VII. Who is Cleopatra’s daughter Cleopatra Selene?

Known for her legendary beauty, ambition, and intelligence, the ancient Egyptian ruler Cleopatra is also among the most celebrated female rulers in history. However, Cleopatra’s daughter, Cleopatra Selene, is not a prominent figure on the stage of history. However, the daughter of the great ruler is also a very important historical figure with a very interesting life story. So much so that Cleopatra Selene is a name that bore titles like ancient Egyptian princess, prisoner of the Roman Empire, and African Queen in her short 35-year life. Here’s what you need to know about Cleopatra’s daughter, Cleopatra Selene, who features her extraordinary life story…

Cleopatra Selene, one of the most important rulers of ancient Egypt, the seventh. He was born as the child of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, one of the prominent leaders of the Roman Empire.

Mark Antony and Cleopatra established diplomatic relations as a result of a war that the armies under the leadership of Antony and Augustus, who later ascended the throne of the Roman Empire, defeated enemy armies and established diplomatic relations … In 42 BC, the two leaders of Rome were victorious in the Battle of Philippi.

After the victory, Augustus took charge of administering the western lands of the empire. On the other hand, Mark Antony began to rule in the east of the empire. Thus, he had the opportunity to establish more contact with the Egyptian civilization, another important actor of the period. Of course, Anthony began to meet Cleopatra more often …

Cleopatra believed that the victorious commander of Rome could sit on the throne of the Roman Empire in the future, and she wanted to establish good relations with a potential emperor.

According to some accounts, Cleopatra seduced Antony for this reason. According to some rumors, the two fell in love with each other … As a result, Cleopatra Selene and her twin Alexander Helios were born from this union. In the following period, a third child named Ptolemy Philadelphus was included in the family.

Cleopatra Selene spent the first ten years of her life as the princess of Egypt

During this period, Augustus took the lead in his imperial struggle with Mark Antony and became the most important candidate for the throne. And soon he became the absolute ruler of Rome, and was very angry because of the close relationship that Mark Antony had with Egypt. He thought he was Egyptian, not Roman, and betrayed Rome!

In such a political environment, the Roman armies under Augustus and the Egyptian armies under Cleopatra and Mark Antony came face to face. This unexpected defeat was the beginning of the end for Antony, Cleopatra and their children.

Mark Antony and Cleopatra, defeated at the Battle of Actium, withdrew to Egypt

However, the danger of Augustus, who won the war and became the absolute ruler of Rome, was not over yet. Shortly after the Battle of Actium, the armies of Augustus invaded Egypt and Mark Antony was defeated again…

Not much left for Antony and Cleopatra! Mark Antony committed suicide in 30 BC. A few days later, Cleopatra committed suicide and left this world.

After the death of her parents, Cleopatra Selene became the queen of Egypt

However, his reign lasted only two weeks. The Roman Empire annexed Egypt. Later, the deposed Egyptian Queen Cleopatra Selene and her brothers were taken to Rome …

The Roman Emperor Augustus offered members of the Egyptian royal family as “spoils of war”!

The captive brothers traveled in a victory parade to the public! The brothers became the most prominent manifestations of the empire’s victory. Thus, the days of Cleopatra Selene’s captivity, just like her brothers’, began…

Emperor Augustus wanted to kill the Egyptian brothers, but his sister prevented this massacre

Moreover, he took the children under his protection and began to raise them like the Romans in his own home. On the other hand, Cleopatra Selene and her brothers weren’t the only royals imprisoned under Augustus’ shackles in Rome. Rome has a large “captive group” of heirs from different kingdoms!

Among these captives was Gaius Julius Juba, heir to the kingdom of Numidia, which rules present-day Algeria! Juba was brought to Rome after his father, the King of Numidia, lost the war with the Roman Empire. Moreover, he was raised for many years like a true Roman and even served his “country” by fighting in the imperial army in some wars. Among these wars was the Battle of Actium, which had an important role in the suicide of Cleopatra and Antony.

At the request of Emperor Augustus, Cleopatra Selene married Gaius Julius Juba in 25 BC.

Later, Augustus sent Gaius Julius Juba back to his country to have his heir rule as a Roman kingdom. Thus, Gaius Julius Juba became the king of Mauritania, and Cleopatra Selene became the queen of Mauritania. This title that Cleopatra Selene bore was the third most important title in her short life: Princess of Egypt, Prisoner of Rome, Queen of Africa …

Gaius Julius Juba, who was appointed ruler of Mauritania, was the first ruler, but Cleopatra Selene was experienced in ruling.

She also has a sharp wit just like her mother! For this reason, the Mauritanian king, Gaius Julius, played a major role in Juba’s politics, directing the kingdom’s policies. Juba and Cleopatra Selene succeeded in the prosperity of the lands of Mauritania. Mauritania became an important trading center during this period.

Under their rule, the kingdom of Mauretania, made up of some present-day North African states and a few ancient Greek and Roman colonies in the region, became one of the most important actors in the region, but it was firmly attached to Rome and Augustus … Gaius Julius Juba, Cleopatra Selene and Selene, they ruled He successfully ruled the Kingdom of Mauritania for 20 years until his death at the age of 35.

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