Caesar, Cleopatra, Marc Antony – “An Ancient Soap Opera”

Sometimes fact is more interesting than fiction! Take the love triangle between Julius Caesar, Cleopatra and Marc Antony during the 1^st century BC. This story is so juicy not even the best group of screenwriters or romance novelists could have dreamt this one up. Most of us have heard of these characters, but the actual details of their lives will blow you away!

 Widely considered a great ruler by many historians due to his brilliant military leadership, significant economic reforms, and his expansion of the Roman Empire, Gaius Julius Caesar changed the course of history, and his name and reputation are renown to this day.  He served as a military general during the Roman Republic and was instrumental in expanding the Roman Empire. Soldiers and citizens alike adored Caesar, and this adoration allowed Caesar to overthrow The Roman Republic and set himself up as Dictator in 49BC.

During his rule, Caesar embarked on a military expedition to Egypt where he was presented with a luxurious carpet sent to him as a gift by the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. I am sure he was quite blown away when the rug was unrolled and out jumped Cleopatra herself. She quickly used her seductive charm to win the heart of the Roman ruler and this steamy love affair led to the birth of a son - Caesarion.

Like most leaders, Caesar had many enemies and in 44 BC was assassinated. Cleopatra, not willing to give up her influence on the leadership of Rome, quickly set her sights on one of Caesar’s successors – Marc Anthony. The romance of Marc Anthony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time.

Now Marc Antony was not the only leader of Rome, he had to share power with Caesar’s nephew and heir Octavian and another man who is of no significance to this story. The Roman Empire was so large that it needed three leaders to rule it effectively. Marc Antony ruled over the eastern territories and stationed himself in Egypt next to Cleopatra. This union soon produced twins, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene II.

Tensions grew between Marc Antony and Octavian until a peace was brokered. Part of this agreement involved Marc Anthony moving back to Rome and marrying Octavian’s sister Octavia. This did not sit well with Cleopatra who was abandoned back in Egypt, while Octavia and Marc Anthony were busy making babies.

Traveling back to the East, Marc Antony could not resist seeing Cleopatra. Upon their reunion, their relationship resumed and Marc Anthony served Octavia with divorce papers. Another son was soon born to this union - Ptolemy Philadelphus. The divorce and other factors caused a wedge between Marc Antony and Octavian which led to all-out war between the two. At that time Octavian possessed a stronge army which he used to invade Egypt. Knowing it was only a matter of time, before Octavian would capture and most likely execute them, Marc Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide, he with a sword, she with poisonous snake. Octavian upon storming the palace, found them dead.  He quickly sent his men to find Caesarion and kill him, for Caesarion was Caesar’s son and rightful heir to the Roman Empire. Now what was he to do with the couple’s other three children?

Octavian spared Cleopatra and Antony's three younger children – the twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, and Ptolemy Philadelphus – and sent them to Rome to be raised in his sister Octavia's household. Why would Octavia be willing to raise the children of her ex-husband and his lover? Octavia was known for being a very virtuous person. Most likely at the urging of her brother, Octavia did this as a gesture of political stability and to demonstrate compassion. Octavian wanted a peaceful empire, and this was a wonderful way of showing the Roman population that he was a good and gentle ruler.  

As you can see this is a titillating tale!! One that not even the best writer could have fathomed.