For more than two thousand years, interest in the mysterious queen and the most famous odious historical figure, Cleopatra, has not diminished. Many ancient classics did not ignore the queen-queens. She is also mentioned in the works of such prominent writers of a later period as Bernard Shaw, Shakespeare and Pushkin. Many novels, stories and novellas are dedicated to Cleopatra today. Only our contemporaries make the main emphasis in their works on savoring the appearance and intimate life of the queen, leaving the image of Cleopatra as an intelligent ruler and a far-sighted politician outside the framework of their works.
What information about Queen Cleopatra did you manage to glean from the available sources? First of all, we are talking about a talented courtesan with a rare cunning. About her many lovers who are ready to pay with their lives for the night spent with Cleopatra (the phrase "Cleopatra's nights" has become a household word) And how many exotic cosmetics are associated with the queen! There is a strong opinion that Cleopatra is a myth created by the imagination. And that this myth with a skillful hand adjusts to the views and needs of society. Modern researchers believe that rumors of the queen's promiscuity came from Octavian Augustus, who hated Cleopatra. But even that did not prevent Cleopatra from becoming the ideal of sublime love and virtue in the Renaissance.
It so happened that Cleopatra was the last queen on the throne of Ancient Egypt. Before her, a whole galaxy of weak-willed and weak kings ruled. So the queen's father is known only for playing the flute well. Therefore, with her accession to the throne, a wise and strong ruler reigned in Ancient Egypt.
At that time, the star of Egypt was already almost extinguished, a decisive role in the region was played by Rome, which aggressively waged wars of conquest, annexing more and more lands to its possessions. Everyone understood that in this situation, Egypt would inevitably submit to Rome. But Cleopatra did not give up the hope of ensuring freedom for the state and fought for the independence of Egypt by all means available to her. Her father and grandfather "bought" from Rome their right to the kingdom in Egypt. The Egyptian army could not withstand the Roman legions, and therefore had to redeem its independence (in Rome, there were constantly rumors about the untold riches in the treasuries of Egypt).
It is difficult to say which was the queen's top priority - great love or clear calculation. One thing is clear that in her struggle for the independence of Egypt, she relied on two of the greatest rulers of Rome - Gaius Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. In Rome at this time, too, was restless: the transition from republic to empire took place in an acute struggle between senators and consuls. Yes, and in the ruling house of Egypt itself, it was restless: Cleopatra had to defend her right to the throne with her younger sister and her brothers (according to the law, Cleopatra was obliged to share the throne of Egypt with one of her co-regent brothers).
Cleopatra met the fifty-year-old Julius Caesar when she was 20 years old. The Roman military leader has already acquired the fame of the greatest man in the Roman Empire. Apparently Caesar had really strong feelings for Cleopatra. This is evidenced by the fact that instead of confronting political opponents to maintain his power in the empire, he spent several months in Egypt, enjoying fellowship with Cleopatra. They traveled to the headwaters of the Nile, rested in the Roman villa of Caesar. The dictator dreamed of the time when he would become the sovereign ruler of Rome, and Cleopatra would take the place of his co-ruler and wife. Caesar was captivated not only by the beauty of the Queen of Egypt, but also by her sharp mind and extensive knowledge. Undoubtedly, Cleopatra was a talented psychologist. If the dictator's plans were fulfilled,Cleopatra could have made Egypt the center of the culture and arts of the Roman Empire. And most importantly, it would not be difficult for the queen to retain her power in the state and receive the protection of the great Rome. Caesar did not intend to divorce his Roman wife. He prepared a draft law according to which he, as the ruler of Rome, was allowed to have several wives in order to ensure the birth of heirs. He planned to adopt his own child, born to Cleopatra. The son was named Ptolemy XV Caesar and he was, by birthright, co-ruler of the mother. He planned to adopt his own child, born to Cleopatra. The son was named Ptolemy XV Caesar and he was, by birthright, co-ruler of the mother. He planned to adopt his own child, born to Cleopatra. The son was named Ptolemy XV Caesar and he was, by birthright, co-ruler of the mother.
However, Caesar was betrayed by his associates and murdered viciously. Cleopatra had no choice but to find a new Roman patron. And it was the talented Roman commander Mark Antony. After the assassination of Caesar, power passed to his two "heirs": Octavian ruled the western provinces of the empire, and Mark Antony - the eastern. Judging by the descriptions of his contemporaries, Mark Anthony was rude, he liked to have fun and drink, because of this he received the nickname - "Deonis". A good psychologist and a very intelligent woman, Cleopatra prepared her first meeting with the governor of the East in such a way that everyone, including Mark Antony, had the impression that "Aphrodite herself is marching to Dionysus for the good of Asia."
She arrived in a boat with a stern made of gold, the purple sail heightening the spectacle. The air was saturated with the smell of amazing aromas. Silver oars rose and fell into the water to the sound of flutes. Cleopatra herself was reclining in a golden tent, and she was not more beautiful in all the earth. This is how Shakespeare described the meeting between Antony and Cleopatra.
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The benefits of this union were obvious: Antony needed the wealth of Egypt, Cleopatra wanted to remain on the throne of her country and gain access to the administration of the Roman state. Historians are sure that if the plans of these two were destined to come true, then not Rome, but Alexandria would be the center of the most powerful monarchy.
The novel of the commander and the queen was discussed by gossips of both states. The relationship between Antony and Cleopatra was not distinguished by loftiness and nobility, but the queen easily adjusted to the low level of interests of her new lover. The chronicles mention frequent and magnificent feasts that were held by lovers, unusual for the former Cleopatra, royal fun, which, most likely, were inherent in commoners than monarchs, etc. The romance lasted 14 years. During this time, the couple had children - Alexander-Helios and Cleopatra-Selena.
Anthony took a very rash step: he gave the Egyptian wife and children almost all of the eastern Roman possessions. Octavian did not need to look for a reason to declare war on Egypt: he promulgated in the Senate the will of Mark Antony, by which he appointed Cleopatra's son from Julius Caesar as his successor and officially secured to the Queen of Egypt not only the right to rule in his country, but also the right to, Roman lands. The senators, enraged by this decision of Mark Antony, allowed Octavian to declare war on Cleopatra as the queen of Egypt. The ending of this story is known to everyone: after the death of Mark Antony, the queen of Egypt committed suicide, realizing that in this way she could avoid the shame that Octavian had prepared for her and Egypt.
Despite such a tragic fate, it must be admitted that Cleopatra VII Philopatra is one of the most famous personalities in history. A woman on the throne of Egypt is a rather unique phenomenon (although several queens ruled Egypt before her, and the most famous of them was Hatshepsut).
Cleopatra is ranked among the most famous politicians of her time. She managed to play her "big game", the goal of which was the freedom of her state and the Egyptian throne. But it would be wrong to consider her a loser. She managed to preserve the independence of Egypt for more than 20 years, being close to the aggressive and all-powerful Rome. Against her background, the former rulers of Egypt were just gray shadows creeping before the Roman Empire. Who now remembers some Ptolemy? But everyone knows about Queen Cleopatra, a beautiful, intelligent, charming woman, although thousands of years have passed. Until now, Cleopatra is an example of beauty, fortitude, wisdom and true greatness.