Who was the last pharaoh of Egypt? Cleopatra VII’s Story

The last pharaoh of Egypt was the great Cleopatra VII. The extent of her political intelligence and seriousness in ruling Egypt successfully is evident as she is the woman who ruled Egypt for nearly 300 years. She may be the most famous woman ruler throughout history and the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Queen Cleopatra, The last pharaoh of Egypt, was born in 69 BC, the daughter of King Ptolemy XII, Oletis, and when he died in 51 BC, the throne was passed to his youngest son, Ptolemy XIII, and his daughter Cleopatra VII. It was known that Cleopatra, who was 18 years old, was about eight years older than her brother, so she became the dominant ruler of Egypt.

History tells us that Cleopatra XII, The last pharaoh of Egypt, was one of the great queens of Egypt, regardless of the disputes about her relationship with the policies of the Roman Empire. For example, she was the only one among the Ptolemaic family who took it upon herself to learn the Egyptian language at that time, and she imitated the goddess Isis and claimed that she embodied her life on earth. She even called herself “the new Isis,” which reflects her political intelligence and seriousness in ruling Egypt successfully.

Who was the last pharaoh of Egypt

How was the last pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra VII?

Queen Cleopatra VII, the final active ruler of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, possessed a formidable combination of traits: immense intelligence, strategic cunning, powerful willpower, and a fierce love for glory. Her intellect and ambition were so potent that she famously won the hearts and political allegiance of two of the most powerful men of her era: Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony). While she deeply cared about her beauty, surviving monuments, statues, and coins confirm her genuine appearance, revealing the Hellenistic (Greek) features of her lineage, typically characterized by lighter skin, a straight nose, and thin lips.

How did Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt, rule the country?

Cleopatra began her reign at age eighteen in 51 BC as co-regent with her younger brother, Ptolemy XIII, following the death of their father, Ptolemy XII. Despite the custom of “holy marriage” between the siblings in Ptolemaic tradition, her brother’s advisors persuaded him to expel Cleopatra from Alexandria in 49 BC. Fleeing to Syria, the ambitious queen immediately demonstrated her resolve by raising an army of mercenaries to reclaim her stolen throne.

Cleopatra was an exceptionally talented and effective ruler:

• Polyglot and Educated: She spoke several languages and was educated in Alexandria, the paramount center of knowledge at the time.

• Military Leader: She fearlessly led armies at the young age of twenty-one.

• Good Governance: Her primary focus was on restoring the glories of her ruling family, successfully spreading stability and peace across the country, and rigorously combating corruption.

• Public Welfare: She notably opened state grain stores for her people during periods of famine and managed the state finances by raising taxes on certain groups.

Egypt thrived as a prosperous country under her rule. Crucially, the people did not view her gender as a flaw; they only cared about her capable and effective management of the country.

Cleopatra VII

A fierce struggle for the Crown of Egypt!

King Ptolemy XIII was under the influence of his advisers, who drove Cleopatra out of Alexandria to gain power, so she took refuge in eastern Egypt and was able to recruit an army of nomads to regain her position upon arriving at Belouseum (now Port Said), where her brother’s army was standing, the ship of the Roman commander Pompeius arrived following his defeat in the Battle of Pharsalus (48 BC). The king’s guardians arranged for his death and presented his head to the victorious commander Julius Caesar, who arrived in Alexandria on October 2, 48 BC.

Cleopatra VII, The last pharaoh of Egypt, succeeded in penetrating her opponents after her brother Ptolemy XIII tried to approach Caesar, finding her an opportunity to declare his complete loyalty, and worked his best to flatter him, and in doing so, hoping to gain the support of the Romans in Egypt alone. However, it became clear to Ptolemy that he had made a mistake in his calculations. Caesar summoned both Ptolemy and Cleopatra to Alexandria and declared his support for the monarchy. During this time, the people of Alexandria had another queen on their minds.

In November 48 BC, with Caesar and Cleopatra confined to the royal palace, the Alexandrian people declared the younger royal sister, Arsinoe IV, queen of Egypt. Cleopatra and Julius Caesar spent a long winter locked up in Alexandria’s palace. It was not until March 47 BC that Roman reinforcements came, in which Julius and Cleopatra became political and loving Allies. At Caesar’s liberation, Ptolemy XIII escaped and drowned in the Nile, while Arseno IV, the queen who reigned and lived for a short period, was captured and taken to Rome.

Cleopatra VII, a widow, was restored to her throne with full Roman support, married her 11-year-old brother Ptolemy XIV, and in June 47 BC, Cleopatra gave birth to a son named Ptolemy Caesar (known as Caesarean) after his father. Caesar, originally married to a Roman wife, could not recognize his Egyptian son officially. Before his death, however, he sought to pass legislation in Rome that would give him the right to marry a second woman and give legal legitimacy to a child born in foreign lands.

Ptolemy XIV died, although it is uncertain whether it was an accident or a plan – and with no other male heir, three-year-old Caesarea became Ptolemy XV, and Cleopatra took the reins of power. Then Cleopatra ruled with her son, Ptolemy Caesar, until 30 BC, as this coincided with Egypt falling under Roman control after the defeat of the joint forces of Cleopatra and Antony against the Roman armies of Octavian.

Cleopatra.

Cleopatra committed suicide by snake bite!

In a tragic act of defiance, Queen Cleopatra VII chose to take her own life in mid-August 30 BC, following the devastating defeat and suicide of her husband, the Roman leader Mark Antony. She procured a venomous Egyptian Cobra (often referred to as an “asp”), which ironically served as a sacred symbol of royalty, often adorning the crowns of Ptolemaic rulers.

While some historical accounts, including those from Roman poets like Virgil and Horace, suggest the involvement of two snakes, various historians mention that the first fatal sting was delivered to her left royal shoulder. Facing utter despair, Cleopatra, The Last Pharaoh of Egypt, intentionally exposed her arm or chest to the poisonous serpent.

Octavian’s Triumph and the Annexation of Egypt

The new Roman conqueror, Octavian Caesar (later known as Emperor Augustus), had desperately hoped to capture Cleopatra alive and parade her as the ultimate prize in his victory procession in Rome. However, upon finding her deceased body, his plans for a grand spectacle were thwarted.

Octavian immediately turned his attention to governance, announcing the annexation of Egypt directly to the Roman people’s authority. This pivotal moment, which ended nearly three centuries of Ptolemaic rule, was allegedly conveyed by Octavian in a remarkably concise declaration of just five words. Thus, the story of Cleopatra VII concludes, but her legacy endures as a powerful testament to the intrigue and indomitable spirit of ancient Egypt’s last great ruler.