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Cleopatra VII Philopator (January 69 BC – August 12, 30 BC) was queen of Ptolemaic Egypt, the last member of the Ptolemaic dynasty and hence the last Hellenistic ruler of Egypt.

She was the third daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes, but little is known of her childhood but it is certain that she was witness to the years of disorder and loss of authority by the Ptolemaic dynasty under rule of her father. In 58 BC Cleopatras older sister seized power from her father. Her father then had her older sister executed and that left Cleopatra and her brother heir to the throne.

Their father died in 51 BC and an 18 year old Cleopatra and her 12 year old brother became joint monarchs.  The government broke down when people felt that things were going against Ptolemaic tradition where women are traditionally sub-ordinate to males and Cleopatra was exiled into Egypt.

Cleopatra was helped back into power by Julius Caesar backed her claim to the throne. Caesar also became her lover and she gave birth to his son.  In 42 BC she was summoned by Marc Antony in Rome and soon became his lover, eventually getting married and giving birth to twins.

In a tragic ending Marc Antony killed himself after being told that Cleopatra was dead during the battle between Rome and Egypt, and soon after that she killed herself as well.

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