Cleopatra

Family: Pontic · Role: daughter of Mithridates and queen of Tigranes · First appears: Lucullus

Cleopatra was the daughter of Mithridates and queen of Tigranes. She was associated with Amphicrates, while Leonnatus received letters from her inviting him to meet her with promises of marriage. Attalus was her uncle; at her wedding, Philip fell in love with and married her. Later, she and Olympias raised a faction against Antipater, dividing his government between them.

Caesar was first captivated by Cleopatra’s bold wit and then overcome by her company. Antony became her partner in empire and, for fourteen years, was married to her; she was also his rival through Octavia, his wife. With Antony, she was the parent of Caesarion, and Antony acknowledged their twins, Alexander and Cleopatra, as his own. Their sons by her were to bear the style of kings of kings, while their daughter Cleopatra was given in marriage to Juba.

Under Cleopatra’s influence, Antony abandoned his Median expedition and returned to Alexandria. At Actium, her fleet fled and Antony abandoned the battle to follow her. Caesar later sent Proculeius to take her alive, but Cleopatra died by suicide; Iras lay dying at her feet, while Charmion adjusted her diadem. Her physician Olympus knew the truth, and Caesar ordered her burial beside Antony with royal honors.