Cleopatra: A Life

During Cleopatra’s second visit to Rome she is broadly accepted, particularly in the wake of Caesar’s final victory over his detractors, ending years of civil war. Her presence initiates a “brief vogue for an elaborate hairstyle” (118) and Rome seemingly reacts positively to her presence, though the sole recorded impression of Cleopatra at the time is not flattering. Cicero, Rome’s “most prominent citizen, and the most articulate of its discontents” (117), found her unaccommodating to his vanity, and made his displeasure known in his writings.

In March of 44 BC, weeks after Caesar is named dictator for life, he is assassinated in the Roman Senate by a group of conspirators who feared the extent of his power and control over the Roman state. This makes Cleopatra’s political position extremely tenuous. Caesar was her “champion” (126) and his death leaves a huge power vacuum in Rome, which several factions quickly seek to fill. Mark Antony, who was appointed Caesar’s deputy, is thought likely to succeed Caesar, but Gaius Octavian, Caesar’s adopted grandnephew, is named heir, and Caesar’s funeral descends into a riot and a frenzied hunt for his murderers. Cleopatra flees as Rome plunges into civil war and returns to her flourishing kingdom.