How did Cleopatra become Queen of Egypt?
Cleopatra VII Philopator was co-ruler of Egypt with her younger brother [who was also her husband] Ptolemy XIII. In August 51 BC, relations between the two sovereigns completely broke down. Cleopatra dropped Ptolemy’s name from official documents and her face appeared alone on coins, which went against Ptolemaic tradition of female rulers being subordinate to male co-rulers. This resulted in a cabal of courtiers, led by the eunuch Pothinus, removing Cleopatra from power and making Ptolemy sole ruler in 48BCE [or possibly earlier, as a decree exists from 51BCE with Ptolemy’s name alone]. She tried to raise a rebellion around Pelusium, but she was soon forced to flee Egypt. It was at this time that the war between Julius Caesar and Pompey reached its conclusion and Pompey fled to Egypt. There Ptolemy’s men caught him and beheaded him to win favour with Caesar. But Caesar was furious because although his enemy, Pompey was a consult of Rome. Cleopatra then presented herself to Caesar and t
