Cleopatra

Cleopatra VII Cleopatra was born in 69 B.C. In Alexandria, Egypt. Cleopatra was a daughter of Pharaoh Ptolemy XII Auletes. According to Egyptian law, Cleopatra was forced to have a husband, who was either a brother or a son, no matter what age, throughout her reign. Cleopatra married her younger brother Ptolemy and after his death, she married her younger brother Ptolemy XIV. Later she married the Roman Mark Antony. Cleopatra had one son by Caesar, named Caesarian. She had twins with Mark Antony, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, and later, a son, Ptolemy Philadelphos. Cleopatra was actually Cleopatra VII, and was the last pharaoh of Egypt, because Rome took over following her death. Although her family had adopted Egyptian customs, like having pharaohs marry their siblings, Cleopatra and her family were really Macedonians who had gone to Egypt with Alexander the Great. Cleopatra was important because she was the last of the Ptolemy’s to rule of Egypt. However, the legends that have developed around Cleopatra, her life, and her beauty probably make her seem more important than she was. After Mark Antony committed suicide, so did Cleopatra. The story is that she took an asp to her breast and let the poisonous snake bite her.