Quick answerCleopatra (c. 69–30 BC) was an Egyptian political leader. Cleopatra is best known for Being the last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, Alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, Keeping Egypt independent from Rome, Speaking Egyptian and Inspiring Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Born in Alexandria, Ptolemaic Kingdom. Her alliances and defeat made her one of history's most famous women.
Cleopatra VII (c. 69–30 BC) was the last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, a queen who spoke Egyptian, governed a rich kingdom and dealt as an equal with Rome's most powerful men. Her alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and her defeat by Octavian, made her one of history's most famous women.
Key facts
| Born | c. 69 BC in Alexandria Ptolemaic Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Died | 30 BC |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Field | Politics |
| Known for | Being the last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, Alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, Keeping Egypt independent from Rome, Speaking Egyptian, Inspiring Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra |
Overview
Cleopatra VII came to the throne of Egypt in 51 BC, at around eighteen, as co-ruler with her father, Ptolemy XII, and then with her brothers. She was a member of the Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty, which had ruled Egypt for nearly three centuries, yet she was the first of her line to learn the Egyptian language, and she presented herself to her subjects as a traditional pharaoh. Egypt was rich in grain and trade, but Rome's power was growing, and keeping her kingdom independent demanded constant diplomacy.
Her alliances with Julius Caesar, with whom she had a son, and later with Mark Antony, with whom she had three children, kept Egypt free for two decades, but they also tied her fate to Rome's civil wars. After Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, both took their own lives in Alexandria the following year, and Egypt became a Roman province. Her story survived in Plutarch's writings and in Shakespeare's play, which fixed her in popular memory as a brilliant, glamorous and tragic queen.
Frequently asked questions
When was Cleopatra born?
Cleopatra was born in Alexandria in around 69 BC, though some sources give late 70 BC, so the exact year is uncertain. She was the daughter of Ptolemy XII, king of Egypt, and came to the throne in 51 BC, ruling first with her father and then with her brothers.
What is Cleopatra famous for?
Cleopatra is famous as the last active ruler of ancient Egypt and for her political alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, the two most powerful Romans of her day. She kept Egypt independent for twenty years through diplomacy, and her life inspired Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra.
How did Cleopatra die?
After Octavian defeated her forces at Actium in 31 BC, Cleopatra took her own life in Alexandria in 30 BC, shortly after Mark Antony had done the same. The exact method is uncertain: the popular story of a bite from an asp is a later legend, and poisoning is now thought more likely.
Where was Cleopatra born?
Cleopatra was born in Alexandria, the great port city on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, founded by Alexander the Great. It was the capital of Ptolemaic Egypt and a centre of learning, home to the famous Library of Alexandria, and she died in the same city in 30 BC.
Was Cleopatra Egyptian?
Cleopatra ruled Egypt, but her family was Macedonian Greek, descended from Ptolemy, one of Alexander the Great's generals. She was the first Ptolemaic ruler to learn Egyptian, however, and she presented herself as a traditional pharaoh, so she is remembered as an Egyptian queen.
Quick quiz
Three questions from the facts on this page. No sign-up, no score is saved.
Keep exploring
- All people — the full list
- Abraham Lincoln — another politics figure (1809–1865)
- Alexander the Great — another politics figure (356–323 BC)
- Mahatma Gandhi — another politics figure (1869–1948)
- Nelson Mandela — another politics figure (1918–2013)
- Egypt — Cleopatra's country
- Alexandria — where Cleopatra was born
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.