How Did Cleopatra Come To Power
From the beginning of her life, Cleopatra VII was in a position of authority as the daughter of the rulers of Egypt. However, disputes over who had the right to rule caused conflict between her and her brother. After wooing the Roman general Julius Caesar, a political and strategic genius with many victories in battle, she was able to regain control of the throne. After his death, Cleopatra eventually met Marc Antony, commander of the eastern Roman army, which would later result in another powerful alliance and marriage. After her marriage to Antony, Cleopatra was given control of a large amount of territory. Despite her unpopularity amongst the Romans, she was was still viewed as a sophisticated and clever woman. Throughout her life, Cleopatra
…show more content…
While Egypt was in a time of conflict, Caesar was also involved in a Roman civil war between himself and Pompey. Known for her intellect and a charm that easily won over men, Caesar and Cleopatra became lovers. While they may have been attracted to each other, it was a politically intelligent move at the time for the two of them to become allies. They were both ambitious leaders who had wealth and control over large armies. (Grochowski) Their resources would have been precious to each other in the event of another conflict. This was definitely the case for Cleopatra when she opted to make a powerful alliance with the governor of Rome, having chosen to cut off her prior alliance with Pompey after she and Caesar met. With Caesar on her side, she was able to overthrow her brother and gain full control over the land. The couple eventually had a son, and she followed Caesar to Rome, where she was disliked by the people who viewed her as a “symbol of the immoral East” and a foreign woman who would challenge their traditional values (134). During this time, Cicero observed that “"her way of walking... her clothes, her free way of talking, her embraces and kisses, her beach-parties and dinner-parties, all show her to be a tart"(Simkin). Distrusting of the Romans and their dislike of her charismatic abilities, Cleopatra returned to the Egyptian capital after Caesar was
While Egypt was in a time of conflict, Caesar was also involved in a Roman civil war between himself and Pompey. Known for her intellect and a charm that easily won over men, Caesar and Cleopatra became lovers. While they may have been attracted to each other, it was a politically intelligent move at the time for the two of them to become allies. They were both ambitious leaders who had wealth and control over large armies. (Grochowski) Their resources would have been precious to each other in the event of another conflict. This was definitely the case for Cleopatra when she opted to make a powerful alliance with the governor of Rome, having chosen to cut off her prior alliance with Pompey after she and Caesar met. With Caesar on her side, she was able to overthrow her brother and gain full control over the land. The couple eventually had a son, and she followed Caesar to Rome, where she was disliked by the people who viewed her as a “symbol of the immoral East” and a foreign woman who would challenge their traditional values (134). During this time, Cicero observed that “"her way of walking... her clothes, her free way of talking, her embraces and kisses, her beach-parties and dinner-parties, all show her to be a tart"(Simkin). Distrusting of the Romans and their dislike of her charismatic abilities, Cleopatra returned to the Egyptian capital after Caesar was