Cleopatra VIII of Egypt
Cleopatra Selene was the only daughter to the famous Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Roman General Mark Antony. Not only was she their only daughter, she was also the youngest of the twins, her twin brother being Alexander Helios born only moments before herself.
After the conquest of Egypt by the Roman Emperor Octavian, Antony feared his Cleopatra VIII had betrayed him, thus thrusting himself into committing suicide. After hearing the ill fate of her lover, and of Octavian’s victory over Egypt, Cleopatra VII refused to submit to imperial rule and sent her children to safety life. She then followed her lover Antony to an early death.
Cleopatra VII eldest child Caesarian, by Julius Caesar, was tricked after his mothers death to return to Alexandria. Upon his arrival he was assassinated by Octavian due to his claim to not only the Egyptian throne, but also the throne of Rome.
The three surviving orphans of Cleopatra VII, Cleopatra Selene, Alexander Helios, and their younger brother Ptolemy Philadelphus, were captured by Octavian. They were gilded with heavy golden chains and paraded around in public humiliation. The weight of the chains is said to be so great, that the three poor children could hardly walk.
Following Antony’s practice of sparing royal lives after capture, Octavian sent the orphans to live with their fathers ex-wife and Octavian’s sister, Octavia Minor. Here they grew up with the following children:
- Julia ( the only natural child of Octavian by his second wife Scribonia)
- Tiberius and Claudius Prusus ( the two sons of Octavian’s by his wife Livia and her first husband Tiberius Claudius Nero)
- Marcellus and Marcella ( the son and daughter of Octavia with her first husband Gauis Claudius Marcellus Major)
- Antonia Major and Antonia Minor (the two daughters of Marc Antony and his second wife Octavia Minor, these are also Cleopatra Selene’s half sisters)
- Julius Antonius ( the son of Marc Antony by his third wife Fulvia, this was also Cleopatra Selene’s half brother)
When Cleopatra Selene reached 20, she was arranged to marry the African King Juba II of Numidia. For her marriage, she was given a large dowry and the title of Queenship to Numidia. In return, she was to become an ally of Rome. What the fait of her two surviving brothers is unknown for their names disappear from history. The thought or speciation that Octavian had them assassinated is not widely accepted. He had already spared their lives and secured his throne. It is thought that the two boys fell victim to an illness in Rome.
After her marriage, Cleopatra Selene and her new husband traveled back to Numidia, where their Kingship was short lived. The citizens of Numidia revolted against their king, claiming he had become to Romanized. This upheaval caused the Royal couple to flee to Mauretania where they settled in the capitol of Iol ( now Cherchel, Algeria) and renamed it Caesaria to show their support of Rome and it Emperor.
What is known of Cleopatra’s life after this point is brief, little surviving information is available. It is known however that in Mauretania she because a great influence in politics and exercised the policies her husband created. During this time, Mauretania flourished exporting trade goods well throughout the Mediterranean world. Great buildings were also constructed in the traditional Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles. One such building that still exist today is the mausoleum the royal couple built for themselves in modern day Algeria.
During the duration of their marriage, Cleopatra Selene and her husband had three children:
- Cleopatra of Mauretania
- Ptolemy of Mauretania
- Drusilla of Mauretania
Cleopatra Selene inhearted her iron will and strength from her mother. She celebrated her Egyptian and Greek heritage and sought to retain her Ptolemaic Legacy, while ignoring her Roman heritage.
After her death she is thought to be interred in the Royal mosulieam her husband and her built in their hayday. It is also said that after Juba II death, he was interred next to his first wife (he remarried briefly after her death), as a reminder of their eternal devotion. In true Egyptian fashion, Cleopatra was the Great Royal Wife, Cleopatra Selene of Mauretania.
The moon herself grew dark, rising at sunset,
Covering her suffering in the night,
Because she saw her beautiful namesake, Selene,
Breathless, descending to Hades,
With her she had had the beauty of her light in common,
And mingled her own darkness with her death.
Further Reading:
The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene
In the children she grew up with in the household of Octavia, it seems you have forgotten Octavia’s other daughter, Claudia Marcella Minor, grandmother to empress Messallina