Cleopatra VII Philopator (69 BCE – 30 BCE) was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. A member of the Macedonian Greek dynasty founded by Ptolemy I Soter, a companion of Alexander the Great, Cleopatra is renowned for her intelligence, political acumen, and her role in one of history's most fascinating love stories. Fluent in multiple languages, including Egyptian—a rarity among the Ptolemies—she positioned herself not only as a ruler but as a divine figure, embodying the goddess Isis.

Cleopatra ascended the throne at the age of 18, co-ruling with her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, whom she later deposed in a struggle for sole power. Her reign was marked by a turbulent political environment, both within Egypt and in its relations with the expanding Roman Republic. Seeking to secure her kingdom’s independence, she formed strategic alliances with two of Rome’s most powerful figures: Julius Caesar and, after his assassination, Mark Antony.

Her relationship with Caesar, and later Antony, was not only romantic but deeply political, aimed at bolstering Egypt’s position on the world stage. With Caesar, she had a son, Caesarion, and with Antony, she bore three children. Their love affair and eventual alliance against Rome’s future emperor, Octavian (later Augustus), culminated in the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, where their forces were decisively defeated.

In 30 BCE, with Octavian’s forces closing in on Alexandria, Cleopatra took her own life, famously by snakebite—though the exact method remains debated. Her death marked the end of Ptolemaic rule and the beginning of Egypt as a Roman province. Cleopatra’s legacy endures as a symbol of power, seduction, and political brilliance, inspiring countless works of art, literature, and historical fascination throughout the centuries.