Explain the significance of Cleopatra’s relationship with Julius Caesar?
Although hardly any record remains on Cleopatra’s role throughout the Alexandrian War (48-47BC) until the end of the war, the significance of Cleopatra’s relationship with Julius Caesar was highly beneficial on her behalf, as confirmed by ancient historian Cassius Dio, because Caesar bestowed the kingdom upon Cleopatra alone, since he had waged the war for her sake.
The Alexandrian War worked in Cleopatra’s favour as once again, she re-established and secured her rule on the throne beside her brother Ptolemy (XIV). Moreover, under the authority and command of Julius Caesar, the removal of her rebellious sister Arsonie from the kingdom provided her with once less immediate threat in the royal family. Caesar even left three legions to protect Cleopatra’s reign of power (McManus, 2001) to make sure that his powerful army could diminish any insurgencies as well as ensure her safety. Cleopatra’s relationship with Caesar was immensely valuable to her, as it provided her ongoing protection and a continuation of her lineage and moreover, an heir, which cements her position as a queen according to Plutarch “(Caesar) left Cleopatra as queen of Egypt, and a little later she had a son by him.”

Whether it was for political purposes, or it was a genuine romance, or perhaps both, it was evident that Caesar’s romantic affair with Cleopatra secured her survival and safety on the throne. In 47BC, Cleopatra gave birth to a son whom the Alexandrians called Caesarion (Little Caesar). The advantages for Cleopatra to carry the child of the most powerful Roman during this time were enormous. Moreover, Caesar’s allowance for Cleopatra to give the baby his own name as well as acknowledge the child according to Suetonius (Caesar’s loyal supporter) reinforces the positive and powerful significance of Cleopatra’s