Editing Cleopatra (section)

==== Relationship with Julius Caesar ====
{{further|Military campaigns of Julius Caesar|Siege of Alexandria (47 BC)|Battle of the Nile (47 BC)|Caesareum of Alexandria}}

[[File:Cleopatra and Caesar by Jean-Leon-Gerome.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|''[[Cleopatra and Caesar (painting)|Cleopatra and Caesar]]'' (1866), a painting by [[Jean-Léon Gérôme]]]]
Ptolemy XIII arrived at Alexandria at the head of his army, in clear defiance of Caesar's demand that he disband and leave his army before his arrival.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=61}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|p=100}} Cleopatra initially sent emissaries to Caesar, but upon allegedly hearing that Caesar was inclined to having affairs with royal women, she came to Alexandria to see him personally.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=61}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=18}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|p=100}} Historian [[Cassius Dio]] records that she did so without informing her brother, dressed in an attractive manner, and charmed Caesar with her wit.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=61}}{{sfnp|Hölbl|2001|pp=234–235}}{{sfnp|Jones|2006|pp=56–57}} [[Plutarch]] provides an entirely different account that alleges she was bound inside a bed sack to be smuggled into the palace to meet Caesar.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=61}}{{sfnp|Hölbl|2001|p=234}}{{sfnp|Jones|2006|pp=57–58}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Burstein|2004|p=18}} and {{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|pp=101–103}}.</ref>

When Ptolemy XIII realized that his sister was in the palace consorting directly with Caesar, he attempted to rouse the populace of Alexandria into a riot, but he was arrested by Caesar, who used his oratorical skills to calm the frenzied crowd.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=61–62}}{{sfnp|Hölbl|2001|p=235}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=112–113}} Caesar then brought Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII before the [[Boule (ancient Greece)|assembly of Alexandria]], where Caesar revealed the written will of Ptolemy XII—previously possessed by Pompey—naming Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII as his joint heirs.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=26, 62}}{{sfnp|Hölbl|2001|p=235}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=18}}<ref group="note" name="fletcher 2008 p113">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|p=113}}.</ref> Caesar then attempted to arrange for the other two siblings, Arsinoe IV and Ptolemy XIV, to rule together over Cyprus, thus removing potential rival claimants to the Egyptian throne while also appeasing the Ptolemaic subjects still bitter over the loss of Cyprus to the Romans in 58 BC.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=62}}{{sfnp|Hölbl|2001|p=235}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=18, 76}}<ref group="note" name="fletcher 2008 p113"/>

Judging that this agreement favored Cleopatra over Ptolemy XIII and that the latter's army of 20,000, including the Gabiniani, could most likely defeat Caesar's army of 4,000 unsupported troops, Potheinos decided to have Achillas lead their forces to Alexandria to attack both Caesar and Cleopatra.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=62}}{{sfnp|Hölbl|2001|p=235}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=18–19}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|p=118}}.</ref> After Caesar managed to execute Potheinos, Arsinoe IV joined forces with Achillas and was declared queen, but soon afterward had her tutor [[Ganymedes (eunuch)|Ganymedes]] kill Achillas and take his position as commander of her army.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=63}}{{sfnp|Hölbl|2001|p=236}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=118–119}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Burstein|2004|p=76}}.</ref> Ganymedes then tricked Caesar into requesting the presence of the erstwhile captive Ptolemy XIII as a negotiator, only to have him join the army of Arsinoe IV.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=63}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xxi, 76}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|p=119}} The resulting [[Siege of Alexandria (47 BC)|siege of the palace]], with Caesar and Cleopatra trapped together inside, lasted into the following year of 47 BC.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=62–63}}{{sfnp|Bringmann|2007|p=260}}{{sfnp|Hölbl|2001|pp=235–236}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Burstein|2004|pp=xxi, 19}} and {{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|pp=118–120}}.</ref>

[[File:Retrato de Julio César (26724093101).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|The [[Tusculum portrait]], a contemporary Roman sculpture of [[Julius Caesar]] located in the Archaeological Museum of [[Turin]], Italy]]
Sometime between January and March of 47 BC, Caesar's reinforcements arrived, including those led by [[Mithridates of Pergamon]] and [[Antipater the Idumaean]].{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=63}}{{sfnp|Bringmann|2007|p=260}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=19}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|pp=119–120}}.{{pb}}As part of the siege of Alexandria, {{harvtxt|Burstein|2004|p=19}} states that Caesar's reinforcements came in January, but {{harvtxt|Roller|2010|p=63}} says that his reinforcements came in March.</ref> Ptolemy XIII and Arsinoe IV withdrew their forces to the [[Nile]], [[Battle of the Nile (47 BC)|where Caesar attacked them]]. Ptolemy XIII tried to flee by boat, but it capsized, and he drowned.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=63–64}}{{sfnp|Bringmann|2007|p=260}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xxi, 19, 76}}<ref group="note">For further information and validation, see {{harvtxt|Anderson|2003|p=39}} and {{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|p=120}}.</ref> Ganymedes may have been killed in the battle. [[Theodotus of Chios|Theodotus]] was found years later in Asia, by [[Marcus Junius Brutus]], and executed. Arsinoe IV was forcefully paraded in Caesar's [[triumph in Rome]] before being exiled to the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=64}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xxi, 19–21, 76}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|p=172}} Cleopatra was conspicuously absent from these events and resided in the palace, most likely because she had been pregnant with Caesar's child since September 48 BC.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=64, 69}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xxi, 19–20}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|p=120}}

Caesar's term as consul had expired at the end of 48 BC.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=64}} However, Antony, an officer of his, helped to secure Caesar's appointment as [[Roman dictator|dictator]] lasting for a year, until October 47 BC, providing Caesar with the legal authority to settle the dynastic dispute in Egypt.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=64}} Wary of repeating the mistake of Cleopatra's sister Berenice IV in having a female monarch as sole ruler, Caesar appointed the 12-year-old Ptolemy XIV as joint ruler with the 22-year-old Cleopatra in a nominal sibling marriage, but Cleopatra continued living privately with Caesar.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=64–65}}{{sfnp|Bringmann|2007|p=260}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=19}}<ref group="note">For further information and validation, see {{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|p=121}} and {{harvtxt|Jones|2006|p=xiv}}.{{pb}}{{harvtxt|Roller|2010|pp=64–65}} states that at this point (47 BC) Ptolemy XIV was 12 years old, while {{harvtxt|Burstein|2004|p=19}} claims that he was still only 10 years of age.</ref> The exact date at which Cyprus was returned to her control is not known, although she had a governor there by 42 BC.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=65}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=19}}

Caesar is alleged to have joined Cleopatra for a cruise of the Nile and sightseeing of [[Ancient Egyptian architecture|Egyptian monuments]],{{sfnp|Bringmann|2007|p=260}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=19–20}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|p=125}} although this may be a romantic tale reflecting later well-to-do Roman proclivities and not a real historical event.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=65–66}} The historian [[Suetonius]] provided considerable details about the voyage, including use of ''[[Thalamegos]]'', the [[pleasure barge]] constructed by [[Ptolemy IV]], which during his reign measured {{convert|300|ft|m|order=flip|sigfig=1}} in length and {{convert|80|ft|m|order=flip}} in height and was complete with dining rooms, state rooms, holy shrines, and [[Promenade deck|promenades]] along its two decks, resembling a floating villa.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=65–66}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|p=126}} Caesar could have had an interest in the Nile cruise owing to his fascination with geography; he was well-read in the works of [[Eratosthenes]] and [[Pytheas]], and perhaps wanted to discover the source of the river, but turned back before reaching Ethiopia.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=66}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=108, 149–150}}

Caesar departed from Egypt around April 47 BC, allegedly to confront [[Pharnaces II of Pontus]], the son of Mithridates VI of Pontus, who was stirring up trouble for Rome in Anatolia.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=67}} It is possible that Caesar, married to the prominent Roman woman [[Calpurnia (wife of Caesar)|Calpurnia]], also wanted to avoid being seen together with Cleopatra when she had their son.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=67}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=19–20}} He left three legions in Egypt, later increased to four, under the command of the [[freedman]] [[Rufio (officer of Caesar)|Rufio]], to secure Cleopatra's tenuous position, but also perhaps to keep her activities in check.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=67}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=20}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|p=153}}

[[File:Ptolemaic Queen (Cleopatra VII?), 50-30 B.C.E., 71.12.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|An Egyptian portrait of a [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemaic]] queen, possibly Cleopatra, {{circa|51–30&nbsp;BC}}, located in the [[Brooklyn Museum]]{{sfnp|Ashton|2001b|p=164}}]]
[[Caesarion]], Cleopatra's alleged child with Caesar, was born sometime in 47, possibly on 23 June 47 BC if [[stele]] at the [[Serapeum of Saqqara]] that mentions "King Caesar" refers to him.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=69–70}}{{sfnp|Bringmann|2007|p=260}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xxi, 20}}<ref group="note">For further information and validation, see {{harvtxt|Anderson|2003|p=39}} and {{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|pp=154, 161–162}}; for date being disputed, see {{harvtxt|Tyldesley|2009|pp=136-137}}.</ref> Perhaps owing to his still childless marriage with Calpurnia, Caesar remained publicly silent about Caesarion (but perhaps accepted his parentage in private).{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=70}}<ref group="note">{{harvtxt|Roller|2010|p=70}} writes the following about Caesar and his parentage of Caesarion: "The matter of parentage became so tangled in the propaganda war between Antonius and Octavian in the late 30s B.C.—it was essential for one side to prove and the other to reject Caesar's role—that it is impossible today to determine Caesar's actual response. The extant information is almost contradictory: it was said that Caesar denied parentage in his will but acknowledged it privately and allowed the use of the name Caesarion. Caesar's associate C. Oppius even wrote a pamphlet proving that Caesarion was not Caesar's child, and C. Helvius Cinna—the poet who was killed by rioters after Antonius' funeral oration—was prepared in 44 B.C. to introduce legislation to allow Caesar to marry as many wives as he wished for the purpose of having children. Although much of this talk was generated after Caesar's death, it seems that he wished to be as quiet as possible about the child but had to contend with Cleopatra's repeated assertions."</ref> Cleopatra, on the other hand, made repeated official declarations about Caesarion's parentage, naming Caesar as the father.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=70}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=162–163}}{{sfnp|Jones|2006|p=xiv}}

Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIV visited Rome sometime in late 46 BC, presumably without Caesarion, and were given lodging in Caesar's villa within the [[Horti Caesaris]].{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=71}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xxi, 20}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=179–182}}<ref group="note">For further information and validation, see {{harvtxt|Jones|2006|pp=xiv, 78}}.</ref> As with their father Ptolemy XII, Caesar awarded both Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIV the legal status of "friend and ally of the Roman people" ({{Italic correction|{{langx|la|socius et amicus populi Romani}}}}), in effect client rulers loyal to Rome.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=21, 57, 72}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xxi, 20, 64}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=181–182}} Cleopatra's visitors at Caesar's villa across the [[Tiber]] included the senator [[Cicero]], who found her arrogant.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=72}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=194–195}} [[Sosigenes of Alexandria]], one of the members of Cleopatra's court, aided Caesar in the calculations for the new [[Julian calendar]], put into effect 1{{nbsp}}January 45 BC.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=72, 126}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=21}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=201–202}} The [[Temple of Venus Genetrix]], established in the [[Forum of Caesar]] on 25 September 46 BC, contained a golden statue of Cleopatra (which stood there at least until the 3rd century AD), associating the mother of Caesar's child directly with the goddess [[Venus (mythology)|Venus]], mother of the Romans.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=72, 175}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=21}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=195–196, 201}} The statue also subtly linked the Egyptian goddess [[Isis]] with the [[Roman religion]].{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=72}}

Cleopatra's presence in Rome most likely had an effect on the events at the [[Lupercalia]] festival a month before Caesar's assassination.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=72–74}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=205–206}} Antony attempted to place a royal [[diadem]] on Caesar's head, but the latter refused in what was most likely a staged performance, perhaps to gauge the Roman public's mood about accepting Hellenistic-style kingship.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=72–74}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=205–206}} Cicero, who was present at the festival, mockingly asked where the diadem came from, an obvious reference to the Ptolemaic queen whom he abhorred.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=72–74}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=205–206}} [[Caesar was assassinated]] on the [[Ides of March]] (15 March 44 BC), but Cleopatra stayed in Rome until about mid-April, in the vain hope of having Caesarion recognized as Caesar's heir.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=74}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xxi, 21}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=207–213}} However, Caesar's will named his grandnephew [[Octavian]] as the primary heir, and Octavian arrived in Italy around the same time Cleopatra decided to depart for Egypt.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=74}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xxi, 21}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=213–214}} 

It is suggested, based on Cicero's letter, that Cleopatra might have been pregnant at that time with her and Caesar's second child; if so, this potential pregnancy ended in loss of a baby.{{sfnp|Tyldesley|2009|p=144}} A few months later, Cleopatra allegedly{{sfnp|Tyldesley|2009|pp=145-146."Josephus, consistently anti-Cleopatra and prone to seeping statements, offers no proof in support of his allegation. (...) it is important to remember that estimated average life expectancy for men who survived infancy in Ptolemaic Egypt was only thrirty-three. To die at just fifteen years of age was sad, but it was by no means unusual"}} had Ptolemy XIV killed by poisoning, elevating her son Caesarion as her co-ruler.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=74–75}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xxi, 22}}{{sfnp|Jones|2006|p=xiv}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|pp=214–215}}.</ref>