On this day in 47 BC, Queen Cleopatra VII places her son as her partner in ruling Egypt

CAIRO – 2 September 2020: Throughout the ages, a queen has not gained the love and adoration earned by the most famous Queen Cleopatra VII.

Today in 47 BC, Queen Cleopatra VII placed her son as a co-king under the name of Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar AKA Caesarion.

What is the story behind the event?

The Ptolemaic era was almost dead when Cleopatra arrived to rule Egypt. She managed to precipitate a Roman occupation of the country, not only by a military force, but by inflaming the hearts and minds of the Roman leaders, who occupied Egypt and turned it into a part of the Roman Empire.

According to the book "Queens of the Pharaohs, A Drama of Love and Power" by Hussein Abdel-Basir, After the death of Ptolemy XII, the throne passed to his son and daughter. However, the two had the ambition to rule independently and a severe struggle occurred between them, making Cleopatra realize that she is not fighting against her brother only, but against the men of the palace as well. She decided to flee until she had a chance to return.

As mentioned in Abdel Basir’s book, Cleopatra was planning to return to power. The struggle in Rome was the most intense between Julius Caesar and his friend and partner Pompey. The conflict ended with the defeat of Pompey, and his escape to Egypt, in an attempt to find a response to his favor with the sons of Ptolemy the Piper, as it was Pompey who brought him back to Egypt.

Pompey arrived in Egypt, but was killed, and Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria, and when he learned of Pompey's murder, he grieved his friend's demise. Julius Caesar then began wandering around the city as if he was king of the country; this provoked many of the patriotic Alexandrians.

Julius Caesar knew of the problems between the two brothers. Cleopatra entered the palace through her servant who wrapped her in a carpet. She came out of the carpet like Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty emerging from the shell. Julius Caesar was astonished by her. After defeating her brother, Cleopatra VII was declared Queen of Egypt.

According to Abdel Basir’s book, Cleopatra had to pay for Caesar's help, and the price was a three-month Nile cruise, from which Cleopatra came back pregnant. Caesar returned to Rome after declaring Cleopatra Queen of Egypt.

Soon, Cleopatra gave birth to a son from Julius Caesar, called "Caesar", and the Egyptians sarcastically called him "Caesarion".