Home » Politics & Society » Women in History » Cleopatra Part 2: Queen of Kings

Cleopatra Part 2: Queen of Kings

© MIchelle Munro

The death of Julius Caesar ushered in a period of anarchy and civil war in Rome. In order to restore peace, the Second Triumvirate was established which divided the Roman Empire among Octavian, Caesar's great-nephew, Marcus Lepidus, and Marc Antony for 5 years. Octavian (later known as the emperor Augustus) controlled Rome and Gaul; Marcus Lepidus ruled over northern Africa; and Marc Antony took over the Empire's eastern provinces.

In 42 BC, Marc Antony obtained victory over Caesar's assassins at the Battle of Philippi. He then set his eyes on conquering Persia, but first needed to discover if Cleopatra, who had remained neutral during Rome's unbalance, was an enemy or ally. She accepted an invitation to meet him at Tarsus, and in true Cleopatra style, arrived on a barge with purple sails and silver oars. Her maids sailed the ship dressed as sea nymphs while Cleopatra, dressed as Aphrodite, lay under a golden canopy fanned by boys in Cupid costumes. Marc Antony was clearly impressed.

Both had much to gain from an alliance. Marc Antony needed Cleopatra's money and she needed his help in establishing an Egyptian Empire. Whatever the original intentions were, the two leaders quickly fell in love. Marc Antony postponed his plans for Persia and left his responsibilities behind so he could return to Alexandria with the queen. He would end up spending the winter there.

In 40 BC, Cleopatra gave birth to twins, Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios. Their time together as a family was cut short later that year when Marc Antony returned to Rome to negotiate a settlement with Octavian. A deal was made stating that after the Second Triumvirate ended, Octavian would rule over all of western Europe and Marc Antony would continue governing the eastern end of the Empire. To seal the arrangement, Marc Antony gave up his love in Egypt and wed Octavian's sister, Octavia.

Three years later, he abandoned Octavia and their daughters and returned to Egypt to marry Cleopatra and resume his campaign on Persia. Cleopatra gladly married him, but only agreed to finance his battles after he promised to have her sister Arsinoe executed.

Octavia remained loyal to her bigamous husband despite his constant insults. Once, she decided to pay him a visit in Alexandria, but when she reached Athens, she received a note saying he would meet her there. Cleopatra, jealous and determined to keep her husband from his other wife, threw a tantrum where she cried, fainted, and starved herself. The ploy worked; Marc Antony cancelled the trip. Upon hearing the news that his sister had once again been made a fool, a seething Octavian vowed revenge on the lovers.

The copyright of the article Cleopatra Part 2: Queen of Kings in Women in History is owned by MIchelle Munro. Permission to republish Cleopatra Part 2: Queen of Kings in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.