1. Cleopatra VII 69 B.c. – 30B.C. The Last Pharaoh

2. In the springtime of 51 BC, Ptolemy Auletes died and left his kingdom in his will to his eighteen year old daughter, Cleopatra, and her younger brother Ptolemy XIII who was twelve at the time
Some modern historians want to claim that Cleopatra was homely, not pretty at all. I find it hard to believe that the two most powerful men in the world would “fall” for her, unless she was attractive!

3. Cleopatra was the third of six children
Cleopatra was the third of six children. Her family was called Ptolemy and they were the descendents of a Greek, Ptolemy I Soter, who had taken over Egypt in 305 B.C.
Ptolemy I Soter

4. Cleopatra came to the throne at a time when Egypt was weak
Cleopatra came to the throne at a time when Egypt was weak. Egypt had been allied with Rome for years, but now Rome wanted total control.
Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

5. According to Egyptian law, Cleopatra was forced to have a consort, who was either a brother or a son, no matter what age, throughout her reign. She was married to her younger brother Ptolemy XIII when he was twelve. After his death, she was married to her other brother. They didn’t live as man and wife; it was purely political.
Angelina Jolie as Cleopatra
"Cleopatra VII Biography - Life, Family, Children, Death, History, Wife, Son, Old, Information, Born, House." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Web. 25 Apr <

6. Egypt became involved in a series of wars, including civil wars among Cleopatra and her siblings. Eventually Julius Caesar arrived in Egypt on behalf of the Roman Empire. He was to settle the unrest in Egypt and set up a puppet monarch who would obey the Roman Empire.
Julius Caesar 100 B.C.-44 B.C.

7. Caesar intended to meet with one of Cleopatra’s brothers, but she didn’t want to be left out of the meeting. When Caesar refused to meet with her, Cleopatra had herself delivered to him- rolled up in a rug.

8. Cleopatra has herself delivered inside a gift rug
Cleopatra has herself delivered inside a gift rug. Soon she and Julius Caesar become…..close.

9. Julius Caesar, who was in his fifties, was attracted to the young Cleopatra and they became lovers. They took a two month sight-seeing tour of the Nile. She was declared queen in Egypt, but she moved to Rome and lived with Julius Caesar. They had a son named Ptolemy Caesarian, or Little Caesar. This was the only son born to Julius Caesar.
Vivien Leigh (Scarlet from Gone With the Wind) playing Cleopatra on stage.

10. After Caesar's murder, Cleopatra fled Rome and returned home to Alexandria. Caesar had not mentioned Cleopatra or Caesarian in his will. She felt her life, as well as that of her child, was in great danger.
BTW – Julius Caesar was married.

11. Cleopatra took her son and went back to Egypt
Cleopatra took her son and went back to Egypt. Not long after her return, her brother died under mysterious circumstances. She made her 4 year old son her co-regent.
Of Cleopatra’s four children only one lived to have descendents.

12. After returning to Egypt, Cleopatra and her advisors set upon reforming Egypt. An intelligent ruler, she was able to pay off Egypt’s debts to other countries and balance the unstable economy and way of life. Because of this – and the successful harvests from the Nile River – Egypt flowered into a powerful and profitable power.

13. After Julius Caesar’s death, Rome became involved in a massive civil war. Two people, Octavian, Caesar’s nephew and adopted son, and his friend, Marc Antony were part of this war. Cleopatra decided to back Octavian and Antony, hoping to keep her position as Queen of Egypt.
Early movie star, Claudine Colbert, as Cleopatra.

14. Cleopatra next became involved with Marc Antony
Cleopatra next became involved with Marc Antony. They lived together for a while and then he returned to Rome. His first wife died, and he married Octavian’s sister, Octavia. Meanwhile, Cleopatra gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Marc Antony was the father. (confused yet?)