Married to Her Brother

• Cleopatra was about 17 years old when she married her brother, Ptolemy XIII, who was 12 years old. He later turned against her. Cleopatra proved to be a cunning and assertive ruler who made an alliance with Caesar and defeated her brother. Ptolemy died trying to flee.
  
  

Captivating Caesar

• When Caesar called both Cleopatra and her brother to a meeting to settle their disputes she came up with an ingenious plan. The story goes: Cleopatra had herself rolled up in rug and delivered to Caesar as a gift. Caesar was captivated by the Egyptian beauty and immediately decided to side with her. He named her pharaoh of Egypt, making her the only female ruler in a time of male kings. Caesar tried to change the laws to marry her although he was already married to another woman. Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. When Cleopatra tried to have her son named as Caesar's son and successor, she was denied by the senate.
  
  

Marc Antony Falls for Cleopatra

• After Caesar's death, Cleopatra set her sights on Marc Antony, a Roman politician and military general. Marc Antony also wanted to wed Cleopatra even though he was already married. When Marc Antony stayed too long with his Egyptian beauty, Octavian declared war and defeated his army. Cleopatra hid and sent a message to Marc Antony that she died. In his grief, Marc committed suicide with his own sword.
  
  

From Snake Bite to Immortality

• Cleopatra, after hearing of Antony's death and fearing capture by Octavian, killed herself rather than be paraded through the streets as a disgraced prisoner. The most popular version of her death has her bitten by an Asp, which, in ancient Egypt, was believed to ensure immortality. She was only 39 when she died.