Today in History—March 27: Cleopatra Crowned Queen—Again

Few figures in history are as famous as Cleopatra. Her story has inspired countless movies, books, and TV series. The famous lovers. The ruthless ambition. The dramatic death.

But in 50 bce Cleopatra was on the verge of becoming little more than a footnote in history.

That year she was ousted as coruler of Egypt by her younger brother Ptolemy XIII and his advisers. The 19-year-old Cleopatra could have chosen a quiet life in exile. Instead, she raised an army to reclaim the throne. A civil war erupted, but Cleopatra’s forces were badly outnumbered.

And then Julius Caesar arrived, in 48 bce.

The Roman general was in the midst of his own power struggle. Sensing an opportunity, Cleopatra plotted to meet him. According to tradition, she was smuggled into the palace wrapped in a carpet—or more likely in a much-less-glamorous sack of dirty laundry—and taken to Caesar’s room.

Was Cleopatra beautiful? Not really, based on accounts from that time. But she possessed something far more powerful: charisma, persuasiveness, and extraordinary intelligence. She was well educated—notably studying economics, law, medicine, and chemistry (especially poisons)—and politically savvy.

Caesar quickly became her ally—and lover. Cleopatra later gave birth to a son, Ptolemy Caesar (Caesarion). Backed by the Roman army, Cleopatra defeated her brother, who reportedly drowned while fleeing.

And that’s how Cleopatra returned to the throne on this day in 47 bce—and secured her place in history.

Fun Fact

In an effort to cure Caesar’s baldness, Cleopatra invented a salve that included burnt mice, bear’s grease, and honey.

Over the next 18 years Cleopatra was a shrewd, capable, and popular ruler. She brought wealth and stability to the struggling kingdom and worked to preserve Egypt’s independence through alliances with powerful Romans. After Caesar’s assassination in 44 bce, she began a famous partnership with Mark Antony. The two spoke of ruling a vast empire.

A worried Octavian, Antony’s rival, declared war on the couple, and they were defeated at the Battle of Actium in 31 bce. The following year Antony died by suicide, and Cleopatra took her own life soon after, reportedly dying from an asp’s poison.

Her death ended the nearly 300-year Ptolemaic dynasty—but the legend of Cleopatra was born.