why did cleopatra marry her brother
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Though Cleopatra bore him a son, Caesar was already married, and Egyptian custom decreed that Cleopatra marry her remaining brother, Ptolemy XIV. She was part of a dynasty of Macedonian rulers founded by Ptolemy, who served as general under Alexander the Great during his conquest of Egypt in 332 B.C. For his part, the ancient writer Plutarch claimed that Cleopatras beauty was not altogether incomparable, and that it was instead her mellifluous speaking voice and irresistible charm that made her so desirable. Antony needed Cleopatras financial support for his postponed Parthian campaign; in return, Cleopatra requested the return of much of Egypts eastern empire, including large portions of Syria and Lebanon and even the rich balsam groves of Jericho. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. 
She seduced Julius Caesar, who came, saw, and conquered her brother. While the rest of Rome was trying to put one foot in front of the other after Caesars death, Octavian was systematically figuring out who was a threat to his inheritance. Here are 10 facts about Cleopatra, the legendary Queen of the Nile. But it was also because Caesar had no other sons though he was married to Calpurnia, and had had two wives before her and he had just made himself the most powerful man in Rome. david_jones/FlickrOctavian had Caesarion killed so hed have no competition for Romes throne. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Octavian had Caesarion killed so hed have no competition for Romes throne. When she was 15, she married King Juba II of Numidia. Cleopatra VII, the last pharaoh of Egypt, intended to continue that practice. A propaganda war erupted. Cleopatra had her brother killed and appointed her 4-year-old son For more than 2,000 years Cleopatra VII, final ruler of Egypt's Ptolemaic dynasty, has been portrayed as a manipulative but tragic beauty. Antony went to Egypt and then took up with Cleopatra, who gave birth to three of their children. And since the identity of her own grandmother is unknown, it is foolish to think that were sure of her racial identity. In the late 50s and into the 40s B.C., Cleopatra competed with her siblings two brothers, both named Ptolemy, and her sister, Arsinoe to rule Egypt. According to Saint Louis University, many believed that Cleopatra poisoned her younger brother to take the throne. Cleopatra was forced to flee Rome after Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman senate in 44 B.C., but by then she had made her mark on the city. But 250 years then passed before Cleopatra was born 12 generations, with all their love affairs and secret assignations. Warrior Women: Who Were the Gladiatrices of Ancient Rome? In true pharaonic tradition, which aimed to keep the royal bloodline as pure as possible, Cleopatra married her younger brother and co-ruler, but it soon became clear that she had no intention of sharing power with him. A famous example of her flair for the dramatic came in 48 B.C., when Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria during her feud with her brother Ptolemy XIII. But what about her son? Historical accounts state that while Cleopatra was married to her younger brother and co-regent, she also married Caesar because Egyptian laws at the time allowed for polygamy. Cleopatra commissioned coins and temple artwork depicting her and her own son as these deities. So from birth, little Caesarion carried two heavy weights on his shoulders: he was allegedly the only biological son of the most powerful man in Rome, as well as the heir to a 300-year-old kingdom and 3,000-year-old civilization that served as the breadbasket of the Mediterranean. Cleopatra VII ruled ancient Egypt as co-regent (first with her father, then with her two younger brothers and finally with her son) for almost three decades. It was clear to Octavian, watching from Rome, that Antony intended his extended family to rule the civilized world. This was, firstly, because Egypt and its pleasure-loving culture were despised as decadent. Ptolemy XIII likely drowned sometime later while running from his younger sister's army. History Hit brings you the stories that shaped the world through our award winning podcast network and an online history channel. In 31 B.C., Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatras forces at the Battle of Actium in northern Greece. When it comes to historically famous women who held power of queenly proportions in their hands, Cleopatra is by far one of the most well-known, though her accomplishments seem to constantly be overshadowed by her reputed beauty. According to Live Science, Cleopatra's family, the Ptolemies, ruled Egypt for three centuries. Cleopatra regained the upper hand by teaming with Julius Caesar, and Ptolemy drowned in the Nile River after being defeated in battle. How Cleopatra became one of the most influential and powerful women of the ancient world. Cleopatra was hailed as queen of kings, Caesarion as king of kings. Live Science explains that her empire encompassed Egypt, Cyprus, a portion of present-day Libya, and various other segments of the Middle East. Several of her ancestors kept it in the royal family. Both sides asked for Egyptian support, and after some stalling Cleopatra sent four Roman legions stationed in Egypt by Caesar to support the triumvirate. Updated: April 26, 2021 | Original: November 9, 2009. Cleopatra appeals to Cleopatra then remarried after the death of her brother during battle. To call Cleopatra impressive would be a serious understatement. The only member of her house to learn Egyptian, she was said to be a popular ruler. According to Britannica, Cleopatra likely married Ptolemy XIII soon after the 51 BCE death of her father, Ptolemy XII. For centuries, power passed from father to son, mother to daughter, in royal dynasties. Her first sibling-husband, Ptolemy XIII, ran her out of Egypt after she tried to take sole possession of the throne, and the pair later faced off in a civil war. Born c69 BC, Cleopatra was the third of a possible six children, all of whom shared a common father, Ptolemy XII. Receiving the false news that Cleopatra had died, Antony fell on his sword. Cleopatra fled to Syria but knew that Caesar, who happened to be visiting her former palace, could help her win back the throne. From the Sphinx of Egypt to the Kama Sutra, explore ancient history videos. WebCleopatra, who had been exiled by her brother, was reinstalled as queen with Roman military support. Caesarion bore two other names, as attested by contemporary inscriptions: called a god, he was dubbed Philometor and Philopator, meaning mother-loving or father-loving. Both were both traditional nicknames for a Ptolemaic king or queen. The means of her death is uncertain, though Classical writers came to believe that she had killed herself by means of an asp, symbol of divine royalty. Besides marrying two of her brothers throughout the course of her life, Cleopatra herself was the product of a familial marriage, according to History. Mary Hamer argues that most of what we think we know about Cleopatra is merely the echo of Roman propaganda. Explore her incredible life, her quest her for power and her untimely end. Cleopatra had her brother killed and appointed her 4-year-old son It's believed that the siblings were married shortly after their reign began, but Britannica says that isn't 100% certain. From the makers of HistoryExtra, try 6 issues of BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed for just 9.99 + FREE access to HistoryExtra (including ad the free Podcast) worth 34.99. Aided by Julius Caesar, her lover, she returned to power upon her brothers death in 47. He fell on his sword, and died just as news arrived that the rumor had been false. Wikimedia CommonsThe Egyptian goddess Isis holds her son, Horus, in her lap. Each was determined to use the other. He spent the winter of 41-40 B.C. Moreover, they likely practiced incest to avoid marrying into families they had political conflicts with. With the arrival of the conquering Octavian (the future Roman emperor Augustus), Cleopatras husband, Mark Antony, committed suicide under the false impression that she was dead. Hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and subscriber rewards. After Caesar was murdered in March 44 B.C.,Cleopatra went back to Egypt; Ptolemy XIV was killed soon after (possibly by Cleopatras agents) and the three-year-old Caesarion was named co-regent with his mother, as Ptolemy XV. There may have been a further elder sister, Cleopatra VI Tryphaena, but she too had died by this point. Cleopatra realized that she needed Roman support, or, more specifically, Caesars support, if she was to regain her throne. Cleopatra was much more than the femme fatale or tragic heroine history often portrays her as: she was a fearsome leader and brilliantly astute politician. Octavian or someone close to Caesarion supposedly quipped, Too many Caesars is not a good thing. With Caesarion, then, died Cleopatras hopes for an independent Egypt. Soon after the siblings ascension to the throne, Ptolemys advisers acted against Cleopatra, who was forced to flee Egypt for Syria in 49 B.C. Then, discover the real reason why so many ancient Egyptian statues have broken noses. From Cleopatra to Catherine de Medici, women in power receive very different criticisms to men. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Entering Alexandria as an unpopular conqueror, Caesar restored the throne to the equally unpopular Cleopatra and her younger brother Ptolemy XIV (then 13 years old). The 18-year-old Cleopatra, older than her brother by about eight years, became the dominant ruler. Their relationship had a political componentCleopatra needed Antony to protect her crown and maintain Egypts independence, while Antony needed access to Egypts riches and resourcesbut they were also famously fond of each others company. Ptolemy XIV's murder happened shortly after Cleopatra returned to Egypt following Caesar's assassination. Caesarion, of course. Octavian spread the rumor that Antony intended to divide the eastern portion of Rome and disperse it amongst his kids with Cleopatra and Caesarion, whom Antony dubbed Caesars legitimate heir. Such familial marriages among royalty was pretty common at the time. As a result, a different article from Smithsonian Magazine notes that the Ptolemies primarily spoke Greek and practiced Greek customs. Sculptures dont give us much of a clue to her looks either: there are two or three heads in the classical style, but also a number of full-length statues in Egyptian style, and her appearance in these is quite different. Mark Antony was the father of Cleopatras other children, Ptolemy Philadelphus and the twins, Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios. Still, unreliable flooding of the Nile resulted in failing crops, leading to inflation and hunger. The Egyptian goddess Isis holds her son, Horus, in her lap. Cleopatra VII ruled ancient Egypt as co-regent (first with her father, then with her two younger brothers and finally with her son) for almost three decades. She spoke as many as a dozen languages and was educated in mathematics, philosophy, oratory and astronomy, and Egyptian sources later described her as a ruler who elevated the ranks of scholars and enjoyed their company. Theres also evidence that Cleopatra wasnt as physically striking as once believed. Cleopatra is about 18 years old and had ruled for a short time as a co-regent with her father. Unlike her Ptolemaic forebears who spoke Greek and observed Greek customs Cleopatra identified as a truly Egyptian pharaoh. According to ancient sources, they spent the winter of 41-40 B.C. Cleopatra then had to marry another brother for the sake of formality, Ptolemy XIV. Cleopatra believed herself to be a living goddess, and she often used clever stagecraft to woo potential allies and reinforce her divine status. Cleopatra returned to Egypt, followed shortly thereafter by Antony, who left behind his third wife, Fulvia, and their children in Rome. She entered the city by sailing up the Cydnus River in a barge while dressed in the robes of the new Isis. WATCH: Digging for the Truth: Cleopatra, the Last Pharaoh on HISTORY Vault. Cleopatra, now married to her brother Ptolemy XIV, was restored to her throne. We strive for accuracy and fairness. According to the story recorded by Plutarch (and later dramatized famously by William Shakespeare), Cleopatra sailed to Tarsus in an elaborate ship, dressed in the robes of Isis. In true pharaonic tradition, which aimed to keep the royal bloodline as pure as possible, Cleopatra married her younger brother and co-ruler, but it soon became clear that she had no intention of sharing power with him. According to Britannica, Cleopatra likely married Ptolemy XIII soon after the 51 BCE death of her father, Ptolemy XII. Bust of Cleopatra VII Altes Museum Berlin, Image Credit: Jos Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro. Egypt grew more prosperous under Cleopatras rule, and in 37 B.C. Ptolemy XIIs return to the throne had cost Cleopatras elder sister, Berenice who had seized power in his absence her life. Cleopatra paid at least one state visit to Rome, accompanied by her husband-brother and son. She became the sole ruler when her brother was drowned during the Alexandrian War (47 B.C.). Her mother was believed to be Cleopatra V Tryphaena, the kings wife (and possibly his half-sister). Her actual beautywas not so remarkable that none could be compared with her. Get time period newsletters, special offers and weekly programme release emails. The Parthian campaign was a costly failure, as was the temporary conquest of Armenia. She gave birth to another Ptolemy Cleopatras only known grandchild. The Reason Cleopatra Married Her Brothers, All in the Family: Incest and the Ptolemaic Dynasty. She was also ruthless, reportedly killing several family members in order to solidify her power. Field of the Cloth of Gold: Renaissance Monarchy at Work. At the time of her meeting with Caesar, Cleopatra was in exile cast out by her brother. Per Smithsonian Magazine, she is remembered for her influence and power as afemale pharaoh and seductress. Cleopatra fled to Syria to marshal her own forces. Caesar needed access to Ptolemaic money to pay debts, as Britannica notes, and Cleopatra needed Caesar's forces to back her up. In the days between Cleopatra's death and Octavian's formal annexation of Egypt, her 16-year-old son Caesarion was officially sole ruler. But she killed herself to prevent that. Cleopatra then remarried after the death of her brother during battle. She set out for Tarsus in Asia Minor loaded with gifts, having delayed her departure to heighten Antonys expectation. She became the sole ruler when her brother was drowned during the Alexandrian War (47 B.C.). They again became lovers, and Cleopatra gave birth to another son, Ptolemy Philadelphos, in 36 B.C. Conflict ensued. Check out 10 surprising facts about the fabled Queen of the Nile. Upon Ptolemy XIIIs death after being defeated by her Roman-Egyptian armies, Cleopatra married his younger brother Ptolemy XIV. Posted on April 6, 2023 by . Cleopatra didnt die for love. Cleopatra believed herself to be a living goddess and was keenly aware of the relationship between image and power. Caesarion attempted to flee to safety, perhaps to India by way of Ethiopia, but Octavian refused to let the last rival to Caesars throne survive. It is believed that this kept their bloodline pure. It was the most expensive movie ever made at the time of its release, and nearly bankrupted its studio despite raking in a fortune at the box office. Meanwhile, a conflict was raging in Rome between a second triumvirate of Caesars allies (Mark Antony, Octavian and Lepidus) and his assassins, Brutus and Cassius. 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