CLEOPATRA, a Greek Queen of Egypt; born 69 B. C., the eldest daughter of Ptolemy Auletes. When she was 17 her father died, leaving her as joint heir to the throne with his eldest son Ptolemy, whom she was to marry—such marriages being common among the Ptolemies. Being deprived of her part in the government (49 B. c.), she won Cesar to her cause, and was reinstated by his influence. During a second disturbance Ptolemy lost his life, and Caesar pro claimed Cleopatra Queen of Egypt; though she was compelled to take her brother, the younger Ptolemy, then 11 years old, as husband and colleague. Cxsar continued some time at Cleopatra's court, had a son by her named Cxsarion (afterward put to death by Augustus), and gave her a magnificent reception when she subsequently visited him at Rome. By poisoning her brother she re mained sole possessor of the regal power, took the part of the triumvirs in the civil war at Rome, and after the battle of Phillippi sailed to join Antony at Tarsus. Their meeting was celebrated by splendid festivals; she accompanied him to Tyre, and was followed by him on her return to Egypt. After his conquest of Armenia
he again returned to her and made his three sons by her, and also Cwsarion, kings.
On the commencement of the war be tween Augustus and Antony the latter lost a whole year in festivals and amuse ments with Cleopatra at Ephesus, Samos, and Athens, and when at last the fleets met at Actium, Cleopatra suddenly took to flight, with all her ships, and Antony, as if under the influence of frenzy, imme diately followed her. They fled to Egypt, and declared to Augustus that if Egypt were left to Cleopatra's children they would thenceforth live in retirement. Augustus, however, demanded Antony's death and advanced on Alexandria. Be lieving Cleopatra, who had taken refuge in her mausoleum, to be treacherous and dead, Antony threw himself on his sword, and shortly afterward Cleopatra killed herself by applying an asp to her arm to escape the ignominy of being led in a Roman triumph (30 B. c.). With her the dynasty of the Ptolemies ended.