Did Cleopatra live the life that every woman would have dreamed
“Almost every woman would like to have been Cleopatra” Did Cleopatra live the life that every woman would have dreamed? ... Cleopatra VII was born in 69 BC and that’s when Egypt’s power started to decrease. ... The first Ptolemies had ruled well, but their descendants, including Cleopatra’s father, were weak and even foolish. Cleopatra faced an uncertain future. ... Alexandria, Cleopatra’s home, was a busy port on the Mediterranean Sea. ... At an early age, Cleopatra knew that her family was at war, with the people it ruled and itself. The people suffered under the cruelty of Cleopatra’s father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, and they hated his alliance with Rome. ... Ptolemy fled to Rome, leaving Cleopatra’s older sister, Bernice, to become queen. ... Cleopatra was now Ptolemy XII’s oldest surviving child. ... Cleopatra remembered what had happened to her sisters and feared that enemies might try to kill her too. However, Cleopatra was clever. ... Cleopatra also needed the support of priests who belonged to rich, powerful families. ... Cleopatra called herself the Sun-God’s daughter, which was an ancient royal title. Ancient records indicate that Cleopatra ruled with her father for a short time. After his death in 51 BC, 18 year old Cleopatra was determined to hold onto power. In keeping with traditions of the time, Cleopatra married her 12 year old brother, Ptolemy XIII. ... According to the law, Ptolemy now had the right to rule, but Cleopatra said that he was too young. ... During the first two years of ruling by Cleopatra, the Nile failed to flood. ... As the ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra needed to please the sophisticated citizens of Alexandria. ... He didn’t agree with the way Cleopatra made many important government decisions without consulting him.