50 m. The possibility of creating an underwater museum on its territory is being discussed.

The fate of children. Cleopatra had four children. Son Caesarion from Julius Caesar and three children from Mark Antony - twins Cleopatra and Alexander, as well as son Ptolemy. The shortest story was the life of the queen's eldest son. He was killed by order of Octavian, and the twins and Ptolemy were given to be raised by Octavia, Octavian’s sister, ex-wife Mark Antony. Cleopatra's only daughter was subsequently married to Juba II, the ruler of Mauritania.

Cleopatra, a Greek from Macedonia, was descended from the family of Ptolemy, who ruled Egypt after the death of Alexander, one of Alexander the Great's generals. Cleopatra was the first member of the imperial family to learn Arabic.

She knew some other languages well. Classically educated and brought up in the best Greek and Arabic traditions, Cleopatra was considered more cultured and educated than many statesmen Rome. Cleopatra was not a classical beauty, but she had a beautiful figure and knew many cosmetic secrets. They said that her melodious voice resembled the sound of a lyre.

Historians note that Cleopatra often took part in orgies, which sometimes lasted for weeks. The atmosphere at her palace was always voluptuous, and this was especially evident during her relationship with the head of the Roman Empire, Mark Antony, when almost continuous orgies gave rise to a lot of rumors about Cleopatra’s sexual behavior. The Greeks, for example, called her Meriophane, which means “she who opens her mouth wide for ten thousand men.” According to Egyptian tradition, Cleopatra was married to her younger brothers: first, when she was 18 years old, her husband was Ptolemy XIII, and after his death in 47 BC. her husband was 12-year-old Ptolemy XIV. She never had it with him intimate relationships: According to tradition, to be a queen, she had to have a husband. Some sources claim that Cleopatra began sexual activity at the age of 12. Her first famous lover was the 52-year-old Roman dictator Gaius Julius Caesar. The struggle that Cleopatra waged with her own brothers and sisters forced her to seek a high patron. 21-year-old Cleopatra appeared before Caesar in his palace in Alexandria, where she was carried wrapped in a magnificent carpet. She immediately managed to captivate the famous expert and connoisseur of women. They started intimate relationship, which instantly strengthened the position of the young queen in her own country. Caesar was already married, but this did not stop him from later bringing Cleopatra and their son Caesarion to Rome and settling them in one of the palaces. Caesar himself had no legitimate heirs, and many Romans were very worried about the fact that Caesarion might be their next ruler. This caused indignation among the Romans, and in the songs that Caesar's soldiers sang in the streets, Cleopatra was simply called a whore.

After the assassination of Caesar, Cleopatra returned to Egypt, where she learned of the emergence of a new Roman dictator. Deciding to seduce Mark Antony, Cleopatra sailed to him in Tarsus on a richly decorated ship. For several days there was a continuous banquet in honor of Mark Antony and his officers, given by Cleopatra upon their arrival in Tarsus.

By the time the fight with Octavian, Caesar's nephew, forced Mark Antony to return to Rome, Cleopatra had already given birth to twins. A few years later he left his young wife Octavia, Octavian's sister, and began to live openly with Cleopatra. Another break in his relationship with Octavian led to a war that lasted two years and led to the complete defeat of the troops of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. When Octavian's troops entered Egypt, Cleopatra barricaded herself with three servants in her mausoleum. Anthony was informed that she had committed suicide. Mark Antony mortally wounded himself with a sword. He was transported to Cleopatra's mausoleum and died in her arms. Cleopatra was soon captured by Octavian's soldiers. The meeting with him showed that this was the first and only time that Cleopatra was unable to seduce a man. Cleopatra committed suicide when she learned that she would be carried through the streets of Rome in a carriage during triumphant return Octavian's troops to the capital.