Cleopatra VII Philopator (January 69 B.C. – August 12, 30 B.C.) was queen of ancient
Egypt, the last member of the
Ptolemaic dynasty and the last Hellenistic ruler of Egypt. Although many other Egyptian Queens shared the name, she is usually known as simply
Cleopatra and all of her similarly named predecessors have been mostly forgotten.
Cleopatra's name is Greek for "father's glory," and her full name, "Cleopatra Thea Philopator" means "the Goddess Cleopatra, the Beloved of Her Father." She was the third daughter of the king Ptolemy XII Auletes, with whom she was first made to rule.
A Greek by language and culture, Cleopatra is reputed to have been the first member of her family in their 300-year reign in Egypt to have learned the Egyptian language.
Cleopatra was co-ruler of Egypt with her father and then later with her brothers (whom she married). She eventually gained sole rule of Egypt as Pharaoh. Cleopatra consummated a liaison with Roman dictator Julius Caesar and produced Caesar's only known son Caesarion. Cleopatra later would elevate her son with Caesar to co-ruler in name.
After Caesar's assassination in 44 B.C. Cleopatra aligned herself with Mark Antony. She later married Mark Antony and produced three children. Her union with her brothers produced no children.
After Antony's rival and Caesar's legal heir, Octavian, brought the might of Rome against Egypt, Cleopatra is believed to have taken her own life on August 12, 30 B.C.
Sources: Wikipedia
