Cleopatra was not Egyptian but a member of the ruling Macedonian dynasty the Ptolemies. Although both her brothers were co-regents at one time, their young age meant she effectively ruled alone from age 17.

Her political alliance with the Roman leader Julius Caesar helped her win Egypt’s civil war. She cemented it by bearing him a child, Caesarion, who later died. But her great love was for the Roman general, Mark Antony, who fought alongside her at Actium against the Emperor Octavian. They were defeated and Cleopatra poisoned herself – perhaps with an asp – days after Mark Antony took his own life.