Cleopatra lived from 69 BC to 30 BC in ancient Egypt. Her full name was Cleopatra VII Philopator and she was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic kingdom. The name Cleopatra comes from the Greek name Κλεοπάτρα (Kleopatra) which means “she who comes from the glorious father” or “glory of the father”. She was a member of the Ptolemy dynasty and was the seventh person of that dynasty to be called Cleopatra. She was a daughter of Ptolemy XII. The Ptolemies were not of Egyptian origin but were Macedonian Greeks. Cleopatra also had two brothers, Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV. As was customary in ancient Egypt, the daughters and sons of the ruling family often intermarried. In this way they could continue to control and rule Egypt for many generations within the same royal family. Ultimately, Cleopatra's father, Ptolemy XII, dies in 51 BC. Upon his death he wanted the throne to pass to Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII. As a result, Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII married and ruled Egypt together. Cleopatra was determined to rule alone and her brother's guardians knew this. As a result, they rebelled against her and forced her to leave Alexandria in 49 BC. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayCleopatra, still wanted to rule Egypt alone, and so she decided to make a plan to create a relationship with Julius Caesar, a Roman leader, to help her achieve this goal. In 48 BC, Cleopatra impressed Caesar, not with her beauty, but most likely with the audacity of her plan to approach him to help her take power and rule Egypt. It may also have helped that Cleopatra was one of the richest women in the world at the time if not the richest. In 47 BC, Cleopatra became Caesar's mistress, and Caesar used his army to defeat her ruling brother Ptolemy XIII. Caesar then appoints Cleopatra and her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV, as the new rulers of Egypt. A year later, Cleopatra gives birth to Caesar's son who they name Ptolemy Caesar but also call him Caesarion. Cleopatra joins Caesar in Rome along with her son and his brother Ptolemy XIV. In 44 BC Caesar was assassinated because his enemies in the Senate saw him becoming too powerful. Shortly thereafter Cleopatra leaves Rome and returns to Egypt with her son and brother. Shortly afterwards his brother, Ptolemy XIV, dies of poisoning. Many think that this poisoning was ordered by Cleopatra so that she could make her son, Caesarion, a co-ruler like Ptolemy XV. In 42 BC, Mark Antony, leader of the Roman forces, wanted to attack the Persian empire and asked Cleopatra to join him. him. He did this because he needed his help both financially and militarily. Cleopatra, having lost the protection provided by Caesar, needed another Roman leader to protect her. They form a partnership and she helps Mark Antony with his battles and ensures protection for her continued rule over Egypt. He even asks Mark Antony to send the order to have his younger sister, Arsinoe killed in Rome as she was a rival for his throne. Ultimately, Mark Antony and Cleopatra have twins, a boy named Alexander Helios and a girl named Cleopatra Selene. In 37 BC Mark Antony married Cleopatra in Antioch. Right now Mark Antony and Octavian, adopted son of Julius Caesar, are fighting each other for dominance over the Romans as they attempt to further expand the Roman Empire. Over the next few years their relationship got worse and worse. In 31 BC they ended up fighting each other in the Battle of Actium. The forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra were defeated by Octavian and he consequently committed suicide. Cleopatra realizes that Octavian.