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Cleopatra Timeline

Major Events in the Life of Cleopatra

By N.S. Gill, About.com

Cleopatra

Cleopatra

Public Domain. Courtesy of Wikipedia

69 - Cleopatra born in Alexandria [see North Africa map]

51 - Ptolemy Auletes, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies, leaving his kingdom to his 18-year-old daughter, Cleopatra, and her younger brother Ptolemy XIII. Pompey is in charge of Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII.

48 - Cleopatra is removed from power by Theodotas and Achillas.

48 - Pompey defeated in Thessaly, at Pharsalus [see map section bC], in August.

  • Pompey murdered as he steps ashore on September 28.
  • Caesar restores Cleopatra to the Egyptian throne.

47 - Caesarion (Ptolemy Caesar), Caesar and Cleopatra's son, born June 23.

46-44 - Caesar, Cleopatra in Rome

44 - Assassination of Caesar on March 15. Cleopatra flees to Alexandria.

43 - Formation of the Second Triumvirate: Antony - Octavian (Augustus) - Lepidus

43-42 - Victory of the triumvirate at Philippi (in Macedonia)

41 - Antony meets Cleopatra at Tarsus and follows her to Egypt

40 - Antony returns to Rome

  • The Second Triumvirate partitions the Mediterranean:
    • Octavian: The western provinces - (Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, Transalpine Gaul, Narbonne)
    • Antony : The eastern provinces (Macedonia, Asia, Bithynia, Cilicia, Syria)
    • Lepidus : Africa (Tunisia and Algeria)

36 - Elimination of Lepidus

  • Octavian controls Africa and becomes the effective ruler of Rome
  • Parthian campaign of Marc Antony

35 - Antony returns to Alexandria with Cleopatra

32 - Antony divorces Octavian's sister Octavia

  • Western provinces pledge allegiance to Octavian
  • Declaration of war on Cleopatra

31 - Battle of Actium (Sept. 2) and victory of Octavia; Antony and Cleopatra seek refuge at Alexandria

30 - Victory of Octavian at Alexandria

  • Suicide of Antony and then Cleopatra (August 12)
  • Egypt becomes a Roman province

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Review of Sally-Ann Ashton's Cleopatra and Egypt

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