Wednesday, 17 January 2024

What happened to Cleopatra's children?

Her children with Marcus Antonius went to Rome and were taken through the streets in a parade as a sign of triumph by the victorious Octavian. It is believed they lived normal lives but little records of them remains.

Cleopatra’s son with Julius Caesar, Ptoelemy XV Caesar, was her coruler until she ended her own life after losing at the Battle of Actium by Octavian. Ptolemy became the leader but was killed less than a month later. Cleopatra ended her own life to avoid being humiliated in a parade of triumph, which would have likely ended eventually in her own death—or worse.

It is certainly possible she had other descendants but little is known of them. Roman historians tend to speculate that Cleopatra was spectacularly beautiful:

But it is entirely possible that was exaggerated. The contrary take is that she was average looking, but seductive nonetheless. She certainly had no trouble meeting men.

Either way, she was caught up in enormous political forces at the time—which contributed to her early demise, and that of her son.

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