Monday, March 8, 2010

Cleopatra VII: Female Pharoh

March is Women's History Month. Rather than bore you with tales of women's suffrage and Rosie the Riveter as other sites are sure to do, Ihave decided to focus my attention upon famous female rulers. The first in this series will be Cleopatra VII, Queen of Egypt.

In 69 B.C.E. an Egyptian woman gave birth to a beautiful baby, a baby who would grow up to be a notorious and powerful woman. This infant's name was Cleopatra, and she was daughter of Ptolmey XII, King of Egypt. The woman who brought this child into the world has been long forgotten. History does not know her name. The name of her daughter, however, has not been forgotten.

Cleopatra VII led a remarkable life. In 51 B.C.E. her father died, bequeathing his kingdom to Cleopatra and her younger brother Ptolmey XIV. Under Egyptian law a woman could not rule the kingdom without a male consort who was either her brother or her own son. Thus an eighteen year old Cleopatra married her twelve year old brother (something not unheard of in ancient Egypt) and gained the Egyptian throne.

Cleopatra quickly made it clear that she was in charge, omitting her brother's name from all legal documents and replacing it with her own. She also placed her portrait on all administrative and legal records, further establishing her claim to the kingdom. She ruled uncontested for three years.

When her brother was 15 years old his advisers helped him stage a coup. Cleopatra lost the throne and was thrust into exile along the Syrian border. She would not go quietly. Cleopatra amassed an army and set about allying herself with the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar.

As the story goes, Cleopatra concealed herself inside a rolled rug that she then had delivered as a gift to Caesar. When the rug was unrolled, Cleopatra was revealed. She seduced the married emperor and he returned her to her throne.

Once restored as Pharoh, Cleopatra again follwed Egyptian custom and married her youngest brother, another Ptolmey. At some point during this period Cleopatra gave birth to a son. Her son was Ptolmey XV, also known as Caesarion, or "Little Caesar." In 44 B.C.E. Julius Caesar was stabbed to death inside the Roman senate. Egypt was once again insecure.

Cleopatra, however, knew what to do. Two short years later she met and seduced Mark Antony. By all accounts, Mark Antony and Cleopatra were madly in love. Mark Antony began spending every winter in Egypt with Cleopatra. The Roman senate became enraged by Antony's behavior and declared war on Egypt.

The Egyptian forces were no match for the might of the Roman army. Egypt fell to Rome some time around 30 B.C.E. Mark Antony fell upon his own sword, ending his life. Upon hearing of her lover's demise, Cleopatra famously killed herself by allowing a poisonous asp to bite her. She was dead at the age of 39. Cleopatra was Egypt's last Pharoh.