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The family of the young princess



Cleopatra was born into the powerful Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled Egypt for centuries. Her father was King Ptolemy XII and she had several siblings who all wanted to rule. The family originally came from Greece but lived in the great city of Alexandria. Even as a child she learned how difficult it was to stay in power within her own house. Her education was very important because it prepared her for the future challenges of being a queen.



A highly educated ruler



Unlike many of her ancestors Cleopatra took the time to learn the Egyptian language. She was famous for being able to speak many different languages including Greek and Latin. Her teachers taught her about philosophy and science at the great Library of Alexandria. She studied how to manage a kingdom and how to speak effectively to large crowds of people. This knowledge made her one of the most intelligent leaders of the ancient world.



The shared throne and conflict



When her father died Cleopatra had to share the throne with her younger brother. It was common in their family for siblings to marry and rule together as king and queen. However the two siblings soon started to fight because they both wanted total control over Egypt. Her brother's advisors eventually forced her to leave the capital city and go into hiding. She had to gather her own supporters to fight back and regain her rightful position.



Meeting the Roman general



At this time the Roman Republic was the most powerful nation in the Mediterranean region. Julius Caesar arrived in Egypt while chasing a Roman rival during a civil war. Cleopatra famously met him by hiding inside a large rug to get past her brother's guards. Caesar was impressed by her bravery and her intelligence during their long conversations. He decided to support her claim to the throne and helped her defeat her brother's army.



Life as the Queen of Egypt



After her enemies were defeated Cleopatra became the sole ruler of the Egyptian people. She worked hard to improve the economy and manage the yearly flooding of the Nile River. The people respected her because she respected their ancient traditions and worshipped their gods. She lived in a magnificent palace in Alexandria which was filled with beautiful art and gold. Her kingdom was famous for its wealth and its production of grain for the whole region.



The relationship with Mark Antony



After Julius Caesar died Cleopatra formed a new alliance with another Roman leader named Mark Antony. He was a powerful general who controlled the eastern parts of the Roman territories. They spent many years together in Egypt and had children who were treated like royalty. This partnership was both a personal romance and a clever political move to protect Egypt. Together they planned to create a massive empire that would rival the power of Rome.