Cleopatra 4

Life of Cleopatra VII Philopator (Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ)

By mavison
  • Period: 336 BCE to 323 BCE

    Alexandrian Conquest

    Macedonian general Alexander the Great conquers the Achaemenid Persian Empire, as far as Northwestern India and Egypt.
  • Period: 305 BCE to 282 BCE

    Ptolemy I Soter rules over Egypt

    After Alexander the Great dies in 323BCE, his empire fractures and is divided up among his generals, with Ptolemy taking control of Egypt, ruling as the pharaoh Ptolemy I Soter until his death. Jones, Prudence J. “1.2. Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.6.2-4, 1.6.8.” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook, University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 4–5.
  • 69 BCE

    Birth of Cleopatra VII Philopator

    Cleopatra is born to Ptolemy XII. The identity of her mother is uncertain, but it is most likely that it was Cleopatra V. Jones, Prudence J. “Ptolemy XII and the End of the Dynasty.” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook, University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 28–28.
  • 51 BCE

    Cleopatra becomes Pharaoh

    Cleopatra and her brother, Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, become co-rulers of Egypt after the death of their father, Ptolemy XII Auletes.
    Prudence J. Jones. “2.1. Plutarch, Life of Antony 27.2-4.” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 32–35.
  • 48 BCE

    Cleopatra meets Julius Caesar

    Prior to Caesar's arrival in Alexandria, Ptolemy had expelled Cleopatra as co-ruler of Egypt. Though the details of how she snuck into the palace are not quite clear, she managed a personal audience with Julius Caesar, who, impressed by her with (and arguably her beauty), stepped in to resolve the conflict with her brother, leaving them both co-rulers again. Prudence J. Jones. “3.6. Cassius Dio, Roman History 42.34.3-35” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 56-57.
  • 48 BCE

    Pompey is killed by Ptolemy XIII

    After a military defeat by Julius Caesar, Pompey flees to Egypt, hoping for aid from Ptolemy XIII. Ptolemy, hoping to gain the favor of Caesar, executes Pompey. Prudence J. Jones. “2.4. Appian, Civil War 2.84-86.” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 39-41.
  • Period: 48 BCE to 47 BCE

    Siege of Alexandria

    A series of skirmishes between the forces of Caesar and Cleopatra, and the forces of Ptolemy. The Siege left Cleopatra sole ruler of Egypt, and following the solidification of her rule, she and Caesar would go on to have an affair, which produced (though his parentage is disputed) Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Prudence J. Jones. “3.8. Caesar, Civil War 3.111-12.” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 58-60.
  • 44 BCE

    Julius Caesar assassinated

    On the Ides of March in 44 BCE, Julius Caesar is assassinated in the Roman Senate, in a plot led by Brutus and Cassius. Prudence J. Jones. “3.16. Plutarch, Life of Antony 12-14.” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 83-84.
  • 44 BCE

    Cleopatra Leaves Rome

    After the assassination, Cleopatra, who had been staying in Rome, made a quick exit back to Alexandria. Prudence J. Jones. “3.17. Cicero, Letters to Atticus 14.8.1, 14.20.2, 15.1.5, 15.4.4, 15.15.2.” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 85-87.
  • Period: 43 BCE to 42 BCE

    Liberator's Civil War

    After the assassination of Julius Caesar, the Second Triumvirate (Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus) fought a war against Brutus and Cassius, the Liberatores, who had fled to the Eastern provinces of Rome and rallied forces there. The Liberatores' forces were crushed, and both Brutus and Cassius committed suicide, leaving the Second Triumvirate in power in Rome.
  • 41 BCE

    Cleopatra meets Mark Antony

    Antony and Cleopatra meet in Tarsus. The moment is mythologized in ancient and modern sources, but what is certain is that Antony and Cleopatra did engage in a romantic affair, leading to tension between Octavian and Mark Antony due to Antony's marriage to Octavia, Octavian's sister, and Antony's control over the Eastern Provinces. Prudence J. Jones. “4.6. Plutarch, Life of Antony 24-27.1.” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 99-102.
  • 34 BCE

    Donations of Alexandria

    A political move of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, the two distributed land held by Rome and Parthia, lands controlled by Mark Antony at this point, to Cleopatra's children, including Caesarion, the supposed son of Julius Caesar.
  • Period: 32 BCE to 30 BCE

    War of Actium

    Due to tensions growing between Mark Antony and Octavian, Octavian declares war on Cleopatra, effectively declaring war on Mark Antony, starting a civil war that culminated in a decisive defeat for Antony and Cleopatra at the battle of Actium. Prudence J. Jones. “6.4. Plutarch, Life of Antony 65-69.” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 154-159.
  • 30 BCE

    Death of Cleopatra

    Following their defeat at Actium, Antony, thinking Cleopatra dead, commits suicide. Cleopatra, not wanting to be paraded by Octavian, also takes her own life, though the method by which she did has been the subject of debate. Prudence J. Jones. “7.4. Cassius Dio, Roman History 51.11-13.” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 190-193.
    Prudence J. Jones. “7.7. Cassius Dio, Roman History 51.14.” Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. University of Oklahoma Press, 2006, pp. 195.
  • 27 BCE

    Octavian becomes Emperor of Rome, Augustus Caesar

    Following the victory against Antony and Cleopatra, Octavian made a show of returning power to the Roman Senate, but in reality had consolidated much power under his rule, received the titles of "Augustus" and "Princeps" from the Senate, and begun to style himself Imperator Caesar divi filius, or "Commander Caesar son of the deified one", transforming the name of Caesar into a title of authority.