John and Jenny Fulton

Real International Princesses: Cleopatra of Egypt

By Jenny Fulton

Introduction

My book, An International Princess Alphabet Primer, features princesses from countries and cultures around the world. Each character is named after a real person. These are their stories.

Because the alphabet book was written for young kids, the biographies I’m sharing are short, child-friendly, often rose-tinted summaries.

E: Egyptian Princess Cleopatra

Egyptian flag and map Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay
Egypt map Image by WikiImages from Pixabay

Egyptian Princess Cleopatra is named for Cleopatra the 7th, the Queen and Last Pharaoh of Egypt.

Cleopatra was known for her beauty and intelligence. Many people, including Shakespeare, have written stories, plays, and movies about her life.

This princess (a descendant of Alexander the Great) was born in Alexandria in 69 B.C. Cleopatra had two sisters and two brothers, but she was her dad’s favorite. Being a member of the royal family wasn’t easy. The young princes and princesses had to study hard since they never knew when or if they’d have to rule their nation someday. Cleopatra learned to speak at least seven languages, including Greek, Latin, and Egyptian.

Life was often dangerous. When Cleopatra was only 11 years old, her dad had to run away from Egypt because the people didn’t want him to be Pharaoh anymore. He went to Rome and returned with their army to help him regain control. The young princess quickly realized how important it was to persuade the Egyptians and rulers from other nations to like her if she ever became queen.

Sibling rivalry was intense. Cleopatra’s dad died when she was 18. The laws stated that she and her 10 year old brother had to rule the country together. But her brother and his advisers wanted him to rule it on his own. Cleopatra escaped but made plans to return.

In 48 B.C., when Cleopatra was 21, Julius Caesar arrived to make sure everything was going well in Egypt. Cleopatra had loyal followers sneak her into the palace to meet with him. They rolled her up in a carpet and a servant carried her over his shoulder as though he was bringing a gift. The young queen convinced Caesar to help her return to power. After doing so, the two fell in love and had a son. They stayed in Egypt for a while but then returned to Caesar’s home in Rome. A few years later, in 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was betrayed and killed. Cleopatra took their son and fled back to Egypt.

As pharaoh, Cleopatra worked hard to give her people a better life. She improved trade and helped her nation become richer. Many of the Egyptians liked her because she accepted their culture and spoke their language.

When Cleopatra was 28 years old, she met another Roman named Marc Antony. They soon fell in love. At that time, Marc Antony and two other men were fighting to become the new leader of Rome. Cleopatra helped Marc Antony in his battles against Octavian. However, in 31 B.C., Octavian defeated them and Egypt became part of the Roman Empire.

Cleopatra Image by Bill Harding Jr from Pixabay

Other Princess Bios

Works Sited

“Ancient Egypt: Cleopatra VII” Ducksters; July 10, 2024. https://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_egypt/cleopatra_vii.php

“Cleopatra” Britannica Kids; July 10, 2024.  https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Cleopatra/352970

“History of Cleopatra for Kids” Bedtime History Stories; July 10, 2024. https://bedtimehistorystories.com/history-of-cleopatra-for-kids/

“Queen Cleopatra: Facts & Information for Kids,” in History for Kids, June 19, 2024. https://historyforkids.org/queen-cleopatra-facts-and-information/

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