“So Cleopatra, taking only Apollodorus the Sicilian from among her friends, embarked in a little skiff and landed at the palace when it was already getting dark; and as it was impossible to escape notice otherwise, she stretched herself at full length inside a bed-sack, while Apollodorus tied the bed-sack up with a cord and carried it indoors to Caesar. It was by this device of Cleopatra's, it is said, that Caesar was first captivated, for she showed herself to be a bold coquette, and succumbing to the charm of further intercourse with her, he reconciled her to her brother on the basis of a joint share with him in the royal power.”
(Plutarch, The Life of Julius Caesar) |
"He [Caesar] had love affairs with queens too...but above all with Cleopatra, with whom he often feasted until daybreak, and he would have gone through Egypt with her in her state-barge almost to Aethiopia, had not his soldiers refused to follow him."
Suetonius, Life of Julius Caesar (LII.1) |
Cleopatra and Julius Caesar’s iconic relationship revolved around the affirmation of Cleopatra’s legitimacy to the Egyptian throne. Prior to 48 BC, Cleopatra and her brother, Ptolemy XII, had joint ownership of the throne. Sibling conflict arose between the two concerning the throne, and Cleopatra was forced into exile under the threats of Ptolemy XII and his main adviser, Pothinus.
While Cleopatra was in exile, Ptolemy XII had full control of the throne. Pompey, who was a rival of Caesar, fled to Alexandria to seek refuge from Caesar’s forces during the Roman Civil War. In an attempt to put Egypt in good relations with Rome, Ptolemy XII orders the decapitation of Pompey, which enrages Caesar. Caesar labels this killing of Pompey a cowardly act, and seizes the Egyptian Capital. Cleopatra sees this as a big opportunity to reclaim the legitimacy she had to the throne, and arranges a secret meeting with Caesar in the Capital palace where he is staying.
This secret meeting is very well characterized in Plutarch’s The Life of Julius Caesar, and serves as the catalyst to the romance shared between Cleopatra and Caesar. With the help of her friend Apollodorus the Sicillian, Cleopatra sneaks into the palace at night by hiding in a bed sack that Apollodorus carried into the palace. Caesar was so moved and compelled by Cleopatra’s boldness and beauty that the two shortly became lovers, and Caesar claimed her legitimacy to the throne as co-ruler with Ptolemy XII.
A banquet was held to celebrate the recent joint rule. During the banquet, a slave of Caesar overheard that Achillas, Ptolemy’s military general, and Pothinus were plotting the death of Caesar. Caesar immediately called for the execution of Pothinus while Achillas escaped the palace and roused forces to the palace where Caesar and Cleopatra took refuge.
Even though Caesar had very few resources in combating the assault Achillas has brought upon him and Cleopatra, Caesar continued to endure until his reinforcements arrived in order to protect Cleopatra (who was pregnant with Caesar’s son, Caesarion, at the time). Eventually, Caesar and his forces were able to push back Achillas’ and Ptolemy XII’s forces, and defeat Ptolemy XII. As a result, Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIV (the younger brother of Cleopatra) obtain joint rule of Egypt’s throne.
While Cleopatra was in exile, Ptolemy XII had full control of the throne. Pompey, who was a rival of Caesar, fled to Alexandria to seek refuge from Caesar’s forces during the Roman Civil War. In an attempt to put Egypt in good relations with Rome, Ptolemy XII orders the decapitation of Pompey, which enrages Caesar. Caesar labels this killing of Pompey a cowardly act, and seizes the Egyptian Capital. Cleopatra sees this as a big opportunity to reclaim the legitimacy she had to the throne, and arranges a secret meeting with Caesar in the Capital palace where he is staying.
This secret meeting is very well characterized in Plutarch’s The Life of Julius Caesar, and serves as the catalyst to the romance shared between Cleopatra and Caesar. With the help of her friend Apollodorus the Sicillian, Cleopatra sneaks into the palace at night by hiding in a bed sack that Apollodorus carried into the palace. Caesar was so moved and compelled by Cleopatra’s boldness and beauty that the two shortly became lovers, and Caesar claimed her legitimacy to the throne as co-ruler with Ptolemy XII.
A banquet was held to celebrate the recent joint rule. During the banquet, a slave of Caesar overheard that Achillas, Ptolemy’s military general, and Pothinus were plotting the death of Caesar. Caesar immediately called for the execution of Pothinus while Achillas escaped the palace and roused forces to the palace where Caesar and Cleopatra took refuge.
Even though Caesar had very few resources in combating the assault Achillas has brought upon him and Cleopatra, Caesar continued to endure until his reinforcements arrived in order to protect Cleopatra (who was pregnant with Caesar’s son, Caesarion, at the time). Eventually, Caesar and his forces were able to push back Achillas’ and Ptolemy XII’s forces, and defeat Ptolemy XII. As a result, Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIV (the younger brother of Cleopatra) obtain joint rule of Egypt’s throne.