Caesar and Cleopatra: A Tale of Julius Caesar
By Anne Spackman
Copyright 2014 by Anne Spackman
All rights reserved.
47 B.C. Alexandria, Egypt
Caesar and some 4,000 men from his army were still on board the flat-bottomed Roman vessel when an Egyptian boat came out to meet them in the water.
“I am Theodotus, tutor of his majesty Ptolemy,” an old man, clothed in Egyptian linen, had told Caesar before bestowing him a gift—a box. “A gift from his majesty for mighty Caesar.”
Caesar had then opened the box and discovered to his horror the severed head of his former enemy Pompey the Great. Caesar had been greatly angered by this action against a Roman general. For though Pompey the Great had been Caesar’s enemy in their civil war, he had also once been a friend, long ago, and he was a general of Rome.
Now, waiting for his boat to land in Alexandria, Egypt, Caesar thought about young Ptolemy XIII, and his sister, Cleopatra VII.
Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator and Cleopatra VII were the children of Ptolemy XII “Auletes”—also known as “the flute player”—and, reportedly, Cleopatra V Tryphaena. In 51 B.C, Ptolemy XII had died, leaving the throne to the 18 year old Cleopatra and her 10 year old brother Ptolemy; the two ruled in name as co-regents.
Cleoptra was to have married her brother, as was the custom of the Egyptian pharaohs, leaders of Egypt. Perhaps they had married—Caesar had heard something of that nature. In any event, Cleopatra had soon tried to establish herself as sole ruler of Egypt, and de-throne her brother Ptolemy. By all accounts, Cleopatra was well-educated, intelligent, and strong-willed, and he had no doubt that she was ambitious.
In 49 B.C., Ptolemy’s advisors, among them Pothinus, who dominated young Ptolemy XIII, had tried to kill Cleopatra. Ptolemy’s supports had forced Cleopatra into exile in Syria. There, Cleopatra had raised an army against her brother. She had returned a year later with her army, and a battle had been fought between the armies of Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra.
Caesar took a refreshment, and looked up at the sky, which was clear blue. The day was blazingly hot. He was already considering what course of action to take in Egypt to better his position of power and to promote the interests of Rome.
* * * * *
Caesar and his small army landed in Alexandria—where a mob of people swarmed in the harbor. No doubt Pothinus or some other advisor to Ptolemy had stirred up a mob against Caesar to delay him. Perhaps Achillas, Egypt’s leading general, had been responsible.
“Clear this rabble,” said Caesar, as his guards brandished gladius swords to clear the way if they had to—the mob moved aside when weapons were drawn, but they still clamored and harassed the Roman soldiers.
Caesar remained calm. He and the small group of soldiers who had disembarked from the ship into Alexandria headed towards the Egyptian Palace.
When they reached the Palace, Caesar sent a messenger in to demand an audience.
If waiting in the scorching sun bothered him, Caesar made no sign of it. Caesar was a patient man as well as analytical—so much so that while he waited to gain entrance into the Palace, Caesar was engaged in reflection, and in consideration.
“Mighty Caesar, we bid you welcome to Egypt and to the court of his majesty King Ptolemy.” A messenger said, who had arrived to lead Caesar and his men to an audience with the boy king of Egypt.
Caesar and a few of his men were taken before Ptolemy. The boy king was young, not more than twelve or so, with a mostly shaved head but for a long khat headdress which resembled a ponytail in the center of his head. He wore kohl—a black paint—around his eyes to make them appear larger, and was in formal Egyptian clothing of fine, thin linen. The skin of a large cat had been thrown about his shoulders.
Beside the seated boy king stood the ever-present Pothinus, the Chancellor of Egypt.
“Mighty Caesar, we bid you welcome. You stand before Ptolemy, King of Egypt,” said Pothinus. “How may we assist the great Caesar?”
“I would like to demand the 40,000 sesterces owed to me by Ptolemy Auletes when I helped him put down a rebellion here years ago. I will accept the payment in coin, and in grain,” Caesar added, thinking of his men, who had been ill fed throughout his campaigns. Egypt had rich stores of grain—the fertile Nile was the breadbasket of Africa.
Pothinus was upset by this.
“Caesar, you demand payment?” Pothinus said with a rude sneer. “Until recently, Pompey was expected to gain the victory of your war. Well, we must negotiate this so-called payment of debts,” he said. “Caesar, why do you not kneel to Ptolemy, who is the son of the gods, of Horus—”
“I am general of Rome, and I do not kneel to anyone.” Said Caesar. “Your king Ptolemy enjoys his rule only because Rome wishes it so, and because I wish it so. His father Ptolemy Auletes incurred many debts to Rome, and to me, and I do demand the immediate payment of those debts.”
Caesar nodded, then left without another word, flanked by guards.
* * * * *
“A messenger has brought a gift for you, Caesar,” said the guard.
“Not another gift from these confounded people.” Said Caesar. “Well, what is it?”
“A rug, Caesar. A fine rug, woven of the best wool.” An Egyptian messenger said, carrying a heavy gift along with two other Egyptian messengers. Caesar cocked a brow—should he trust these people? Why did it need three men to carry it?
“Bring it and let me see this rug,” said Caesar, who was going over maps when the messenger had interrupted him.
“There, that’s far enough towards Caesar,” said the guard, as the men carrying the rug progressed to halfway across the room. “No further. Show us this gift.”
“Very well,” one of the well-dressed Egyptians motioned to the others to lay the rug down gingerly. Then, they unrolled it, slowly. At the end of the rug was as girl, or young woman, tumbling out of the wool rug.
The young woman stood, rasping a bit, and straightened her attire. The Egyptians stood back, and dismissed themselves. All but the one who had come as a messenger.
“Pleased to meet you,” said Caesar. “I trust you wished to gain an audience with me,” said Caesar, with a light laugh. He didn’t often laugh, but this incident had brought a smile to his face. His strange guest was obviously Cleopatra herself, who had contrived to gain entrance into his chamber.
“I am Queen Cleopatra, daughter of Isis—”
“Yes,” said Caesar. “I knew who you were. I am Gaius Julius Caesar, general and consul of Rome. You, I think, are not Queen of anything at present.”
Cleopatra narrowed her eyes. “I am Cleopatra of Egypt. I am the rightful ruler by age. My brother is a weak boy, a puppet for Pothinus—”
“I am aware of Pothinus’ influence on the boy,” said Caesar. “What would you have me do for you, young Cleopatra? You risked your life to come in here.”
“I came for your help. I was sole ruler of Egypt, until my brother’s supporters conspired against me—”
“As I understood the matter, you and Ptolemy were to rule jointly upon the death of your father.”
“Egypt needs but one ruler, but not a boy being guided by a corrupt old man.”
“Well then, young lady, you’ve made your case. You wish to be Egypt’s sole ruler, and you need my help—my armies, more precisely, to ensure that you are not opposed in the establishment of your sole leadership.”
She stood and came towards him. Though not very beautiful, she was strong-willed and intelligent, and her manners were interesting, charming. She moved with a deliberate kind of cunning in her
eyes and in her body—he could tell at a look that her eyes missed nothing and that she was observant and critical. He liked her already, for her bold step into his chamber hidden within a rug.
When she was standing face to face with him, she reached up and touched his lips with her finger to silence him.
“I am offering you Egypt, and me, as an ally.” She reached forward and kissed him lightly on the lips.
“How can I refuse such an offer?” Caesar said with a faint smile. “Guard, leave us.”
The Egyptian messenger left along with the Roman guard. The door did not open again until morning.
* * * * *
“The banquet will honor both Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII and to establish their joint rule. Caesar has given orders that we shall feast in honor of Cleopatra’s return to power.” Said the guard to another guard, who was curious as to why so many roasted hens were passing by in the corridor from the kitchens on their way to the banquet room.
The Egyptian Palace was alive with the upcoming banquet.
That evening, Caesar was seated next to Cleopatra, who was dressed in as much jewelry as she could sport. Caesar smiled to her, and gave a signal for the feast to begin. Some Roman dishes had been prepared, but the feast was largely Egyptian.
During the feast, Caesar received news. A servant who was serving him whispered suddenly to him.
“Caesar, I dared not say it until now, but I overheard Pothinus conspiring with Achillas to gather an army against you. I am loyal to my Queen.”
Caesar was stunned, but took the news seriously. He gestured to one of his own guards, a legionnaire who approached Caesar to receive orders.
“Surround the banquet hall,” Caesar ordered in secret to the legionnaire. “Send word to my commanders here that the Palace may be under attack.”
“It shall be done,” returned the soldier.
“And find Pothinus. He has been conspiring against me, and shall have to be dealt with. He is a danger to me and to Rome.”
A few minutes later, Caesar’s troops surrounded the banquet hall.
Pothinus was captured, and brought before Caesar. The man sunk to his knees, quivering, certain Caesar had discovered his plot.
“Execute him for his treachery,” Caesar said. In his seat next to Cleopatra, young Ptolemy stiffened, knowing that he was now also a prisoner, for he had conspired against Caesar and Cleopatra as well.
Pothinus was taken away, thrashing in the grip of the Roman legionnaires who had brought him before Caesar.
Caesar, meanwhile, thought a moment. Achillas, who had not come to the banquet, would surely find a way to rally the Egyptians to fight against him. Though reinforcements to his forces were on their way from Asia Minor, in the meantime, Achillas had a large army surrounding the Egyptian Palace. Caesar knew that something had to be done to stop them.
“Set fire to the Egyptian fleet,” Caesar ordered, and one of his messengers left to send the message to the Roman army that remained in the harbor of Alexandria.
* * * * *
“Caesar, we have received some dreadful news,” said one of the Roman messengers after being granted an audience with Caesar. It was some time after the banquet was over, and Caesar had retired to his own personal chamber in the Egyptian Palace.
“The great library of Alexandria caught fire when the Egyptian fleet was set on fire. I am afraid that it has burned to the ground.”
Caesar sighed, a deep sigh. This was not expected, nor something he had wanted to have happened. The Great Library of Alexandria held all of the knowledge of the world’s greatest thinkers, mathematicians, and philosophers.
“Also, Cleopatra’s sister Arsinoe escaped and was with Achillas, we think. But she had him killed for disagreeing with her tactics. Now she has Ganymedes in charge of the Egyptian army. He has been attempting to poison our water supply before it reaches the Palace.”
“Let Ptolemy go then,” said Caesar. “Perhaps he will rid us of Arsinoe.”
Thus Ptolemy XIII was released, along with some of his servants and advisors.
* * * * *
A message soon arrived that Ptolemy had joined with his sister Arsinoe rather than fighting her, and the two of them were demanding the death of their elder sister Cleopatra. It was common knowledge by that point that Caesar and Cleopatra were lovers. Caesar heard the news of Ptolemy’s demands with no reaction.
Then, Caesar stood in his chair, and looked at the messenger with a cold eye. “I shall not relinquish Cleopatra,” he said. “We shall fight them.”
January – early February, 47 B.C.
Caesar’s army had laid siege to Pharos, the great lighthouse in the Egyptian harbor on its own small island, for several months. Caesar was with his men, but was divided from them. He jumped off the island into the water, and began to swim for the mainland shore of Alexandria. His men eventually found him at the shore, and came to his assistance. In private, Caesar had reason to be concerned about their victory, but then as ever, the goddess Fortuna smiled upon him once more.
“Message for Caesar—two legions and King Mithridates will soon be here.” Said a courier, who had traveled far to deliver a message of good news to Caesar.
“At last!” Caesar said in jubilation. The Roman reinforcements were soon to arrive in the Nile delta. King Mithridates, prince of Pergamom, was an ally of Caesar—the ally Caesar had been expecting without knowing when he would come. “I shall go to meet King Mithridates with the rest of our army. A small garrison will stay here to protect the Palace and Cleopatra.”
It wasn’t long before Caesar joined the Roman forces in the Nile delta. His combined army numbered around 20,000, and it was with this army that he made ready to fight the armies of Ptolemy and Arsinoe.
Februrary 47 B.C.
Caesar’s forces won the Battle of the Nile, which was fought between Caesar’s Egyptian-Roman army and that of Ptolemy and his allies. The Roman army used spears against the Egyptians and shielded themselves well with shields, against the pike-wielding Egyptians whose weapons were inferior to those of Rome. The Roman soldiers wielded gladius swords and cut their enemies apart.
Within a short time, Caesar received word that Ptolemy and many of his army had fled, and that Ptolemy had drowned in the Nile when his boat capsized. Of the fate of Arsinoe, there was no word. Later, Caesar received word that she had been captured by his own men.
Upon Caesar’s return to Alexandria, Cleopatra greeted him at the Egyptian Palace steps dressed as the goddess Isis.
Caesar smiled as he saw her, and was glad to see her again.
“Why, I think absence has made you more fond of me. I am glad to see you again,” said Caesar to Cleopatra.
“And I am glad to welcome you back safe in Alexandria.”
“I have plans, my dear. You are to rule Egypt with one of her younger brothers, Ptolemy XIV, as co-ruler, and put an end to this war.”
Cleopatra nodded. “I am pleased. Now come into the Palace, you and your commanders. We shall prepare a welcoming feast for you.”
Some time later, Caesar married Cleopatra in Egyptian fashion, though this marriage would never be accepted by Rome, for Caesar already had a Roman wife, Calpurnia, and it wasn’t legal for Roman citizens to marry foreigners. Caesar knew this, but decided to make the marriage with Cleopatra—only the two of them knew that Cleopatra was already carrying his child. Later that year, Cleopatra bore Caesar a son, his only son, called Ptolemy Caesar, or Caesarion in June of 47 B.C.
A parting was inevitable, however, as Caesar was Roman and had to return to Rome. Caesar left Egypt in June of 47 B.C., taking with him Cleopatra’s sister Arsinoe as his captive.
“Rufio,” said Caesar one afternoon to Rufio, who had been summoned to a counsel with Caesar, shortly before Caesar’s departure from Egypt.
“Yes, Caesar. I am here as you requested.”
“I am leaving you in charge as legate of Rome here in Alexandria.
Some of the legions will remain here to guard Rome’s interests.”
“I thank you, Caesar, for this honor,” said Rufio, bowing. In his heart, though he was pleased to serve Caesar as Caesar commanded him, he also had longing thoughts of Rome. He reminded himself that to love her best was to serve her interests and security abroad—and by any means necessary they must safeguard the republic. However, it was not an east thing to accept at times that to serve Rome best meant to be far away from her. He wondered if he would ever see Rome again.
Some time later, Caesar sailed for Rome, saying good-bye to Cleopatra and his infant son, Caesarion, of whom Caesar was extremely proud. Cleopatra’s son was his first son that he could acknowledge as his, though not legally. Rome would not approve of Caesar’s legally naming Caesarion as his heir. It could not actually be done, according to Roman law.
* * * * *
Caesar finally returned to Rome in the fall of 47 B.C. after a brief stop in Asia Minor to put down King Pharnaces’ rebellion. He knew that within a month or two at the latest, he would have to sail again to Africa, and that this visit home to Rome could be but brief. Cato, one of Pompey’s old allies from the Senate, had recently allied himself with King Juba of Numibia. By October, Caesar hoped to have sailed to Africa to quell the rebellion—and to find Cato, who could not remain a thorn in his side for much longer.
Soon afterwards, Caesar had a statue of himself put in the temple of Romulus, founder of Rome. Caesar was also having a large library built in Rome to imitate that of the Great Library of Alexandria. Caesar also had Egyptian astronomers revise the calendar—a Roman calendar that was not accurate—to make it more like the Egyptian calendar, which had 365 days.
The Roman Senate didn’t approve of Caesar’s relationship with the Egyptian Queen. It was clear her influence over him was strong—and it was changing Rome. Cicero, in particular, was outspoken against the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra.
Caesar chose to ignore him.
* * * * *