Cleopatra VII is born (70 BC) in Alexandria to Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra V. Cleopatra VI and Berenice are her older sisters; Arsinoë is her younger sister and is born about three years later.
With the fabulous Library of Alexandria as her classroom and top Greek scholars as her teachers, Cleopatra received the best education possible in the ancient world. She studied Greek literature, geography, history, mythology, mathematics, philosophy, science, and rhetoric(persuasive speech). In addition to Greek, she spoke eight other languages.
In 51 B.C., Ptolemy XII died, leaving Cleopatra VII, age 18, and her brother Ptolemy XIII, age 10, as co-monarchs. Cleopatra became the dominant ruler, but the advisers of the young Ptolemy maneuvered to gain the support of the army and the people of Alexandria. In 50 BC Ptolemy XIII returns to power, exiling Cleopatra. Cleopatra was forced to flee to Syria where she raised an army to fight her way back to the throne.
On 48 BC Julius Caesar comes to Alexandria. He reconciles Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra VII and returns Cyprus to Ptolemaic rule. Caesar and Cleopatra are besieged in Alexandria by the forces of Ptolemy XIII and his sister Arsinoë. Ptolemy XIII is killed in battle and Arsinoë is captured. Cleopatra VII becomes queen of Egypt as the wife of Ptolemy XIV.
She mastered international politics early in her twenty-two year reign as Egyptian queen: holding turbulent and ambitious Rome at bay by aligning herself with two of its most prominent players: Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.
On August 12, 30 BC Cleopatra dies. The Ptolemaic dynasty, founded in 305 BC, comes to an end.
Cleopatra
– Greatest queen of Egypt
