Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator

Cleopatra VII was born October 69 BC, Alexandria and died August 12, 30 BC, Alexandria. Cleopatra and her half-brother Ptolemy XIII both came into power at age 18 and her brother at age 10 after their father Ptolemy XII died. Her brother's advisers forced her to leave Egypt where she stayed in Syria until she formed an army of mercenaries, returning to Egypt and regaining the throne. Julius Caesar restored Cleopatra's power by helping her plunder Alexandria with his army, and then the Romans assisted, conquering the battle for the returning Queen. She had a son with Caesar named Ptolemy Caesar but the Egypt people called him Caesarion. When Julius Caesar died, Cleopatra's son held the stronghold by becoming co-regent. Cleopatra became the "Cicilian city of Tarsus" by Mark Antony after playing a major part in overpowering Caesar's assassins, Cassius and Brutus. He asked her assistance in battle against the Philippi and she did, winning. When Antony and Cleopatra met for the first time she was dressed in robes like the Greek goddess Isis (who she associated herself with) and he fell for her, leaving his third wife Fulvia and three children, traveling to Egypt. Antony returned to Rome and Cleopatra gave birth to their twins named Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios. He also protected Cleopatra from her younger half-sister Arsinoe, who was in exile who wanted her thrown. Antony married a Roman, Octavia, sister of Caesar's heir, Octavian, later known as Augustus. Then he divorced her when Octavian declared war on him.  Antony killed himself after hearing misinformed rumors of Cleopatra's death. It is rumored that she committed suicide by letting an asp bite her. Since her son was too young to rule Egypt, he was executed by being strangled by Octavian's men.  An interesting fact was that she bathed in donkey milk, probably with the belief it would make her skin youthful because of the nourishment in milk.