Kleopatra VII Thea Philopator

Cleopatra VII Philopator (69–30 BC) was the last queen of Hellenistic Egypt from the Ptolemaic dynasty. She entered history not only due to her romantic liaisons with Roman generals but also as a clever, calculating ruler.

Cleopatra was born in Alexandria. Her father was Ptolemy XII Auletes. The name "Cleopatra" was common in the Ptolemaic family — she became the seventh bearer of this name. From childhood, Cleopatra grew up in Alexandria and had access to knowledge: she studied at the Alexandrian Museum — a major center of science and culture. As a result, she mastered many languages: besides Greek, she knew Egyptian, Aramaic, ancient Ethiopian, ancient Persian, ancient Hebrew, and the Berber language. Ancient authors noted that her strength lay not so much in her appearance as in her charm, ability to speak, and sharp mind.

In 51 BC, when Cleopatra turned 18, she inherited the throne after her father's death. By tradition, she was supposed to rule alongside her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, who was simultaneously considered her formal husband. However, a struggle for power quickly began between them. In 48 BC, Cleopatra was expelled from Alexandria and fled to Syria, where she began to gather an army.

The intervention of Rome played a decisive role. Julius Caesar arrived in Egypt: he was pursuing his enemy Pompey. Cleopatra managed to meet Caesar — according to a well-known legend, she was secretly brought to him wrapped in a carpet. She convinced Caesar to support her. The Roman troops defeated Ptolemy XIII's army, and he himself drowned in the Nile. After that, Cleopatra returned to the throne. Now she formally ruled alongside another younger brother — Ptolemy XIV, whom she later eliminated. In 47 BC, Cleopatra and Julius Caesar had a son — Ptolemy XV, known as Caesarion.

After Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, Cleopatra returned to Egypt. In 41 BC, she formed an alliance with Mark Antony, who eventually became her close ally and de facto husband. Antony proclaimed Cleopatra "Queen of Kings" and "New Isis." They had three children: Alexander Helios, Ptolemy Philadelphus, and Cleopatra Selene II.

In the final years of her reign, Egypt became increasingly embroiled in confrontation with Rome. The climax came with a military conflict that ended in the defeat of Cleopatra and Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. After that, they fled to Egypt.