
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/48-bce-cleopatra-and----707708145-5a00d7a0da271500379d0c0b.jpg)
The queen also assumed that it would be easier for him to escape from the Red Sea and take refuge in India. When in 30 BCE Octavian invaded Egypt, Cleopatra sent 17-year-old Caesarion to the Red Sea to the port of Berenike (the present city of Barnis) to protect him from the wrath of the victorious chief. Sam contemplated going into exile with Antony, who believed that he would be able to withdraw from politics like Lepidus.

Octavian used this situation to gain the support of the Roman people for his actions, which did not accept Antony’s eastern policy, and favour foreign rulers.Īfter Antony’s defeat in the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE Cleopatra took steps to prepare her son for independent rule. This declaration caused a significant deterioration in relations between the two politicians. Cleopatra was proclaimed queen of Egypt, Cyprus, Africa and Celesyria, co-ruling with her son Caesarion Alexander Helios was granted Armenia, Media and conquered parts of the Party, Ptolemy – Phenicia, Syria and Cilicia, and Cleopatra Selene – Cyrenaica and Libya. This declaration, dubbed the Donation of Alexandria, envisaged the separation of the eastern kingdom.

Antony, in order to undermine Octavian’s authority, decided to declare Caesarion the true son of Caesar and his rightful successor (Octavian was only an adopted descendant of Caesar). Caesarion was proclaimed “god”, “son of God” and “king of kings”. In 34 BCE Antony guaranteed wide lands in the east and titles to Caesarion and the three children that Cleopatra bore him. Thus, there were only two competitors for power on the scene. From September 2, Caesarion (he was 3 years old) was considered co-ruler of Egypt, alongside his mother, but naturally, he had no influence on the state’s policy.ĭuring a tense period when the decisive conflict was to arise between Mark Antony and Octavian (the future emperor of Rome), Antony shared power in republican Rome with Octavian and Marcus Lepidus, who stayed in 36 BCE forced to withdraw from politics. After Caesar’s assassination on March 15, 44 BCE mother and son returned to Egypt. Cleopatra hoped that after Caesar’s death, Caesarion would become his successor and thus the most important person in Rome and Egypt. His ally Gaius Oppius wrote a pamphlet to prove that Caesarion was not Caesar’s son.Ĭaesarion spent two years of his early life, from CE 46 to 44, in Rome, where he and his mother were Caesar’s guests. The issue of Caesarion’s paternity was extremely controversial when Caesar’s adopted son, Gaius Octavian fell into conflict with Cleopatra. Cleopatra herself compared herself and her son to the Egyptian goddess Isis and her son Horus. He was to inherit his appearance and behaviour from the Roman dictator, but the Roman himself did not officially recognize him as his descendant. His mother insisted that Caesarion was the biological son of Caesar. He was the only biological son of Julius Caesar and the Queen of Egypt Cleopatra VII he was the last pharaoh of Egypt.
#Child of cleopatra and julius caesar license#
Rome’s contacts with Africa and Far EastĬreative Commons Attribution license - On the same terms 3.0.Ĭaesarion ( Caesario) also known as Ptolemy XV Caesarion ( Ptolemaeus XV Philopator Philometor Caesar) was born on June 23, 47 BCE in Egypt.
