Cleopatra VII was the third daughter of Ptolemy Auletes. She had two older sisters, Cleopatra VI and Berenice IV as well as a younger sister, Arsinoe IV. There were two younger brothers as well, Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV who would subsequently become her consort during her reign.
Violence, corruption and a lust for power was the order of the day in Ptolemy's court. Political intrigues and the politics of survival were some of the many lessons that she learned at her father's knee. Growing up in a palace full of Ptolemy children, she would see her siblings lusting for power ready to kill anyone who stood in their way. She also saw her father struggling to retain his throne and his efforts to seek out the help of the powerful Romans would influence her destiny in the years to come.
Once when Ptolemy Auletes and Cleopatra were away on a trip to Rome, her sister Berenice IV seized power to become the queen of Egypt. Her reign lasted for a mere two years during which she spent lavishly on luxuries and had put to death her husband whom her counsels had forced upon her. But her father soon returned with Roman forces and had her beheaded.
Right after Ptolemy Auletes was restored to the throne, he willed it to his most loyal daughter Cleopatra VII. Following the tradition of the ancient Egyptians, she had to marry her brother Ptolemy XIII if she wanted to keep the throne. She was a young woman of 18 years then, while her brother was a mere boy of ten. But she knew that if she wanted to rule, she had to accede to her father's wishes.
Violence, corruption and a lust for power was the order of the day in Ptolemy's court. Political intrigues and the politics of survival were some of the many lessons that she learned at her father's knee. Growing up in a palace full of Ptolemy children, she would see her siblings lusting for power ready to kill anyone who stood in their way. She also saw her father struggling to retain his throne and his efforts to seek out the help of the powerful Romans would influence her destiny in the years to come.
 |
| Berenice IV |
Right after Ptolemy Auletes was restored to the throne, he willed it to his most loyal daughter Cleopatra VII. Following the tradition of the ancient Egyptians, she had to marry her brother Ptolemy XIII if she wanted to keep the throne. She was a young woman of 18 years then, while her brother was a mere boy of ten. But she knew that if she wanted to rule, she had to accede to her father's wishes.
During the two centuries that preceded Ptolemy Auletes death, the Ptolemies were allied with the Romans. The Ptolemies' strength was failing and the Roman Empire was rising. City after city was falling to the Roman power and the Ptolemies could do nothing but create a pact with them. During the later rule of the Ptolemies, the Romans gained more and more control over Egypt. Tributes had to be paid to the Romans to keep them away from Egypt. When Ptolemy Auletes died in 51BC, the fall of the dynasty seemed imminent.
Violence, corruption and a lust for power was the order of the day in Ptolemy's court. Political intrigues and the politics of survival were some of the many lessons that she learned at her father's knee. Growing up in a palace full of Ptolemy children, she would see her siblings lusting for power ready to kill anyone who stood in their way. She also saw her father struggling to retain his throne and his efforts to seek out the help of the powerful Romans would influence her destiny in the years to come.
ReplyDelete