Реферат: Cleopatra Essay Research Paper CleopatraCleopatra was queen

including Cyprus, the Cilcian coast, Phoenicia, Coele-Syria, Judea, and Arabia,

which was very essential to Egypt.

After the formation of the Second Triumvirate between Antony, Octavian, and

Lepidus, Antony married Octavia, Octavian?s sister, in 40 BC to seal a deal with

Octavian. It stated that ?after the Triumvirate ended the two would both rule the

Roman world, though they allowed Lepidus to remain in northern Africa and govern

the area? (Foreman 95). Octavian held all of western Europe and Antony held the

eastern end of the Roman world. Upon forming this pact, he then went east to meet

with Cleopatra again, because he needed money for his campaign, and later made a

huge mistake by marring her, ?which was not morally wrong, but by Roman law was

invalid? (Hoobler 32). In 37 BC, however, Antony?s march eastward led to renewed

friendship and an understanding between both Antony and Cleopatra. From then

on, Cleopatra?s influence over Marc Antony grew, and she wore Egyptian clothing

that represented the goddess Isis and is reported to have adopted the following oath:

?As surely as I shall one day dispense judgment in the Roman Capital? (Newman

556). When Antony arranged for Caesarion, and his own three children by

Cleopatra, to share ruling both Egypt and Roman provinces in Asia Minor and

formally divorced Octavia, the Romans were furious. Octavian declared war not

against Antony, but against Cleopatra, and announced Antony into the Senate.

Romans felt it was much better to declare war on the foreign queen that they believed

was influencing him, than on Antony himself. Cleopatra prevented Antony from

leaving her to fight Octavian, who was winning much of his eastern territory from

him. At the battle of Actium in 31 BC, Cleopatra?s Egyptian forces, together with

Antony?s Roman forces, faced Octavian?s fleet, commanded by Marcus Vipsanius

Agrippa. During this naval battle, when Cleopatra retreated and Antony, infatuated

as he was with her, quickly followed, and Octavian won a great victory. Antony

joined his legions in Cyrene, and Cleopatra turned to Alexandria to recruit more

troops and to raise new fleet. Octavian offered Cleopatra favorable treatment if she

would kill Antony, but she refused. She believed, however, that if he thought she