Caesar Cleopatra Caesarion In the relationship of Caesar & Cleopatra, it is important to keep in mind that both of them were intelligent and determined politicians whose main aims were always to preserve themselves and their power. They would also be concerned to protect the interests of their own countries. It is important to consider this: if Caesar had felt that Cleopatra was not up to the task of helping Rome and preserving Rome’s (and his) interests in Egypt and the East, no matter what he felt about her, he would have abandoned her and found some one else. Cleopatra, also, was aware that, in 48 BC, Caesar was the source of power and without his support she was likely to be killed by her enemies. She knew he would soon leave, and she would probably never see him again.

What was the importance of Caesarion to Cleopatra? Indeed M. Antonius confirmed to the senate that he had been acknowledged by him and that C. Matius and C. Oppius knew this along with the rest of Caesar’s friends. Of them Oppius, on the grounds that this matter needed some explanation and defence, published a book saying that he was not Caesar’s son as Cleopatra claims. Suetonius The Divine Julius 52 Before Caesar left, he and Cleopatra cruised down the Nile, despite the pressing problems in Rome and the Empire. For Cleopatra this displayed her as the Queen of Egypt beyond the city of Alexandria, and the support she had from Caesar. Shortly after Caesar left, Cleopatra gave birth to her son, Caesarion, or Ptolemy Caesar. Throughout his life Cleopatra made Caesarion a very important part of her plans. In 44 BC when he was three, and Ptolemy XIV had died, she made a point of sharing the throne with him. Later in the Donations of Alexandria which Antony handed out to their children, Caesarion was given kingdoms and the title ’King of Kings’. After Cleopatra’s death, her children and their servants were guarded closely but otherwise were treated well. As for Caesarion, however, who was said to be Cleopatra's son by Julius Caesar, he was sent by his mother with a very large amount of money through Ethiopia to India. Another tutor Rhodon, a man much like Theodorus, persuaded him to return, claiming that Octavian was calling him back to be King of Egypt. However, they say that, while Octavian was considering this, Areius said: “It is not a good thing to have many Caesars.” So he was killed by Octavian but after the death of Cleopatra. Plutarch Life of Antony 81-82

Portrait of Cleopatra and her young son Caesarion Cleopatra VII (reigned BC) was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. By the time that she came to the throne in 51 BC, the fate of her kingdom lay very much in the hands of Rome. In 48 BC Egypt became embroiled in the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey, when Pompey fled after the Battle of Pharsalus to Cleopatra's capital Alexandria, where he was murdered. Caesar followed, but was besieged in the Royal Palace for several months by Cleopatra's brother, Ptolemy XIII. It was clearly at this point that Cleopatra conceived Caesar's child, since she bore him a son soon after his departure. One of Caesar's rewards to Cleopatra for her hospitality in Egypt was the restoration to her kingdom of the island of Cyprus, which had been detached by Rome a few years earlier. It was here that this bronze coin was minted. On the front of the coin is an idealized portrait of Cleopatra as Aphrodite, the goddess of love, with her son by Caesar, Caesarion, as Eros in front of her. On the reverse are two cornucopiae (horns of plenty) and a Greek legend which translates: 'Of Queen Cleopatra'.

Cleopatra and Caesar on the Nile 1.Why might Cleopatra have wanted to sail down the Nile through Egypt, away from Alexandria, with Caesar? 2.Why did Caesar return to Rome? 3.Why might Caesar’s return to Rome have caused problems? Clip –

Rome Cleopatra in Rome Watch the clip. How accurate is this portrayal of her arrival in Rome? Now read… Plutarch Antony 25, 28, 36, 37 Propertius ff Horace Odes Virgil Aeneid All of these sources were written long after the death of Cleopatra. Why is this so important?

Cleopatra in Rome Now watch this clip of Cleopatra’s arrival in Rome. Is it more or less accurate? 1.Why was Cleopatra not welcomed in Rome? 2.Who felt most threatened by Cleopatra’s presence in Rome? 3.Why was Caesar’s acknowledging of Ptolemy Caesarion so important to Cleopatra? (Think carefully…) Clip –