Cleopatra and Antony : the true story of the ancient world's greatest love affair

In 44 bc, Julius Caesar was murdered on the Ides of March. His mistress, Cleopatra of Egypt, fled back to Alexandria with their little son. Mark Antony, Caesar's friend and henchman, who, according to some accounts, was already besotted by the beautiful Cleopatra, took up her son's case before the Senate. But they refused to recognize him as one of Caesar's heirs.Civil war broke out, and after the defeat of Caesar's murderers, Antony took control over the East. Summoned to his headquarters in present-day Turkey, Cleopatra made her entry at dusk on a scented, candlelit barge: and so began one of the greatest love stories of all time - an eleven-year love affair that created the ancient world's most famous celebrity couple. The affair became all-consuming and fired the lovers with the ambition to create a new order. Had they succeeded, our world today might have been very different.Filled with murder, intrigue, civil war and great battles, the tragedy of Cleopatra and Antony has fascinated the world for two millennia, and has been depicted by everyone from Chaucer and Shakespeare to Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in the iconic 1960s film.Now Diana Preston has gone back to the original sources and delved into the real history behind the propaganda and the myth, to breathe new life into this epic love story. BAM On A Stiflingly Hot Day In August, 30 B.c., The Thirty-nine-year-old Queen Of Egypt, Cleopatra, Took Her Own Life, Rather Than Be Paraded In Chains Through Rome By Her Conqueror, Octavian, The Future Emperor Augustus. A Few Days Earlier, Her Lover Of Eleven Years, Mark Antony, Had Died In Her Arms Following His Own Botched Suicide Attempt. Oceans Of Mythology Have Grown Up Around Them, All Of Which Diana Preston Puts To Rest In Her Stirring History Of The Lives And Times Of A Couple Whose Names-more Than Two Millennia Later-still Invoke Passion, Curiosity, And Intrigue. This Book Sets The Romance And Tragedy Of Antony And Cleopatra's Personal Lives Within The Context Of Their Political Times. There Are Many Contemporary Resonances: The Relationship Between East And West And The Nature Of Empire, The Concealment Of Personal Ambition Beneath The Watchword Of Liberty, Documents Forged, Edited Or Disposed Of, Special Relationships Established, Constitutional Forms And Legal Niceties Invoked When It Suited. Indeed Their Lives And Deaths Had Deep Political Ramifications, And They Offer A Revealing Perspective On A Tipping Point In Roman Politics And On The Consolidation Of The Roman Empire. Three Hundred Years Would Pass Before The East Would, With The Rise Of Constantinople And The Byzantine Empire, Once Again Take A Share Of Political Power In The Mediterranean. In An Intriguing Postscript, Preston Speculates On What Might Have Happened Had Antony And Cleopatra Defeated Octavian At The Battle Of Actium In 31 B.c. [This volume presents the story] of the world's best-remembered celebrity couple, set against the political backdrop of their time. In 30 BCE, the 39-year-old queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, took her own life rather than be paraded in chains through Rome by her conqueror, the future first emperor Augustus. A few days earlier, her lover of eleven years, Mark Antony, had himself committed suicide. Historian Diana Preston explores the lives and times of a couple whose names--two millennia later--still invoke passion and intrigue. Preston views this drama as an integral part of the military, political, and ideological struggle that culminated in the rise of the Roman Empire. Cleopatra ruled Egypt with political shrewdness. Her affair with Julius Caesar linked Egypt with Rome; in the aftermath of the civil war following Caesar's murder, her alliance with Antony, and his split with Octavian, set the stage for the end of the Roman Republic.--From publisher description I. Dynasty of Eagles -- -- 1. Keeping It in the Family -- -- 2. Siblings and Sibylline Prophecies -- -- II. Romulus's Cesspit -- -- 3. The Race for Glory -- -- 4. 'Odi et Amo' -- -- 5. Crossing the Rubicon -- -- III. Queen of Egypt, Mistress of Rome -- -- 6. Like a Virgin -- -- 7. The Alexandrian War -- -- 8. 'Veni, Vidi, Vici' -- -- 9. 'Slave of the Times' -- -- 10. The Ides of March -- -- IV. Isis Alone -- -- 11. 'Flight of the Queen' -- -- 12. Ruler of the East -- -- V. Taming Heracles -- -- 13. Mighty Aphrodite -- -- 14. 'Give It to Fulvia' -- -- 15. Single Mother -- -- 16. The Awful Calamity -- -- VI. Gods of the East -- -- 17. Sun and Moon -- -- 18. 'Theatrical, Overdone and Anti-Roman' -- -- 19. 'A Woman of Egypt' -- -- 20. The Battle of Actium -- -- 21. After Actium -- -- 22. Death on the Nile -- -- 23. 'Too Many Caesars is Not a Good Thing' -- Postscript -- 'This Pair so Famous' -- Who Was Who in the First Century BC. I. Dynasty Of Eagles -- 1. Keeping It In The Family -- 2. Siblings And Sibylline Prophecies -- Ii. Romulus's Cesspit -- 3. The Race For Glory -- 4. 'odi Et Amo' -- 5. Crossing The Rubicon -- Iii. Queen Of Egypt, Mistress Of Rome -- 6. Like A Virgin -- 7. The Alexandrian War -- 8. 'veni, Vidi, Vici' -- 9. 'slave Of The Times' -- 10. The Ides Of March -- Iv. Isis Alone -- 11. 'flight Of The Queen' -- 12. Ruler Of The East -- V. Taming Heracles -- 13. Mighty Aphrodite -- 14. 'give It To Fulvia' -- 15. Single Mother -- 16. The Awful Calamity -- Vi. Gods Of The East -- 17. Sun And Moon -- 18. 'theatrical, Overdone And Anti-roman' -- 19. 'a Woman Of Egypt' -- 20. The Battle Of Actium -- 21. After Actium -- 22. Death On The Nile -- 23. 'too Many Caesars Is Not A Good Thing' -- Postscript -- 'this Pair So Famous' -- Who Was Who In The First Century Bc. Diana Preston. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 361-381) And Index. After Julius Caesar's murder, his mistress Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, fled to Alexandria where she gave birth to their son. Civil war broke out in Rome, and Mark Antony, Caesar's friend, was given control over the East. Summoned to his headquarters, Cleopatra made her entry at dusk on a scented, candle-lit barge: and so began one of the greatest love stories of all time. The affair between the ancient world's most famous celebrity couple became all-consuming, leaving them oblivious to the threat of doom building up against them. Now Diana Preston has delved into the real history behind the propaganda and myth surrounding this famous couple, breathing new life into this epic love story. Filled with murder, intrigue, civil war and great battles, the tragedy of Cleopatra and Antony has fascinated the world for two millennia. This book goes back to the original sources and delves into the real history behind the propaganda and the myth of this love story.