Cleopatra without myths - who was the queen of Egypt really?

Cleopatra is a figure known to almost everyone. Not without reason has she been hailed as the world’s first celebrity. The queen’s beauty was legendary, and the greatest dignitaries of the ancient world vied for her favour. Yet beauty was not the only asset of the last queen of Egypt. She was well-known for her cunning and intelligence, which allowed her to gain power and respect. In the article below, I will tell you the story of the beautiful Cleopatra – a woman who, for a moment, had the mighty Rome at her feet.

Cleopatra before she became queen – the story of the young lioness of the Nile

Cleopatra VII Philopator was born in 69 BC in Alexandria – a city that was then Egypt’s equivalent of Rome: cosmopolitan, noisy, filled with scholars, merchants, and intrigue. Cleopatra was the daughter of Ptolemy XII, pharaoh of Egypt from the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty, which, although it ruled Egypt, had surprisingly little in common with it. The Ptolemies came from Macedonia; they spoke Greek, bore Greek names and often married within the family. You can imagine how awkward family dinners must have been.

Young Cleopatra grew up in the palaces of Alexandria, where luxury mixed with political chaos. Her father was a rather weak and unpopular ruler, and the country regularly trembled under the pressure of revolts and Roman interference. Cleopatra quickly understood that the throne was not a comfortable armchair, but rather a chair standing on a volcano. Fortunately, she was no ordinary child. She received an excellent education, studying rhetoric, philosophy, mathematics, politics and – most importantly – foreign languages. She was the only member of the Ptolemaic family to learn Egyptian. It may sound like a small detail, but for her subjects it made a huge difference. Cleopatra already knew that power begins with communication.

In 58 BC, the situation in Egypt became so tense that Ptolemy XII was driven into exile. Power was taken by his daughter Berenice IV (Cleopatra’s half-sister). Young Cleopatra most likely accompanied her father into exile, watching at close hand how high politics works and how easily one can lose a crown. It was a school of life with no concessions. After several years, Ptolemy XII returned to Egypt thanks to Roman legions and sacks of gold, while Berenice paid the ultimate price for her ambitions. Cleopatra remembered this lesson well and understood that in this family, you could only lose once.

When Ptolemy XII died in 51 BC, he left behind a will that sounded like a recipe for disaster. The throne of Egypt was to be shared by eighteen-year-old Cleopatra and her ten-year-old brother Ptolemy XIII (and, incidentally, her husband – such was the custom). From the very beginning, Cleopatra had no intention of being merely an “addition” to a child pharaoh. She began to rule independently, sign documents and present herself as a fully-fledged monarch. As you might guess, the advisers of young Ptolemy were not delighted. The conflict escalated until Cleopatra was removed from power and forced to flee Alexandria. But if you think this was the end of her story, you are very much mistaken.

It was currently that Cleopatra ceased to be merely the daughter of a pharaoh and became a true claimant to the throne. She began gathering an army, allies, and plans for her return. Her time was only just beginning. And so ends the first chapter of Cleopatra’s life – a girl raised in luxury, hardened by political storms and ready to reach for the power that would make her one of the most famous women in history.

Cleopatra and her road to the throne

When Cleopatra was forced to leave Alexandria, she had everything except the throne. Officially, she was still Queen of Egypt; in practice, she was an exile with ambition and an excellent memory. Her younger brother Ptolemy XIII ruled “independently”, which in reality meant that his advisers ruled for him, while he could at best practise his royal signature. Cleopatra had no intention of accepting the fate of a princess without a kingdom.

She took refuge on the eastern fringes of Egypt, probably in Syria. There she did what she did best: she acted. Instead of lamenting her fate, she gathered loyal supporters, mercenaries, and funds. After all, power does not come from dreams, but from armies and political alliances. At the same time, Egypt sank deeper into chaos. Young Ptolemy XIII and his advisers proved incapable of ruling, and the country once again hovered on the brink of bankruptcy. The situation was perfect for Cleopatra’s return to the game.

In 48 BC, Julius Caesar arrived in Egypt – not because he dreamed of a holiday on the Nile, but because he was pursuing his rival, Pompey. Pompey did not enjoy Egyptian hospitality for long; he was murdered by men loyal to Ptolemy XIII, who believed this would please Caesar. They failed to foresee one thing: Caesar had no respect for allies who killed without blinking. He decided to sort out Egyptian affairs, and Cleopatra realised that the greatest opportunity of her life had just appeared. She only had to get into the palace in Alexandria, which was heavily guarded by her enemies. The solution? Simple and brilliant at the same time. According to tradition, she had herself wrapped in a carpet (or a linen sack) and smuggled into Caesar’s chambers. Thus, Cleopatra quite literally “unrolled herself” before the most powerful man in the world. Caesar was impressed – not only by the idea, but by Cleopatra herself: intelligent, sharp-witted and thoroughly versed in politics.

Cleopatra’s alliance with Caesar soon turned into open conflict with Ptolemy XIII. Civil war broke out in Alexandria, known today as the Alexandrian War. The city burned, the Egyptian fleet was destroyed and chaos reached its peak. But Cleopatra had Roman legions on her side – an argument that, in antiquity, settled most disputes. In 47 BC, the forces of Ptolemy XIII were defeated. The young pharaoh himself died, probably drowning in the Nile while fleeing. History can be merciless, especially to those who lose.

After the victory, Cleopatra was officially proclaimed Queen of Egypt. In accordance with tradition, she married another younger brother – Ptolemy XIV – but this time no one doubted who truly ruled. Cleopatra returned to Alexandria not as an exile, but as a sovereign. She had travelled the road from a dethroned queen to a woman who could win over Rome, defeat her rivals and reclaim power. And this was only the beginning of her legend.

Cleopatra on the throne of Egypt

When Cleopatra VII finally took her place on the throne of Egypt, she could breathe a sigh of relief – if only for a moment. Being a pharaoh in the first century BC was not a quiet desk job, but a struggle for survival, where every mistake could cost power or even life. Cleopatra knew this perfectly well, which is why she ruled with a firm hand and a clear mind. She was no armchair ruler. She appeared regularly in public, took part in religious ceremonies and – most importantly – spoke Egyptian. For her subjects, this was a real shock: a Greek queen who understood their prayers, problems, and complaints. She presented herself as the incarnation of the goddess Isis, a brilliant propaganda move. In the ancient world, divine origins worked better than any election campaign.

Cleopatra’s Egypt was an economic powerhouse. The Nile flooded regularly, crops grew, and granaries overflowed. Cleopatra knew perfectly well that whoever controlled grain controlled Rome – and Rome was always hungry. Thanks to revenues from trade and agriculture, she rebuilt the economy after years of chaos, repaid part of Egypt’s debts to Rome and stabilised the country. She was not only a queen – she was a capable manager of an empire.

Her relationship with Julius Caesar was more than a romance; it was a political master stroke. With Caesar’s support, her rule gained international recognition, and Egypt acquired a powerful protector. When she gave birth to a son, Ptolemy XV, known as Caesarion, Cleopatra had no doubts: he was to be the future of the dynasty. She took him to official ceremonies and presented him as Caesar’s son – a fact that caused both sensation and unease in Rome.

After Caesar’s death in 44 BC, Cleopatra was left alone – and in a very dangerous world. She quickly removed her co-ruler Ptolemy XIV and replaced him with Caesarion. She focused on strengthening borders, finances, and the fleet. Egypt was to be independent, wealthy and secure – even if Rome descended into chaos. When Mark Antony entered the scene, Cleopatra once again showed her class. Their meeting in Tarsus passed into history: golden ships, purple sails and a queen styled as Aphrodite. It was theatrical, spectacular and – as it turned out – highly effective. Antony became her ally, partner, and the father of her next children. Together they planned to create a powerful eastern empire that could rival Rome. Ambitious? Yes. Realistic? For a brief moment, even that.

Under Cleopatra’s rule, Egypt experienced its last great flourishing. Science, trade, and culture thrived; Alexandria remained one of the most important cities in the world, and the queen became a symbol of power, intelligence, and ambition. She was not merely a beautiful legend or a Roman femme fatale. She was a politician, strategist, and ruler who managed to keep Egypt independent at a time when Rome devoured everything in its path. And although the story of her reign would end dramatically, one thing is certain: Cleopatra ruled Egypt consciously, boldly and on a grand scale.

The final act of Cleopatra – the fall of the queen and silence over the Nile

Every great story needs a finale. In Cleopatra’s case, it was dramatic, tense and – as befitted her – shrouded in legend. As her reign drew to a close, Egypt was still rich, powerful, and proud, but dark clouds from Rome were already gathering over the Nile. After Julius Caesar’s death, the Roman world split into camps. On one side stood Mark Antony, supported by Cleopatra; on the other, Octavian – cold, ruthless and devastatingly effective, a politician who knew exactly how to turn propaganda into a weapon. For Rome, Cleopatra became the perfect enemy: a foreign queen, enchanting Antony and threatening “order”. In reality, it was about one thing – control over Egypt and its treasures.

In 31 BC came the decisive naval clash: the Battle of Actium. The fleet of Antony and Cleopatra faced Octavian’s forces. Although Egypt had ships, gold and ambition, it lacked one thing – luck. The battle ended in defeat. Cleopatra, seeing the loss, withdrew to Egypt. Antony followed her. From that moment on, it was clear they were no longer fighting for victory, but for honour and survival.

A year later, Octavian’s troops entered Egypt. Alexandria – once the vibrant capital of the world – surrendered almost without a fight. Mark Antony, believing Cleopatra to be dead, committed suicide. He died in her arms – an irony worthy of any great dramatist. Cleopatra was left alone. She knew exactly what awaited her: a triumphal procession in Rome, humiliation and life as Octavian’s trophy. And that was something, the Queen of Egypt had no intention of enduring. In 30 BC, Cleopatra took her life. Tradition speaks of the bite of an Egyptian cobra – a symbol of royal power. Historians still debate whether it was a snake, poison or a clever combination of both. One thing is certain: Cleopatra chose her end. She died as the last pharaoh of Egypt, a woman who remained the mistress of her fate until the very end.

After her death, Egypt ceased to be an independent kingdom. Octavian – soon to be known as Emperor Augustus – turned it into a Roman province. Cleopatra’s treasures flowed to Rome, and the Nile became the granary of the empire. Her son Caesarion did not live long; Rome had no fondness for rivals. The Ptolemaic dynasty vanished. The pharaohs disappeared. Egypt remained – but no longer as a state deciding its destiny, rather as a jewel in Rome’s crown. What also remained was the legend of a woman Rome tried to defame, and history made immortal: a ruler who lost to an empire but triumphed over oblivion. And although her death closed an era, one thing is certain – no one could have ended the existence of a great kingdom with such grandeur as Cleopatra did.

Facts, information, and curiosities about Cleopatra

Cleopatra was the last ruler of Ancient Egypt; with her death, the era of the pharaohs came to an end.
She was not Egyptian – she came from the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty, originating in Macedonia.
She was the only member of the Ptolemaic family to learn the Egyptian language, which greatly increased her popularity among her subjects.
According to sources, she spoke fluently at least seven languages, including Greek, Egyptian, Hebrew, and Latin.
Contrary to legend, Cleopatra was not famous solely for her beauty – ancient authors emphasised her intelligence and charisma.
She was highly educated and took an interest in philosophy, medicine, and astronomy.
She was born in 69 BC in Alexandria, one of the most important cities of the ancient world.
Her father, Ptolemy XII, was so unpopular that he was exiled from Egypt.
Cleopatra co-ruled with younger brothers who were also… her husbands – such was the dynastic custom.
She was exiled from her kingdom before ultimately regaining the throne.
She is said to have reached Julius Caesar while wrapped in a carpet or a linen sack.
She was Julius Caesar’s lover and bore him a son – Caesarion.
Cleopatra visited Rome and lived there for a time as Caesar’s official ally.
After Caesar’s death, she quickly disposed of her co-ruler Ptolemy XIV.
Her meeting with Mark Antony in Tarsus was a carefully staged propaganda spectacle.
She presented herself as the incarnation of the goddess Isis, strengthening her divine image.
She had three children with Mark Antony.
During her reign, Egypt was Rome’s largest supplier of grain.
Cleopatra personally signed state documents – a rarity in her time.
She minted her coins bearing her image, often without idealisation.
She was an excellent orator and could win people over through conversation.
Her fleet was among the most powerful in the Mediterranean.
The Battle of Actium in 31 BC sealed her fate.
Mark Antony committed suicide, believing Cleopatra to be dead.
Cleopatra took her life in 30 BC.
Tradition says she died from the bite of an Egyptian cobra, a symbol of Pharaonic power.
The exact manner of her death remains a subject of historical debate.
After her death, Egypt became a Roman province.
Octavian, her greatest enemy, became the first Roman emperor – Augustus.
Although Rome attempted to vilify her, Cleopatra became one of the most recognisable women in world history.