KLEOPATRA

1969 BC - 30 BC

Last Queen of Egypt from the Ptolemaic dynasty. Intelligent and educated Cleopatra was a mistress of Julius Caesar, after 1941 BC - His wife. After the defeat in the war with Rome and the entry into Egypt, the Roman army of Octavian (August), committed suicide. Cleopatra's image was reflected in the literature (Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw) and art (J. Tiepolo, P. Rubens and others).

Cleopatra, probably the most legendary woman of the world, about which we know a lot and . . . knows nothing. Another old man, Shakespeare was trying to solve the riddle of "nice to my father" - as translated from the Greek name of Cleopatra. Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin was also not remained indifferent to the charms of the Egyptian queen and gave his version of her irresistible. But is to list all the artists, whose imagination was concerned the image of Cleopatra? But here's the answer straight off the question - what is the outstanding made this lady in history, why not give it to yourself to forget is good for a thousand years - not an easy task.

Venture to suggest that her extraordinary talent is the ability to live a brilliant, full of adventure, danger and refined pleasures of life. Some people are endowed with abilities to poetic exercises, others can easily discover the laws of nature, others distinguished the great evil. But it's hard to find in the history of a person, every day, which could become the subject of not one entertaining novel. It is called, was able to make life more interesting than it is.

Cleopatra came from a wonderful kind of Greek Ptolemies. Close associate of Alexander of Macedon, one of his childhood, Ptolemy I Soter (Saviour), fascinated by the beauty of Egypt, he asked himself as a military award that country.

Photo — «Kleopatra»

When he was a great lord of the dead, embalmed corpse of Ptolemy Alexander, left for his kingdom and settled in Alexandria, named after the Macedonian. Here Ptolemy founded the famous Alexandrian library, which for years has become the world center of scholarship and due to which many works of ancient scholars, as well as invaluable facts of life Hellenic world have come to us.

Not fail to note that our heroine, despite the glorious centuries of sensuality, and grew up on a parchment of this treasure of knowledge and, apparently, was able to fully benefit from the wisdom of the ages, becoming educated women of their time. Plutarch in "Comparative biographies" attempted to investigate the causes of its impact on others: "The beauty of this woman was not toyu that called incomparable and striking at first sight, but her treatment differed irresistible charm, and because of its appearance, coupled with rare persuasive speeches, with great charm, through in every word, every movement, firmly hit a soul. Most sound of her voice caressed and pleased ear, and the language was exactly polychord tool, easily customizable for any mood - any dialect, so that only a very few barbarians she said through an interpreter, but mostly she talked with strangers - Ethiopia, troglodytes, Jews, Arabs, Syrians, Medes, Parthians . . . "

Portrait quite clearly written - in depth knowledge, subtle intellect, strong will and being adamantly confident, Cleopatra possessed the rare art of charming people, as well as the power was still in the hands of men, an Egyptian successfully used their talents on the field love.

Cleopatra has power still quite a young age. At sixteen, she married his brother as young as thirteen, a boy of weak mind and health.

Photo — «Kleopatra»

Cleopatra, despite his apparent inexperience, well aware of that power - it is dangerous for life on this field every mistake fraught with death. Still warm blood was executed on the orders of Ptolemy XII of her sister Berenice.

After marriage, with young Ptolemy XIII, it seemed, the government itself came to Cleopatra, but the fate prepared her bizarre incident. Caregiver husband Potin, clever astute courtier, was no less ambitious than the queen, and wanted to change from the near face of his pupil. Same misfortune was that Potin was a eunuch, and thus against Cleopatra's arms did not work.

Then Cleopatra accurately calculates that its ally in the struggle for power can only be all-powerful neighbor - Rome. Since that time all their efforts, it aims at high-delusions, the Romans. First in its network catches son of the former ruler of the empire of Pompey - Gnaeus. Lover, was delighted, having spent several nights with the Egyptian queen, but the policy - a thankless task. While Cleopatra captivated Pompey, Jr. , at Rome there was a coup, and power was transferred to Guy Julius Caesar.

Involuntary bobble Cleopatra was not slow to take advantage of an insidious Potin, spreading rumors among the inhabitants of Alexandria, though the queen had betrayed the Egyptians, and soon the town invaded by the Romans. Cleopatra was forced to flee into Syria. Her position became every day more and more enviable. Her defender Pompey finally lost. Farsalskaya battle (48 BC), designed to address issues of power in Rome, has firmly established the rule of Caesar and Pompey himself hastily fled to Egypt, vainly seeking salvation, and landed in the clutches of Poatina. Anyone with an amiable smile gave the head of Pompey to Caesar entered Alexandria.

Photo — «Kleopatra»

I must say, very pleased with Cleopatra's fate had sent the Roman governor of Egypt. The formal reason for the visit, a money debt of Egypt to Rome. Caesar intended to return it to pay their loyal warriors. Moreover, using the right of the strongest, he wanted to intervene in the feud wife and husband. He commanded, and Ptolemy and Cleopatra to disband their forces and come to Alexandria. But the wily Potin not handed an invitation to the Queen, and only an extraordinary intuition and self-confidence Cleopatra's greeting to her decision to go to the winner. Dressed as a commoner, she, despite the machinations of Poatina, penetrated into the town and . . .

What happened then, probably so afraid of smart Potin: Caesar could not resist the romantic charms of Cleopatra. The next morning the Roman Ptolemy declared that he must immediately make peace with his sister and to share with her power. Then suddenly half-witted boy showed character. With cries of "Treason!" To arms! "Treason!" He ran through the palace. Only a rare composure saved virtually unarmed Caesar at the hands of the court servants. Roman was able to convince the crowd that Egypt is better not to quarrel with the powerful neighbor.

Cleopatra regained power, freed from its enemy Poatina. Last fall, becoming a member of another failed conspiracy against Caesar. Died and the poor Ptolemy XIII. A new marriage with the next brother - Ptolemy XIV has not changed anything in his life of Cleopatra and was needed to address political objectives. Egypt lay at her feet. A few months after Caesar's departure, Cleopatra bore a son and named him Ptolemy-Caesarion.

Claims Cleopatra unusually expanded: now, having such an influential lover and a strong position with him, sealed with the birth of the rightful heir, she could ask for more.

Photo — «Kleopatra»

In Rome, where Cleopatra came, it was arranged a triumph. Among the captives who followed the chariot, Cleopatra saw her sister Arsinoe - the name of disgruntled Egyptians tried to remove from power Cleopatra. Arsinoe threw pleading look on his older sister, but she knew all the main principle of the earthly ruler: "Woe to the vanquished!" - And its principles Cleopatra never retreated.

Well-known Egyptian queen, and another rule - nothing is more unsteady than the rule, however, and she was confused when the March 15, 1944 BC Caesar was assassinated in the Senate. Again she had to flee again calculate future moves in a political party.

The war in Rome lasted for two years. All this time, Cleopatra was rushing between the two warring parties. Both supporters and opponents of Caesar demanded of it military aid. Egyptian woman successfully navigating between Scylla and Charybdis of military success, although with each passing day it became increasingly difficult.

Meanwhile, another dead juvenile legal husband of Cleopatra. It was rumored that she poisoned him, but this was not the case. Tortured humiliation, Ptolemy XIV himself took poison. Now all the ambitious hopes of the queen rushed to the little Caesarion, now she has led the game not only for themselves.

The war ended in victory tsezariantsev and ruler of the Asian provinces of Rome was Mark Antony. At least with the establishment of peace Cleopatra regained confidence in myself and decided what to do next. Bird again flew to the network itself - Antony, as Caesar, wanted to get money from the Egyptian queen. As a result . . . Cleopatra has received from its conquered all men - indivisible authority in Egypt, the recognition Caesarion heir of the Roman Empire, a luxurious life full of pleasures.

Photo — «Kleopatra»

On the pleasures of love Cleopatra and Mark Antony told countless times, so we refer the reader to other sources. Just to say that in the history of these two names forever linked to each other.

Lovers killed overconfidence and loss of alertness. Accustomed to live in pleasure, in no way knew failure, they are quite sluggish reacted to the threat from Rome. Octavian is, the adopted son of Caesar, thoroughly prepared for war. He had something to lose - Cleopatra would never put up with his lead in the Empire.

The army of Antony and Cleopatra had a great numerical superiority. Perhaps oddly, it also played a negative role. They are too didst trust in it and lost the battle even before the start, lost psychologically. Anthony looked at 50 years old, orgy did their job, their hands are not too hard to hold the sword. And Cleopatra, accustomed to the fact that all of getting any of it easily, agreed that leadership talent with something akin to winning at love, she took over the command of part of the Navy. Alas . . In the decisive naval battle of Actium September 2, 1931 BC Cleopatra was summed up Anthony. Her nerves gave way, and in the midst of the battle she and her ships took to their heels. Anthony ran after her, mad with love, and Mark Vipsany Agrippa, Octavian's best general, who lost decisively defeated the fleet command.

Finale of this story truly tragic. Cleopatra is still trying to be on horseback. At first, she gathers a sort of "militia", writes the even younger Caesarion. At the same time she wants to prepare a way to escape. Finally, she secretly hopes for its latest weapon - the deceitfulness of the enemy. But neither the first nor the second nor the third rescue plan fails.

Photo — «Kleopatra»

Anthony completely demoralized from the North African city of Cyrene in Alexandria is an army to aid Octavian, the Arabs burnt all of its ships, which she ordered the transfer to the Red Sea in case of escape. But Octavian, this dark unfeeling martinet, not willing to see an aging queen, whose name for many years it has become notorious in Rome.

Despairing, Cleopatra tries to buy her life at the cost of betrayal Anthony. But this is no longer needed to Octavian. He already has captured the most valuable - the children of Cleopatra. Now the Egyptian slag, together with all countless treasures was entirely in his hands. At the talks with Egyptian envoys Octavian mention of his plans - to imprison Cleopatra in gold chains and to the streets of Rome - "Woe to the vanquished!".

There was no way. She did not know of pity for the loser, it was not her pity, and to themselves - who lost everything must go with dignity.

Cleopatra ordered to bring her best clothes, then took the basket, where at the bottom, among the fruit of sweet figs, sleeping snake. Prick of a needle queen woke asp. Immediately followed by a painless bite. Two faithful servants chose death at the feet of a dying mistress.

Cleopatra was buried with military honors, next to Anthony. Conqueror ordered to remove the statue from Alexandria Anthony, without touching at the same marble statues of Cleopatra. Caesarion, son of Cleopatra and Gaius Julius Caesar, was executed as a likely contender for power.