CLEOPATRA THE ENCHANTRESS OF ROMAN GENERALS.

The name Cleopatra is famous even to this day and ruled the imagination of many men over the long centuries between her and us.

Alexander conquered Egypt in the year 332 BC. When the empire of Alexander split up after his death Egypt was in the hands of one of Alexander’s commanders named Ptolemy who set up the dynasty of Ptolemy’s there. Cleopatra was born into this dynasty in 69 BC and lived till 30 BC, a period of 39 years. She inherited the Egyptian throne in the year 51 BC when she was just 18 years old jointly with her 10-year-old younger brother Ptolemy XIII whom she married as per the custom of the Pharaohs.

Soon after the siblings ascended the throne, her Brother Ptolemy’s advisors acted against Cleopatra and she had to flee to Syria in 49 BC. She raised a mercenary army in Syria and came back to Egypt to fight a civil war with her brother. In the meantime, Ptolemy XIII welcomed Julius Caesar to Alexandria, the capital city of the Ptolemies. Cleopatra smuggled herself into the King's palace to plead her case with Caesar. He waged a war with Ptolemy as their father the previous Pharaoh has borrowed money from Rome and had to pay it back. Ptolemy was defeated and later fled and died.

Caesar then restored the throne to Cleopatra and another younger brother Ptolemy XIV who was then just 13 years old. Again Cleopatra married him as per the Pharaoh's custom. Caesar remained with Cleopatra in Egypt for some time during which Cleopatra gave birth to a son named Ptolemy Caesar in 47 BC. The Egyptian people called him Caesarean. Thereafter Caesar went back to Rome. In 46-45 BC Cleopatra went to Rome along with Caesarean and remained there till 44 BC when Caesar was murdered.

Cleopatra went back to Egypt and soon Ptolemy XIV was murdered (probably on her instigation). Cleopatra then along with her son the 3-year-old Caesarean became the regent of Egypt. Caesarean became Ptolemy XV. According to Plutarch the Greek historian, she spoke some dozen languages and was well known for her irresistible charm.

After Caesar's death civil war raged in Rome between Caesar's loyalists Mark Antony plus Octavian (later Augustus Caesar) with Brutus and Cassius. Both groups sought Cleopatra’s help in the war. She sent the Roman legions stationed in Egypt by Julius Caesar to help the former grouping in 42 BC. After being victorious Mark Antony and Octavian divided the power of Rome between them.

Mark Antony then summoned her to a city In Turkey to explain her behavior in the aftermath of Caesar's death. She went there clad as Goddess Isis in an open galley and seduced Mark Antony. He agreed to support her in Egypt and she returned back to Egypt. Mark Antony then left his 3^rd wife Fulvia and children in Rome and stayed in Egypt in 40-41 BC. After Antony’s returned back to Rome Cleopatra gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl named after the sun and the moon.

After his wife Fulvia died Mark Antony had to marry Octavia the half-sister of Octavian to prove his loyalty to him. In 37 BC Antony met Cleopatra again to obtain funds for his military campaigns. They again gave birth to another son named Ptolemy Philidelphis in 36 BC.

Antony went to Parthia and suffered a humiliating defeat. Thereafter he forsook his wedded wife Octavia and went back to Egypt and Cleopatra. In 34 BC Antony declared Caesar's son Caesarean as the rightful heir to Rome which enraged Octavian. In 32 BC the senate stripped Antony of all his titles and Octavian declared war on Cleopatra.

In 31 BC Octavian’s forces utterly defeated the combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra in the battle of Actium. Cleopatra first and later Antony managed to escape from the battle to Egypt. When Octavian’s forces attacked Alexandria a rumour went around that Cleopatra was killed. Antony was so distraught with the news that he fell on his sword and died. In 30 BC, after burying Antony and meeting the victorious Octavian Cleopatra shut herself in her chamber along with 2 maids and committed suicide.

Now how to evaluate Cleopatra from all this? She seduced 2 Roman generals very successfully. She is now imagined to be immeasurably beautiful which totally seduces men. However, well-educatedthe bust of Cleopatra that was passed down the centuries is truthful, not only was she not beautiful but she was in fact unattractive with a protruding nose.

Then why did famous men fall so easily for her? Cleopatra was very well educated, knowledgeable and a, great orator. She spoke a dozen languages. Perhaps these factors made her company irresistible to men. Otherwise, with her looks, I don’t think anyone let alone mighty generals would fall for her. 

The message is clear: Cleopatra’s allure had little to do with her physical appearance and a lot to do with her intellect, character, and, apparently, the tone of her voice. When you consider how deeply involved both Caesar and Antony became with her, it is obvious that there must have been something more at play than just a sexy young body. After all, both were notorious womanizers and had as many women as they wanted in waiting. They would surely not have fallen for Cleopatra based on sex alone.