Cleopatra and Julius Caesar

Cleopatra realized that to regain the throne she needed Roman support, especially that of Caesar. Indeed, each was determined to use the other. Caesar intended to raise money to pay off the debts of Cleopatra’s father, Auletes, while he fought to retain his throne. Cleopatra was determined to retain her throne and, if possible, restore the glories of the earlier Ptolemies, as well as recover as much of their domains as possible, which included southern Syria and Palestine. Caesar and Cleopatra became lovers and spent the winter under siege in Alexandria. Roman reinforcements arrived the following spring, and Ptolemy XIII fled and drowned himself in the Nile River. Cleopatra, now married to her brother Ptolemy XIV, was restored to her throne. In June 47 BC, she gave birth to Ptolemy Caesar (known to the people of Alexandria as Caesarion, or “little Caesar“). Whether Caesar was the father of Caesarion, as his name indicates, cannot be said with certainty.