Cleopatra — Last Pharaoh of Egypt

Cleopatra VII is born in Alexandria, Egypt, into the Ptolemaic dynasty, the Macedonian Greek family that has ruled Egypt since the death of Alexander the Great. She is the daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes. Unlike her predecessors, she learns the Egyptian language — the first Ptolemaic ruler to do so — along with Greek, Latin, and several other languages.

Upon the death of her father Ptolemy XII, 18-year-old Cleopatra ascends the throne as co-ruler with her 10-year-old brother Ptolemy XIII. She becomes the sole ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, but quickly faces opposition from court officials who favor her brother.

Location: Alexandria, Egypt

Cleopatra is forced to flee Alexandria after a power struggle with her brother Ptolemy XIII and his advisors. She raises an army in Syria and prepares to reclaim her throne by force. The resulting civil war divides Egypt along factional lines.

Location: Syria

After the Roman general Pompey is murdered in Egypt, Julius Caesar arrives in Alexandria. Cleopatra has herself smuggled past her brother's guards rolled in a carpet (or linen sack) and presented to Caesar. The gamble succeeds: Caesar is charmed and becomes her political ally and lover.

Location: Alexandria, Egypt

Caesar defeats Ptolemy XIII's forces at the Battle of the Nile. Ptolemy XIII drowns while trying to flee. Caesar restores Cleopatra to the throne, this time with her younger brother Ptolemy XIV as co-ruler. Cleopatra gives birth to Caesar's son, Caesarion (Ptolemy XV).

Location: Nile Delta, Egypt

Cleopatra travels to Rome as a client queen and stays at Caesar's villa across the Tiber. Her presence, along with a gilded statue of her placed in the Temple of Venus Genetrix, scandalizes Roman traditionalists. She remains in Rome until Caesar's assassination in 44 BC.

Location: Rome, Italy

After Caesar's assassination in March 44 BC, Cleopatra returns to Egypt. Her brother and co-ruler Ptolemy XIV dies soon after — probably poisoned on her orders. She names Caesarion, her son by Caesar, as co-ruler (Ptolemy XV), solidifying her claim as the mother of Caesar's only biological son.

Location: Alexandria, Egypt

Cleopatra is summoned to Tarsos (in modern Turkey) by Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of the Roman Empire. She arrives in spectacular fashion on a golden barge with purple sails, dressed as Aphrodite. Antony is captivated, and the two begin a political and romantic alliance that produces three children.

Location: Tarsos, Anatolia

In a lavish ceremony in Alexandria, Antony distributes vast Roman territories (including Armenia, Media, Parthia, Cyrenaica, Crete, and parts of Asia Minor) to Cleopatra's children. He declares Caesarion as Caesar's true heir, directly challenging Octavian's authority. The ceremony is a public relations disaster that Octavian uses to rally Rome against Antony.

Location: Alexandria, Egypt

Octavian's navy, commanded by Agrippa, defeats the combined fleet of Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium off the coast of Greece. Cleopatra's ships break through the blockade and flee, followed by Antony. The defeat seals their fate, though the land war continues for another year.

Location: Actium, Greece

Octavian invades Egypt. Antony, believing Cleopatra has already died, falls on his sword but survives long enough to be brought to her and die in her arms. Cleopatra, refusing to be paraded in Octavian's triumph, commits suicide on August 12, 30 BC. The traditional story of the asp (snake) bite is likely embellished; she probably used poison.

Location: Alexandria, Egypt

With Cleopatra's death, the Ptolemaic dynasty ends after 275 years. Egypt is annexed as a Roman province, ending the Hellenistic period that began with Alexander the Great. Octavian (soon to be Augustus) personally oversees the administration of Egypt, treating it as his personal domain. Caesarion is executed to eliminate any rival claim.