Cleopatra

-69 – -30

Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator was the last active Hellenistic ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, reigning from 51 to 30 BC. The only Ptolemaic ruler known to have learned the Egyptian language, she pursued a sophisticated diplomacy that kept her kingdom independent for two decades against the dominant power of Rome through alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. After Antony's defeat at the Battle of Actium, she chose suicide over capture, ending the Ptolemaic dynasty and ushering in Roman rule of Egypt.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM