Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, who ruled from the period from 51 BC to 30 BC. She was known for her intelligence, beauty, intellect, and political savvy. She was also very fluent in several languages, including Greek, Egyptian, and Latin. Cleopatra also had a romantic relationship with Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, which have been very popular and used in various plays, programs, and novels as well.
Cleopatra even used her intelligence and charm to maintain her grip on power in a time of political upheaval. One aspect of her life is her role as mother which has been overlooked in most of the research into her life. It is believed that she had four children with two different fathers and their respective stories are considered to be tragic and at the same time fascinating. Therefore, the lives of Cleopatra’s children were a window into a world of power, ambition, and betrayal.
Cleopatra’s Children With Julius Caesar
Cleopatra’s first child was a son named Caesarion, who was born in 47 BC. His father was the Julius Caesar, arguably the famous Roman general and politician in history. Caesarion was born after Julius Caesar had a brief affair with Cleopatra during his stay in Egypt.
However, he was having his claim which was disputed by Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian, who would later become the first Roman emperor named Augustus. In 30 BC, after Cleopatra’s death, Caesarion was executed on the orders of Octavian, who considered him a potential threat to his own rule and existence.
Caesarion: Cleopatra’s Son With Julius Caesar
Caesarion was the firstborn son of the couple Cleopatra and Julius Caesar who was born in 47 BC out of an affair that the couple had between them during the period of her stay in Egypt. He was raised in Egypt and was declared by Cleopatra to be her co-ruler and successor. He played a very important part in the political struggles after the death of Caesar.
Cleopatra believed that he was the only legal heir of Caesar. Caesarion was called a god, the son of god, or king of kings. This was a really big title that had never been given by the Romans to their allies.
Some people thought this was a threat to the greatness of the Roman people. Antony also believed that Caesarion was Julius Caesar’s son and he only should become the next ruler. All of this created a conflict and hence, Caesarion was killed after the suicide of his mother following her defeat by Octavian who is future Augustus in 31 BC.
Cleopatra’s Children With Mark Antony
The love affair of the Queen of Egypt Cleopatra and Mark Antony is considered to be legendary in ancient Roman literature. It is being recorded first as fact in historical treatises and biographies written by Greek and Roman scholars and then as fiction in poems, plays, novels, television programs, and films.
They had three children together, namely Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios, who were practically fraternal twins, and the youngest third child Ptolemy Philadelphos. The two sons Alexander Helios and Ptolemy Philadelphos disappeared from the historical record without any explanation, probably falling victim to illness during childhood. Cleopatra Selene on the other hand was an influential figure.
Cleopatra Selene: Cleopatra’s Daughter With Mark Antony
The third child of Cleopatra was a daughter whose name was Cleopatra Selene, and whose father was Mark Antony. She was born in 40 BC and was raised in Egypt only likewise her twin brother Alexander. Throughout her eventful life, she was first an Egyptian princess, then a Roman prisoner, and finally an African queen. After the defeat of her parents, she was raised in Rome by Octavia.
In 20 BC, Cleopatra Selene got married to king of Mauretania, Juba II. Mauretania was a Roman client state in North Africa. Selene and Juba were a powerful couple, who were very famous for their intelligence and cultural achievements. They both had several children together who ruled the throne of Mauretania.
Alexander Helios: Cleopatra’s Son With Mark Antony
Alexander Helios was the second child of the couple Cleopatra and Antony who was also the twin brother of Cleopatra Selene. He was also having another name by which he was very famous in research called “The Sun.” He was also raised in Egypt along with his twin sister Cleopatra Selene, and two other siblings. In 31 BC, Antony and Cleopatra were defeated by Octavian at the Battle of Actium.
After their defeat all of their children were taken to Rome by Octavian and paraded as spoils of war. Alexander Helios and his siblings were later sent to live with Octavian’s sister Octavia, who had been Antony’s wife before he abandoned her for Cleopatra. After all these events Alexander Helios disappeared from the books of history and the fact is still unknown.
Ptolemy Philadelphus: Cleopatra’s Son With Mark Antony
The fourth child and the son of Antony with Cleopatra was Ptolemy Philadelphus, who was born in 36 BC. Likewise, his siblings he was also raised in Egypt only. He was also been taken by Octavia after the defeat of his parents. However, in 30 BC, after the death of his mother, he was executed on the orders of Octavian, along with his half-brother Caesarion.