The name Cleopatra echoes down the millennia forever linked to themes of royal intrigue, legendary beauty and liaisons with powerful men, namely Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Perhaps no other woman of antiquity is more famous (or infamous) than Queen Cleopatra of Egypt.
This woman did not appear spontaneously from nowhere but emerged within a specific historical setting. This latest biography places Cleopatra within the broader context of her dynastic predecessors and within the historical factors which contributed to her fame and turbulent rule. While this a detailed and thoroughly researched academic book, it is by no means a dull history lesson.
This biography examines the circumstances that led to this exceptional leader. We all know the name Cleopatra and her title as ‘the Queen of Egypt’. But she was not the first ruler or consort with that name: officially she was Cleopatra VII – six previous royal woman bore this name and all were her direct ancestors. She came from a long line of powerful women who played central roles in the dynasties of Egypt and neighbouring monarchies in the middle east – the forgotten queens of Egypt. Collectively their reigns cover nearly two centuries – a period of frequent political strife.
Politics in the ancient world was not the talking shop and media circus of todays’ parliaments. Violence and conflict were rarely far from the corridors of power and even royal women, were at the mercy of changing political alliances. To survive, they had to use all the resources at their disposal. As a direct descendant, our Cleopatra could not help but see her namesakes as her role models.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones details their lives and deaths in this tale of wars, dynastic rivalry, shifting alliances and familial strife. In the ancient world political rivalry often extended into ruthless violence which did not exempt women or children. For those who love soap operas of the rich and powerful, this particular genealogy has it all.
In the case of powerful women, conventional history has long tended to be selective about their achievements. Therefore, it is no surprise that with Cleopatra the emphasis has been on her intimate liaisons at the expense of her political acumen.
‘The Cleopatras: The Forgotten Queens of Egypt’ by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones. Basic Books, New York, 2024.
Cleopatra’s place in history is assured not only because of the famous and powerful men in her life but also because she was ruler at a critical time in her nation’s history. She faced the encroaching Roman presence on her borders. Her reign coincides with clash of two empires: the end of pharaonic Egypt and the rise of the Roman Empire.
Ancient Rome was never comfortable with women who wielded power. So from the very beginning Cleopatra was seen by the Romans as something of a political upstart. Eventually she was viewed as a threat to the prevailing political order. Since Roman historians subsequently recorded her life and ultimate fate, they clearly had ulterior motives in making her the villain of the piece. No doubt, her reputation as a femme fatale is enhanced by the fact that her amorous entanglements coincided with disaster for the men concerned.
Under different circumstances, she would have had unprecedented power. Had Julius Caesar not been assassinated (something she had no control over), then she would likely have been his consort and the mother of his only legitimate heir. Much younger than Caesar she could have outlived him and even acted as regent for their son Caesarian. She would easily been a power behind any throne.
Cleopatra was both an intelligent individual and a very savvy politician. She faced all sorts of political and economic issues inherited from her male predecessors. In fact, her immediate predecessor had practically mortgaged the kingdom to the Romans. She had to deal with various crises both within her own court and on the borders of her realm. She faced these trials and tribulations using all her resources and clung onto her throne as long as she could. At this point in history, losing her throne meant her country losing its independence. Once she was removed, her country became a province of the expanding Roman Empire.
This well researched biography is enhanced by the many illustrations including maps and detailed family trees of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Some of these illustrations give us intriguing glimpses of these forgotten queens. They let us look into their faces which hint at their individuality and their strength of character. By acquainting us with these remarkable women, this biography fills in the some of the gaps in the historical record of ancient Egypt. While their lives were not as controversial nor as memorable to history, they paved the way for their most famous successor.
This biography reminds us that powerful leaders especially female rulers do not appear spontaneously; they emerge within a particular social and historical context. Powerful women have existed throughout history despite the fact that they are often ignored, marginalised or even completely erased from the official record. This book goes some way to rectifying this bias.