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She married her younger
brother, Ptolemy, and she became the mistress of the
Roman general Julius Caesar. Following Caesar's death,
Roman general Marc Antony went to Egypt to advance the
growing power of Rome. Cleopatra captivated Antony.
Their affair scandalized Roman society and bothered
Roman politicians, who were suspicious of Egypt's power.
Yet despite the risks, Antony
and Cleopatra married in 36 B.C. The couple planned to
conquer Rome. But in 31 B.C. the Roman general Octavian
destroyed the combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra in
the battle of Actium. Hearing a false report that
Cleopatra was dead, Antony fell on his sword. With no
hope left, Cleopatra induced a poisonous asp to bite
her.
Four thousand years of
glorious Pharaonic rule was finally finished. Egypt
became a Roman province. Octavian (later Augustus)
became the first Roman Emperor, launching a new era in
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