Cleopatra VII

Hello. My name is Cleopatra, and I was the last queen, or pharaoh, of Egypt a very long time ago. I grew up in a beautiful palace in a city called Alexandria, right next to the sparkling sea. My family had ruled Egypt for hundreds of years. I wasn't just a regular princess; I was super curious. I loved to read scrolls from the Great Library of Alexandria, which was like the biggest library in the whole world. I learned to speak many different languages so I could talk to people from all over.

When I was eighteen, it was my turn to rule. At first, I had to share the throne with my younger brother, but we didn't always agree on how to best help our people. Some powerful people tried to push me away, but I knew I had to be a strong leader for Egypt. I said, 'I will not give up on my kingdom.'. A famous Roman general named Julius Caesar came to visit. He was very impressed that I could speak his language. I told him all my ideas for making Egypt a safe and happy place. He agreed to help me, and together, we made sure that I could be the one true queen to lead my kingdom.

As queen, I worked hard every day. I wanted to make sure everyone had enough food and that our country was rich and strong. I even traveled on my royal barge down the Nile River to meet my people and see how they were doing. After my friend Julius Caesar was gone, I met another Roman leader, Mark Antony. He and I became great friends and partners. We promised to help each other and protect our people from our enemies. We combined our lands to make them even stronger. We had three wonderful children together, and for a while, we were one of the most powerful families in the world.

But being a ruler can be very difficult. Another Roman leader, Octavian, wanted all the power for himself. He fought against us in a big battle, and we lost. It was a very sad time, and my rule came to an end in the year 30 B.C. Even though my story has a sad ending, I hope you remember me as a queen who was smart, brave, and loved her country more than anything. I did everything I could to protect Egypt and its people, and I will forever be a part of its amazing story.