Why did Octavian portray Cleopatra VII as a dangerous foreign temptress?

Octavian portrayed Cleopatra VII as a dangerous foreign temptress primarily to serve his own political agenda and secure his legitimacy as the leader of Rome. By framing the conflict as a war against a foreign threat rather than a civil war against a fellow Roman, Octavian was able to consolidate support among the Roman people.1

His propaganda campaign utilized several key strategies:

• Political Delegitimization: Octavian depicted Cleopatra as an immoral, predatory woman who seduced and manipulated prominent Roman leaders, specifically Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, to strip her of any political validity.1
• Territorial Concerns: He fueled fears that Antony intended to transfer Roman territories to Cleopatra and her children, and even rumored that the capital would be moved from Rome to Alexandria.23
• The Will of Antony: Octavian publicized a document he claimed was Antony’s will, which allegedly bequeathed Roman lands to Cleopatra’s children and requested his burial in Egypt, further painting Antony as a man under the sway of a foreign queen.23

Ultimately, this narrative allowed Octavian to present himself as the defender of Rome against an "impious" foreign influence, ensuring his rise to power as the first Roman emperor.41