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[suspenseful music]
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Let us go. It's time.
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You're sure?
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[applause]
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There'll be no going back.
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I'm sure.
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[crowd cheering]
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MAN: We present you
Ptolemy Caesar,
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king of kings
and the one and only heir
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to the late
Julius Caesar.
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The one and only heir.
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โช
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[tense music]
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DEBORAH: Cleopatra
is one of those
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enigmatic figures in history.
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PATRICK The image that
most people have of Cleopatra
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today is entirely
a product of popular culture.
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BOB: Cleopatra's reputation
has been sullied by the Romans.
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They wanted to portray her
as an arch-villain.
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SHELLEY: A whore
who slept her way to the top.
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MELINDA: A sexually
wanting female fatale.
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Today we are seeing
a more empathetic view
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of Cleopatra,
simply striving for survival.
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[thunder clapping]
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SIMON: Cleopatra
is always willing to do
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anything to stay in power.
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To kill her siblings,
whatever it takes.
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ROBERT: She can see
the entire chess board
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and when she's outta moves,
she makes up moves.
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KATHRYN: In an age
where men dominated the world,
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she outsmarted them all.
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SOLDIER: Ha!
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โช
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NARRATOR: Egypt.
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Once among the most powerful
kingdoms on Earth,
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is recovering from turmoil.
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Six years earlier,
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a bloody coup...
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[shouting]
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Sent Egypt's
King Ptolemy Auletes
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and his young daughter
Cleopatra into exile in Rome.
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But now with the help
of Roman soldiers,
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they return in triumph.
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[soldiers chanting]
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[crowd applauding]
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By Cleopatra's time, Egypt
already has a very long history.
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Several thousand years
of rule by Pharaohs,
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a brief period of Persian rule.
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And then in 332 B.C.,
Alexander the Great
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comes to liberate
Egypt from the Persians.
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When he dies,
his general Ptolemy
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takes over in Egypt and thus
begins Ptolemaic dynasty.
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STACY: These are
Macedonian Greeks
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who passed themselves off
as the heirs
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to Alexander the Great
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whom they're
not really related.
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And as Pharaohs, which
they are not really either,
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but they've
established themselves
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as the legitimate
rulers of Egypt.
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NARRATOR: While
the Ptolemys control
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the rich kingdom of Egypt,
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the military superpower
of the ancient world
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is now Rome.
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And it's thanks to Rome that
Auletes seizes back his crown.
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He immediately takes revenge
on the uprising's leader...
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[screams]
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His eldest daughter, Berenice.
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[tense music]
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The greatest tradition
of the Ptolemaic royal family
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is rivalry and assassination,
plotting, coups.
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This goes back all the way
to the very beginning
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of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
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Look away if you wish.
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โช
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AMANDA: Auletes' deals
with his usurping daughter,
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Berenice,
in classic Ptolemy style.
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It's like a real life
Game of Thrones
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with the Ptolemys.
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They seem to constantly
be killing each other.
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PATRICK: Cleopatra
grows up knowing
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that her other family
members at any point in time
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could slip a dagger
into her back.
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This is a nest of vipers.
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And she's going to survive
in that environment
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and she's going
to need to be willing
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to do those things
herself as well.
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[seagulls screeching]
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[crowd cheering]
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NARRATOR:
With Berenice's execution,
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14 year old Cleopatra becomes
her father's oldest child
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and the future ruler of Egypt.
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DEBORAH: We know
really almost nothing
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about Cleopatra's mother.
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She may have been killed
by Cleopatra's older sister,
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Berenice,
when she came to power.
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AARON: Cleopatra's
Father Auletes
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looks to Cleopatra
to continue the family line.
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It is Cleopatra
that is serving as his protege.
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Everything that
he's worked for as king,
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all of it is invested
in Cleopatra
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and making sure that she comes
to power in a secure Egypt.
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At this point in time,
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Egypt was filled
with natural resources
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and precious materials.
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It was known as the bread
basket of the ancient world.
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STACY: It alone produces
more grain than it consumes.
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It can feed Rome,
it can also starve Rome.
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BOB: The Ptolemys are
ruling Egypt from Alexandria
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in the westernmost
part of the country.
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Economically,
it is the center
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of a great trade network
funneling
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not only the agricultural
product of Egypt,
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but also luxury products
coming from further east
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and the coffers
of the government are increasing
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exponentially with all
of that mercantile activity.
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Culturally, Alexandria
is the be all and end all.
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The Ptolemys brought scholars,
men of letters, physicians.
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So the city
of Alexandria shapes Cleopatra.
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MELINDA: Cleopatra
learns everything
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she can get her hands on.
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Art and science,
oratory, mathematics.
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But far more important,
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is that she knows
nine languages.
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Those nine languages
include Ancient Egyptian,
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which believe it or not,
none of the Ptolemys
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had known before.
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We don't know exactly
what ethnicity Cleopatra had.
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The Ptolemys
were Macedonian Greek,
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so it's very likely that
Cleopatra was mostly Greek.
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That being said,
there are some interesting gaps
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in the family tree,
especially on her mother's side,
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in which some Egyptians
could have intermarried
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with the family,
but we really can't be sure.
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NARRATOR: In 51 B.C.,
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four years
after taking back his throne,
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Cleopatra's father
dies of natural causes.
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And at age 18,
she becomes queen of Egypt.
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[crowd applauding]
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But as a woman,
she cannot rule alone.
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MELINDA: In Auletes will,
he places Cleopatra
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as co-regent with Theos,
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her younger brother
who's only ten years old.
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NARRATOR: Cleopatra
will take Theos as her husband.
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MELINDA: Sibling marriage
in ancient Egypt
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goes all the way back
to the beginning of time.
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You have the myth of god Osiris
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who marries
his sister wife, Isis.
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STACY: Sibling marriage
is not something
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that was ever practiced
in among Greek Macedonians.
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So the idea seems
to enter the Ptolemaic history
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'cause they have pulled it
from mythology.
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PATRICK: The assumption
in this case
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was that because
Cleopatra's co-ruler
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was so much younger
than she was,
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that Cleopatra would
be the dominant partner
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in that relationship.
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[applause]
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[tense music]
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NARRATOR: Cleopatra
sees her brother's young age
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as a chance
to grow her own power,
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but she's not alone.
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Theos attracts others
looking to elevate their status.
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His advisor, Pothinus,
and Sister, Arsinoe.
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BOB: Arsinoe
plays this shadowy role.
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She seems to be a supporter
of the faction of Theos.
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And so throughout
the beginning of the reign,
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Cleopatra
has to look at Arsinoe
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as a potential threat
to her throne.
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Majesty, please relax with us.
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CLEOPATRA: Mm-hmm.
Thank you, Pothinus.
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And what is the source
of your new found generosity?
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Majesty,
should we remind your sister
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what happens to Queens
who try to upstage
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their male consorts?
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ARSINOE: As a student
of our history, she should know.
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The same fate
as advisors who mistake
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the king's power for their own.
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BOB: Pothinus
can be regarded
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as a kind of a sinister force
behind the throne.
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He has personal ambition
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and he tries to position Theos
to become the leader
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by suppressing the power
and aspirations of Cleopatra.
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There's a tremendous amount
of wealth and manpower
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available to anyone
who could take control of Egypt.
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Cleopatra has
already shown inclinations
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to act on her own behalf.
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This minimizes
the influence of those elite
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that make up
the inner circle of Alexandria.
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MELINDA: Cleopatra's drive
for autonomy is very risky.
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Consider that
the last four Ptolemaic Queens
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who wanted sole rule
were killed for it.
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NARRATOR: As a way to build
influence beyond Alexandria,
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Cleopatra goes where few
Ptolemys have been before.
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She travels 400 miles
into Egypt's hinterland...
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to lead
a sacred procession.
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[chanting]
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AMANDA: Cleopatra
is a kind of chameleon
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who is able to move very easily
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between the Egyptian
and Greek worlds.
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Alexandria
is a largely Greek city,
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and so it was very different
from the rest of Egypt
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where people spoke Egyptian
and were following
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ancient Egyptian traditions that
had been around for millennia.
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[crowd cheering]
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JACKIE: Cleopatra's siblings
tended to focus
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all of their energy
on guarding the support
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of the Alexandrian elite.
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Cleopatra, however,
is also interested in gaining
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support of the wider
Egyptian population.
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[crowd cheering]
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MELINDA: One of the first things
that Cleopatra does,
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she institutes and enthrones,
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the new Buchis bull,
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the incarnation
of the creator god Ptah,
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and a very, very important
religious ceremony.
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[crowd cheering]
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I adore your majesty
and praise your soul.
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Oh, great god,
Self-created.
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โช
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AMANDA: Cleopatra
identifies herself
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with the Egyptian goddess Isis,
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who is the goddess of fertility,
of magic and of nature.
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And by doing this,
she's making herself
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more popular with the Egyptians
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and she's seeking
to legitimize her rule.
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[crowd cheering]
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DEBORAH: Is she doing this
because she's actually
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really interested
in these religious ceremonies
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or is she doing this
just to be seen
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by the Egyptian population?
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That's anyone's guess.
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00:13:38,833 --> 00:13:41,667
Cleopatra's
main objective is to remain
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the sole leader of her country.
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Each one of her moves
is calculated
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to ensure that she achieves
that objective.
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[cheering]
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Being the sole
and only ruler of Egypt.
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NARRATOR: Fueled
by her popularity in the south,
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Cleopatra jostles for power
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with her brother
for the next two years.
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MELINDA: Cleopatra
wants to be the sole ruler
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and the only way
that she can do this
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is by pushing her brother
into the background.
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She alone is signing petitions.
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She alone is putting
her signature on documents
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and she also has coins
that are made
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00:14:29,917 --> 00:14:32,458
in her own image to the point
where people wonder
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if there happens to be another
ruler alongside Cleopatra.
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NARRATOR:
Her actions only sharpen
250
00:14:40,208 --> 00:14:41,500
her rivalry with her brother.
251
00:14:42,958 --> 00:14:44,292
ROBERT: The Ptolemys
are always trying
252
00:14:44,458 --> 00:14:46,583
to plot against
and kill one another.
253
00:14:46,792 --> 00:14:48,125
If you're going to survive,
254
00:14:48,208 --> 00:14:50,667
you need to be
constantly on your guard,
255
00:14:50,875 --> 00:14:53,042
not just against
a threat of an external coup,
256
00:14:53,208 --> 00:14:56,000
but against
your own family members.
257
00:15:01,875 --> 00:15:04,250
[thunder clapping]
258
00:15:04,375 --> 00:15:07,958
NARRATOR: In 49 B.C.,
Theos and his faction
259
00:15:08,125 --> 00:15:11,000
make a move to get rid
of Cleopatra once and for all.
260
00:15:11,667 --> 00:15:14,375
[ominous music]
261
00:15:17,500 --> 00:15:19,500
[Cleopatra screaming]
262
00:15:20,292 --> 00:15:22,167
[man grunting]
263
00:15:23,625 --> 00:15:25,417
[screaming and grunting]
264
00:15:25,583 --> 00:15:27,417
[man choking]
265
00:15:31,708 --> 00:15:36,000
BOB: In Alexandria,
there was a significant portion
266
00:15:36,208 --> 00:15:41,208
of the population
that were against Cleopatra
267
00:15:41,375 --> 00:15:44,667
and the proof of the pudding
is Theos is successful
268
00:15:45,250 --> 00:15:49,167
in driving Cleopatra
physically out of Alexandria.
269
00:15:49,375 --> 00:15:53,917
โช
270
00:15:54,083 --> 00:15:56,083
SIMON: Cleopatra flees
to the Sinai
271
00:15:56,250 --> 00:15:57,917
where she tries
to raise an army.
272
00:15:59,375 --> 00:16:02,417
But she's held back
by her brother's forces.
273
00:16:04,042 --> 00:16:06,583
And it looks like
any attempt to retake
274
00:16:06,708 --> 00:16:08,458
Alexandra will be thwarted.
275
00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,917
REBECCA: Cleopatra's
extremely vulnerable.
276
00:16:12,083 --> 00:16:13,583
She's in the middle
of the desert
277
00:16:13,792 --> 00:16:15,917
and really
she has very few options.
278
00:16:18,833 --> 00:16:21,167
[pensive music]
279
00:16:21,333 --> 00:16:24,500
We can't wait any longer.
We must withdraw.
280
00:16:24,875 --> 00:16:26,500
-Flee?
-MAN: Survive.
281
00:16:26,667 --> 00:16:27,958
You are popular in the south.
282
00:16:28,125 --> 00:16:30,167
We can raise
another army in time.
283
00:16:30,375 --> 00:16:31,625
I need one now.
284
00:16:33,333 --> 00:16:35,500
NARRATOR: Cleopatra
knows just where to turn.
285
00:16:39,750 --> 00:16:42,208
Her father's former ally, Rome.
286
00:16:42,375 --> 00:16:44,958
[tense music]
287
00:16:47,625 --> 00:16:51,042
As an 11 year old in exile,
Cleopatra witnessed
288
00:16:51,208 --> 00:16:55,125
her father cut a deal
with Rome's greatest general.
289
00:16:56,208 --> 00:16:57,958
Welcome, Auletes.
290
00:17:00,042 --> 00:17:01,833
PRUDENCE:
Magnus or Pompey the Great
291
00:17:02,042 --> 00:17:04,250
is Rome's premier general.
292
00:17:05,542 --> 00:17:08,875
He has conducted many
successful military campaigns
293
00:17:09,042 --> 00:17:11,667
and he is emerging
as one of the most powerful men
294
00:17:11,833 --> 00:17:13,500
in the ancient world.
295
00:17:15,458 --> 00:17:17,875
Auletes promises
Pompey the equivalent
296
00:17:18,042 --> 00:17:21,083
to about three and a half
billion dollars today.
297
00:17:21,250 --> 00:17:24,833
And in return, Pompey promises
10,000 Roman mercenaries
298
00:17:25,042 --> 00:17:27,250
to help Auletes
take back his kingdom.
299
00:17:27,917 --> 00:17:29,083
MELINDA: Cleopatra
learns from her father
300
00:17:29,208 --> 00:17:30,958
that Rome can be bought,
301
00:17:31,083 --> 00:17:33,667
but she also learns
about the power of Rome
302
00:17:33,875 --> 00:17:36,792
and its ability
to protect the dynasty
303
00:17:36,958 --> 00:17:39,000
and protect
the throne in Egypt.
304
00:17:40,542 --> 00:17:44,042
NARRATOR: Like her father,
Cleopatra asks Pompey for help,
305
00:17:44,958 --> 00:17:47,500
but now he has problems
of his own.
306
00:17:48,708 --> 00:17:51,917
AMANDA: As Cleopatra clashes
with her brother in Egypt,
307
00:17:52,083 --> 00:17:54,500
Pompey has found himself
on the losing side
308
00:17:54,625 --> 00:17:56,667
in a civil war
with Julius Caesar.
309
00:17:58,083 --> 00:17:59,833
NICOLA: Pompey goes
to Egypt looking for help
310
00:18:00,042 --> 00:18:02,000
from his Egyptian allies.
311
00:18:02,208 --> 00:18:04,167
But as soon
as he steps foot on shore,
312
00:18:05,333 --> 00:18:09,333
Cleopatra's brother Theos and
his advisors have him killed.
313
00:18:13,208 --> 00:18:15,958
SIMON: Four days
after Pompey's murder,
314
00:18:16,125 --> 00:18:19,042
Caesar follows
his rival to Egypt.
315
00:18:20,375 --> 00:18:23,000
Theos hoping to carry favor
316
00:18:23,125 --> 00:18:26,708
with the victor
has a strange gift for him.
317
00:18:26,875 --> 00:18:29,458
[ominous music]
318
00:18:31,542 --> 00:18:35,000
BOB: And Julius Caesar
is revolted
319
00:18:35,542 --> 00:18:39,333
because Pompey
was a noble Roman
320
00:18:39,958 --> 00:18:43,625
who did not deserve
to be butchered
321
00:18:43,792 --> 00:18:45,708
like a sacrificial animal.
322
00:18:46,750 --> 00:18:50,167
MELINDA: At the time that
Caesar appears in Alexandria,
323
00:18:50,333 --> 00:18:53,750
Cleopatra has miles
of burning desert behind her.
324
00:18:53,958 --> 00:18:56,500
She has no food,
no water,
325
00:18:56,708 --> 00:18:59,333
and her enemies want
to take her head off.
326
00:18:59,958 --> 00:19:02,375
WOMAN: On the other hand,
my sense of Cleopatra
327
00:19:02,583 --> 00:19:04,583
is that she's
constantly thinking,
328
00:19:04,750 --> 00:19:08,125
constantly coming up with ideas
to ensure her survival.
329
00:19:09,250 --> 00:19:10,833
NARRATOR: Despite the risk,
330
00:19:10,917 --> 00:19:13,625
Cleopatra decides
to meet with Caesar in person.
331
00:19:14,875 --> 00:19:16,208
I'm going to Alexandria.
332
00:19:16,708 --> 00:19:17,875
Your majesty. Please.
333
00:19:18,042 --> 00:19:19,375
WOMAN: Send an emissary.
334
00:19:20,208 --> 00:19:22,375
I am my best ambassador.
335
00:19:23,375 --> 00:19:26,333
Cleopatra makes
a calculation
336
00:19:26,542 --> 00:19:30,000
that if she wants
to get Caesar on her side,
337
00:19:30,208 --> 00:19:32,417
she has to go to him directly
338
00:19:32,583 --> 00:19:36,167
and she has to show him
that she is going to be
339
00:19:36,292 --> 00:19:40,417
a better partner
than her younger brother Theos.
340
00:19:41,958 --> 00:19:46,500
MELINDA: Cleopatra
is 200 miles behind enemy lines.
341
00:19:46,667 --> 00:19:49,250
She needs to get
to Caesar in the palace
342
00:19:49,375 --> 00:19:51,375
and she needs
to do it undetected.
343
00:19:55,708 --> 00:19:58,500
She decides that she's gonna
take the small canals
344
00:19:58,667 --> 00:20:01,500
of the delta and find
her way into the harbor
345
00:20:01,667 --> 00:20:04,833
of Alexandria
and do so surreptitiously
346
00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:06,417
in a small boat.
347
00:20:07,708 --> 00:20:11,375
SHELLEY: It has to be remembered
Cleopatra is an outlaw.
348
00:20:11,500 --> 00:20:15,292
She could be killed,
so it's a huge gamble for her.
349
00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:21,083
BOB: Cleopatra
gets a trusted servant
350
00:20:21,250 --> 00:20:24,500
who puts her in a bundle
of dirty laundry
351
00:20:25,292 --> 00:20:29,833
and convinces the guards
that he's on his way
352
00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:31,583
to wash the laundry.
353
00:20:33,833 --> 00:20:36,125
She doesn't try
to come in with an army.
354
00:20:36,292 --> 00:20:38,250
She's coming in
in a pile of laundry.
355
00:20:38,375 --> 00:20:41,208
I mean, it's brilliant.
356
00:20:44,333 --> 00:20:48,292
ROBERT: Cleopatra's decision
to meet Caesar in person
357
00:20:48,458 --> 00:20:52,208
says a lot about the confidence
that she has in herself.
358
00:20:52,625 --> 00:20:55,917
If she can get
into a room with someone,
359
00:20:56,333 --> 00:20:59,750
she can convince them
of whatever she wants.
360
00:21:00,292 --> 00:21:03,333
[ominous music]
361
00:21:13,542 --> 00:21:16,333
Please, Caesar,
I just want to talk.
362
00:21:17,833 --> 00:21:18,875
Leave us.
363
00:21:19,042 --> 00:21:25,125
โช
364
00:21:25,333 --> 00:21:27,625
AARON: Rome is dependent
on Egypt for food.
365
00:21:27,792 --> 00:21:30,625
Egypt is itself
incredibly wealthy,
366
00:21:30,792 --> 00:21:34,333
and Caesar knows
that stabilizing Egypt
367
00:21:34,417 --> 00:21:36,208
is going
to be necessary.
368
00:21:36,375 --> 00:21:39,625
He can't simply come back
to Rome and leave Egypt
369
00:21:39,792 --> 00:21:43,333
in the midst of the Civil War
between brother and sister.
370
00:21:44,667 --> 00:21:48,667
My father was a trusted
and generous partner of Rome.
371
00:21:49,708 --> 00:21:55,417
He gave much gold and grain
and I promise to do the same.
372
00:21:57,208 --> 00:21:58,708
What about your brother?
373
00:21:59,083 --> 00:22:00,542
Put us both on the throne...
374
00:22:02,500 --> 00:22:03,958
under your protection.
375
00:22:05,542 --> 00:22:09,458
And I can ensure we both
respect the power of Rome.
376
00:22:09,583 --> 00:22:15,542
โช
377
00:22:17,083 --> 00:22:18,708
You will have no choice.
378
00:22:23,208 --> 00:22:25,208
MELINDA: One of Cleopatra's
great strengths
379
00:22:25,333 --> 00:22:28,167
is that she is a brilliant
political tactician.
380
00:22:28,292 --> 00:22:31,333
She knows that Caesar
is depleted
381
00:22:31,500 --> 00:22:33,500
because of the civil wars
that he's fought.
382
00:22:33,708 --> 00:22:36,125
Cleopatra's going
to offer him the money
383
00:22:36,292 --> 00:22:38,667
and the goods
and the riches of Egypt,
384
00:22:38,833 --> 00:22:41,000
and she will be somebody
that he can depend on.
385
00:22:42,958 --> 00:22:44,833
AMANDA: Caesar agrees
to put Cleopatra
386
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,458
and her brother Theos
on the throne as co-rulers.
387
00:22:48,625 --> 00:22:50,750
Caesar has the authority
to do this because Auletes
388
00:22:50,875 --> 00:22:54,333
listed the state of Rome
as the executor of his will.
389
00:22:54,500 --> 00:22:57,750
And now with Pompey gone,
Caesar thinks that he is Rome.
390
00:22:59,500 --> 00:23:02,708
BOB: The establishment
by Julius Caesar of Cleopatra
391
00:23:02,917 --> 00:23:07,167
and Theos is not acceptable
to Theos and his faction.
392
00:23:07,333 --> 00:23:11,250
Because there is resentment
that a foreigner in the form
393
00:23:11,417 --> 00:23:15,000
of Caesar is trying
to control the affairs of Egypt.
394
00:23:16,125 --> 00:23:19,125
And resentment
grows into a grudge,
395
00:23:19,292 --> 00:23:22,708
grows into opposition,
eventually grows
396
00:23:22,875 --> 00:23:28,750
into an open revolt,
and that leads to open warfare.
397
00:23:30,500 --> 00:23:34,125
NARRATOR: Within days,
a 20,000 strong armed mob
398
00:23:34,292 --> 00:23:35,625
loyal to Theos rises up.
399
00:23:37,375 --> 00:23:39,833
Outnumbering Caesar's forces
by five to one,
400
00:23:40,542 --> 00:23:44,333
they trap him in the royal
palace with Cleopatra.
401
00:23:44,750 --> 00:23:48,167
AMANDA: Caesar has
4,000 battle weary troops.
402
00:23:48,333 --> 00:23:49,792
It's safe to say
that he probably thought
403
00:23:49,917 --> 00:23:52,458
he was on a bit of a whistle
stop tour through Egypt.
404
00:23:52,625 --> 00:23:55,125
He was going to take Pompey
and go back to Rome
405
00:23:55,292 --> 00:23:57,708
and none of this is turning
out the way that he expected.
406
00:23:57,875 --> 00:24:00,417
At this point,
Cleopatra's sister, Arsinoe,
407
00:24:00,542 --> 00:24:02,667
joins the Alexandrian side
408
00:24:02,792 --> 00:24:05,667
and becomes the leader
of that faction.
409
00:24:05,792 --> 00:24:08,208
Arsinoe's attack
on the palace represents
410
00:24:08,417 --> 00:24:10,125
a serious level of threat.
411
00:24:10,333 --> 00:24:12,542
She poisons their water supply.
412
00:24:14,417 --> 00:24:16,875
She launches naval assaults.
413
00:24:17,083 --> 00:24:20,208
Caesar tries to reassure
his men that reinforcements
414
00:24:20,375 --> 00:24:22,333
are on their way,
but the truth is
415
00:24:22,542 --> 00:24:25,667
neither he nor Cleopatra
can say when they're coming.
416
00:24:25,875 --> 00:24:27,042
Go now!
417
00:24:27,208 --> 00:24:28,583
[yelling]
418
00:24:28,750 --> 00:24:32,042
They're outnumbered.
Time is running out.
419
00:24:32,667 --> 00:24:35,042
And if the palace falls,
they will die.
420
00:24:35,208 --> 00:24:41,458
โช
421
00:24:42,458 --> 00:24:45,083
[indistinct chatter]
422
00:24:45,583 --> 00:24:47,667
NARRATOR: As Arsinoe's
forces trap Cleopatra
423
00:24:47,833 --> 00:24:49,708
and Caesar
inside the royal palace--
424
00:24:51,333 --> 00:24:52,875
ARSINOE: Let me in.
425
00:24:53,042 --> 00:24:55,000
NARRATOR: Cleopatra
tries to break the deadlock.
426
00:24:55,208 --> 00:24:58,375
AMANDA: Caesar and Cleopatra
are running short of options.
427
00:24:58,542 --> 00:24:59,792
[Arsinoe clears throat]
428
00:24:59,958 --> 00:25:02,583
But they do think
they hold one trump card
429
00:25:02,708 --> 00:25:05,458
and this is Theos
who is still under guard
430
00:25:05,625 --> 00:25:07,750
in the palace
under their care.
431
00:25:09,125 --> 00:25:12,000
AMANDA: Caesar and Cleopatra
agree to allow Theos
432
00:25:12,167 --> 00:25:14,333
to leave the palace
with the assurance
433
00:25:14,500 --> 00:25:17,125
that he will ask
the Alexandrians to stand down.
434
00:25:18,542 --> 00:25:21,958
Of course, he instead
foments the rebellion even more.
435
00:25:22,083 --> 00:25:24,792
One might think that
this is a plan that backfired,
436
00:25:24,958 --> 00:25:27,958
but it shows
Cleopatra's political acumen.
437
00:25:28,125 --> 00:25:31,500
She's doing it
so that Caesar can see
438
00:25:31,708 --> 00:25:33,750
that Theos is definitely
not to be trusted.
439
00:25:33,875 --> 00:25:37,833
โช
440
00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,250
NARRATOR: After a grueling
six month siege,
441
00:25:41,333 --> 00:25:44,917
Caesar's reinforcements
finally reach Alexandria.
442
00:25:46,208 --> 00:25:49,708
Caesar's troops sally fourth
from the Royal Palace,
443
00:25:49,875 --> 00:25:53,042
defeat the Alexandrian troops
with the help of their allies
444
00:25:53,208 --> 00:25:54,792
and lift
the siege of Alexandria.
445
00:25:57,917 --> 00:26:00,667
AMANDA:
Theos reportedly tries to escape
446
00:26:00,833 --> 00:26:03,042
and his boat
capsizes and he drowns.
447
00:26:04,250 --> 00:26:06,292
Although his body
is never found,
448
00:26:06,458 --> 00:26:08,292
there is of course
a theory that Caesar
449
00:26:08,458 --> 00:26:10,292
or Cleopatra's men
had him killed.
450
00:26:10,500 --> 00:26:13,792
โช
451
00:26:14,833 --> 00:26:17,458
MELINDA: The death
of Cleopatra's brother, Theos
452
00:26:17,625 --> 00:26:19,875
removes an important obstacle
453
00:26:20,083 --> 00:26:22,667
in Cleopatra's way
for sole rule.
454
00:26:24,542 --> 00:26:27,500
It also removes Arsinoe
455
00:26:27,667 --> 00:26:30,667
because she is captured
by Caesar and sent to Rome.
456
00:26:34,625 --> 00:26:36,958
Egypt has truly
fallen under Caesar's thumb.
457
00:26:38,708 --> 00:26:39,833
The people will blame you.
458
00:26:40,042 --> 00:26:41,458
Would you prefer to stay here?
459
00:26:41,625 --> 00:26:44,000
I could have you
executed immediately.
460
00:26:44,167 --> 00:26:46,208
[loud spitting]
461
00:26:47,917 --> 00:26:50,250
AARON:
Cleopatra is now queen of Egypt.
462
00:26:51,167 --> 00:26:56,333
She gains more through personal
relationships and diplomacy
463
00:26:56,542 --> 00:26:59,583
than she ever could
on the battlefield.
464
00:27:01,292 --> 00:27:02,792
ROBERT:
This is her superpower.
465
00:27:02,958 --> 00:27:06,125
Somebody who can basically
466
00:27:06,292 --> 00:27:10,208
will what she wants
to happen politically.
467
00:27:10,375 --> 00:27:14,000
[pensive music]
468
00:27:14,167 --> 00:27:17,625
PRUDENCE: Cleopatra would like
to be the sole ruler of Egypt,
469
00:27:17,833 --> 00:27:20,167
but alas,
she has another brother.
470
00:27:21,167 --> 00:27:25,667
So Caesar installs
her next brother, Ptolemy XIV,
471
00:27:25,833 --> 00:27:28,833
at this time about 11 years old,
as her co-ruler
472
00:27:29,042 --> 00:27:32,500
to uphold the tradition
of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
473
00:27:32,708 --> 00:27:35,958
Cleopatra's greatest
risk now comes from the man
474
00:27:36,125 --> 00:27:39,292
who helped her get back
to the throne: Julius Caesar.
475
00:27:39,458 --> 00:27:42,500
They've made a powerful
alliance, but at the same time
476
00:27:42,667 --> 00:27:44,958
she recognizes that
that power could be taken
477
00:27:45,167 --> 00:27:48,000
quickly away if Julius Caesar
turns against her.
478
00:27:48,167 --> 00:27:50,500
NARRATOR:
To keep Caesar on her side,
479
00:27:50,583 --> 00:27:53,625
Cleopatra takes
a calculated risk.
480
00:27:56,542 --> 00:27:58,958
While it might seem
to Cleopatra's advantage
481
00:27:59,125 --> 00:28:02,042
to have Caesar
make a hasty exit from Egypt,
482
00:28:03,208 --> 00:28:06,708
she invites Caesar on a cruise
up the Nile
483
00:28:06,875 --> 00:28:08,750
to see the interior of Egypt.
484
00:28:08,917 --> 00:28:11,625
[trumpet fanfare]
485
00:28:11,750 --> 00:28:13,708
REBECCA: For Cleopatra,
the trip down the Nile
486
00:28:13,875 --> 00:28:15,833
is a key piece of propaganda.
487
00:28:16,042 --> 00:28:19,958
So this shows everybody that
she has the protection of Rome
488
00:28:20,125 --> 00:28:23,125
and that she is now
the ultimate ruler of Egypt.
489
00:28:23,333 --> 00:28:25,667
[audience applause]
490
00:28:25,833 --> 00:28:27,458
AMANDA:
Caesar knows that if he wanted
491
00:28:27,542 --> 00:28:29,583
to conquer Egypt he could,
492
00:28:29,750 --> 00:28:31,625
but he's still
consolidating his power
493
00:28:31,792 --> 00:28:33,833
after this bruising civil war.
494
00:28:34,042 --> 00:28:36,750
And it's really useful for him
to have an ally in charge
495
00:28:36,917 --> 00:28:39,833
of Egypt who he knows will
report to him and him alone.
496
00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:44,083
That's especially the case
because all of Egypt's resources
497
00:28:44,208 --> 00:28:48,000
and fertility could just
as easily go to fund and feed
498
00:28:48,083 --> 00:28:51,042
the army of one of his enemies
as it could go to him.
499
00:28:53,708 --> 00:28:56,625
We've won.
Why not enjoy yourself?
500
00:28:56,792 --> 00:28:58,792
My enemies never rest.
501
00:28:58,917 --> 00:29:01,208
The relationship
between Caesar and Cleopatra
502
00:29:01,417 --> 00:29:03,833
has a clear political dimension.
503
00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,792
Cleopatra is getting protection
from the most powerful empire
504
00:29:06,958 --> 00:29:10,167
in the world,
but there does seem to be a side
505
00:29:10,333 --> 00:29:14,833
to the relationship that is not
merely pragmatic or political.
506
00:29:17,167 --> 00:29:18,917
AARON: With Cleopatra,
I think we can
507
00:29:19,083 --> 00:29:21,333
talk about her
emotional intelligence,
508
00:29:21,542 --> 00:29:25,542
her ability to give people
what they're looking for you.
509
00:29:25,708 --> 00:29:29,000
Now, Caesar at this point
has a reputation
510
00:29:29,208 --> 00:29:32,333
as a profound
adulterer and womanizer
511
00:29:32,542 --> 00:29:34,250
throughout
the Mediterranean world.
512
00:29:34,458 --> 00:29:36,667
Well, I think it was
a meeting of the minds,
513
00:29:36,833 --> 00:29:41,000
but whether it was
really a deep-seated love affair
514
00:29:41,208 --> 00:29:43,708
or whether
it was a love affair
515
00:29:43,833 --> 00:29:46,417
of convenience
is an open question.
516
00:29:47,792 --> 00:29:49,833
NARRATOR:
After nearly a year in Egypt,
517
00:29:50,042 --> 00:29:52,625
Caesar finally departs
to fight the last
518
00:29:52,750 --> 00:29:56,167
of Pompey's supporters
and end the Civil War.
519
00:29:59,250 --> 00:30:02,625
And he's left Cleopatra
behind as his new ally.
520
00:30:02,792 --> 00:30:06,625
She's guaranteed
Egypt's resources.
521
00:30:06,833 --> 00:30:10,875
He's given her in exchange
12,000 soldiers,
522
00:30:11,042 --> 00:30:13,708
and she's also
pregnant with his child.
523
00:30:13,875 --> 00:30:17,625
It would be impossible
to stress how advantageous
524
00:30:17,750 --> 00:30:20,708
it was for Cleopatra
to have Caesar's child.
525
00:30:20,875 --> 00:30:25,250
It cements this impossibly
important union for her
526
00:30:25,417 --> 00:30:29,208
with Rome, and it ties Caesar
tremendously to her fortunes.
527
00:30:29,375 --> 00:30:32,625
Cleopatra has Rome
on her side with Caesar.
528
00:30:32,792 --> 00:30:34,917
She has Egypt in her pocket.
529
00:30:35,083 --> 00:30:37,083
She is as powerful,
530
00:30:37,250 --> 00:30:39,792
and more importantly for her,
as secure
531
00:30:41,083 --> 00:30:42,917
as she has seemingly been...
532
00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:45,542
...in her entire life
533
00:30:45,750 --> 00:30:51,208
โช
534
00:30:51,208 --> 00:30:53,833
โช
535
00:30:54,042 --> 00:30:56,167
NARRATOR:
Four years after becoming queen,
536
00:30:56,333 --> 00:30:59,667
Cleopatra's new alliance
with Caesar gives her the power
537
00:30:59,875 --> 00:31:02,875
she needs to create
a strong and stable Egypt.
538
00:31:03,042 --> 00:31:05,833
Cleopatra is very clever
about how she uses victory
539
00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:07,583
in the Alexandrian war
540
00:31:07,750 --> 00:31:10,292
as an excuse
to have a complete purge
541
00:31:10,458 --> 00:31:14,208
and ensure that it's only her
allies and supporters
542
00:31:14,375 --> 00:31:15,958
who are left standing.
543
00:31:17,208 --> 00:31:18,583
She wants to show her people
544
00:31:18,750 --> 00:31:20,875
that she's a totally
competent ruler,
545
00:31:21,042 --> 00:31:22,875
rebuilding the economy
546
00:31:23,083 --> 00:31:25,125
and really get the country
back up and running.
547
00:31:25,292 --> 00:31:26,750
AMANDA:
It's easy to forget today,
548
00:31:26,958 --> 00:31:28,708
but among Cleopatra's
many accolades
549
00:31:28,917 --> 00:31:30,542
was that she was
an astute businesswoman.
550
00:31:30,708 --> 00:31:34,792
The main industries of Egypt
were all under royal control,
551
00:31:34,958 --> 00:31:39,208
exporting wheat,
linen, flax, papyrus, gold.
552
00:31:39,375 --> 00:31:42,500
So if Egypt's economy
did well, which indeed it did
553
00:31:42,667 --> 00:31:45,125
after emerging from
the doldrums of civil war,
554
00:31:45,250 --> 00:31:47,542
much of that was
down to Cleopatra herself.
555
00:31:47,708 --> 00:31:50,042
We've recently found the papyrus
556
00:31:50,208 --> 00:31:55,833
in which an official
asks for some favors.
557
00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:59,833
And we have a subscript,
which we think is written
558
00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:04,208
in Cleopatra's own hands
that says, "make it happen."
559
00:32:05,083 --> 00:32:10,083
She is micromanaging her country
and trying to ensure
560
00:32:10,250 --> 00:32:12,500
that everything
is working properly.
561
00:32:12,667 --> 00:32:14,083
And that again speaks volumes
562
00:32:14,250 --> 00:32:16,250
of her administrative
capabilities.
563
00:32:18,042 --> 00:32:22,000
NARRATOR: Protected by Rome,
Cleopatra rules Egypt in peace.
564
00:32:23,542 --> 00:32:25,875
And she soon gets a chance
to turn her relationship
565
00:32:26,042 --> 00:32:29,458
with Caesar
into a lasting personal bond.
566
00:32:30,083 --> 00:32:33,292
In 47 B.C.,
Cleopatra gives birth
567
00:32:33,458 --> 00:32:36,667
to her first child,
the son of Julius Caesar.
568
00:32:38,417 --> 00:32:39,792
MELINDA: The name that
Cleopatra gives her son
569
00:32:39,958 --> 00:32:42,250
by Caesar
is Ptolemy Caesar.
570
00:32:42,417 --> 00:32:44,542
But his nickname
by the Alexandrians
571
00:32:44,708 --> 00:32:48,583
is Caesarion, meaning
Little Caesar or Caesar's son.
572
00:32:49,958 --> 00:32:52,000
AARON:
With the birth of Caesarion,
573
00:32:52,167 --> 00:32:57,000
Cleopatra now has a direct,
permanent link
574
00:32:57,125 --> 00:33:00,708
to the most
powerful man in Rome.
575
00:33:02,417 --> 00:33:06,000
She can utilize Caesar
as her link
576
00:33:06,167 --> 00:33:07,792
to the Roman government,
577
00:33:07,875 --> 00:33:09,708
turn Caesar to her advantage
578
00:33:09,875 --> 00:33:12,625
and further
secure her own position.
579
00:33:14,583 --> 00:33:18,208
For Cleopatra,
Caesarion presents the prospect
580
00:33:18,375 --> 00:33:23,708
of extending the alliance
with Rome into a new generation.
581
00:33:23,875 --> 00:33:27,250
Of course,
she cannot prove his paternity
582
00:33:27,417 --> 00:33:31,208
and others could
certainly claim otherwise.
583
00:33:31,375 --> 00:33:35,167
โช
584
00:33:35,333 --> 00:33:36,875
NARRATOR:
Since Caesarion's name alone
585
00:33:37,042 --> 00:33:38,667
cannot tie him to Caesar,
586
00:33:38,875 --> 00:33:44,000
in 46 B.C.,
the 22-year-old Cleopatra
587
00:33:44,125 --> 00:33:46,667
makes one of the boldest
decisions of her life.
588
00:33:46,833 --> 00:33:50,833
โช
589
00:33:50,958 --> 00:33:55,708
Cleopatra travels to
Rome to basically ask,
590
00:33:55,875 --> 00:33:58,333
"Please recognize our son."
591
00:33:59,208 --> 00:34:01,333
KATHRYN: It is a major risk
for Cleopatra
592
00:34:01,500 --> 00:34:03,625
to take the young
Caesarion to Rome,
593
00:34:03,792 --> 00:34:05,833
which compared to Alexandria
594
00:34:06,042 --> 00:34:08,500
is an unpleasant and potentially
dangerous place for her to be.
595
00:34:08,667 --> 00:34:12,292
PATRICK: But for her,
the rewards are worth it
596
00:34:12,417 --> 00:34:14,917
because if Caesarion is
acknowledged,
597
00:34:15,083 --> 00:34:18,292
then not only will he be
the heir to Ptolemaic Egypt,
598
00:34:18,458 --> 00:34:21,333
he would also have access
to Caesar's legacy in Rome,
599
00:34:21,500 --> 00:34:24,500
an entirely
different form of power,
600
00:34:24,708 --> 00:34:28,042
authority and a potential
future to go along with that.
601
00:34:29,542 --> 00:34:33,000
AARON: If Caesar refuses
to recognize Caesarion,
602
00:34:33,125 --> 00:34:36,000
that really changes
the relationship
603
00:34:36,167 --> 00:34:38,583
between Cleopatra and Rome.
604
00:34:39,875 --> 00:34:41,458
If you so much
as look at the boy,
605
00:34:41,583 --> 00:34:43,125
there'll be
whispers in the Senate.
606
00:34:43,292 --> 00:34:44,750
Why all the commotion?
607
00:34:44,917 --> 00:34:47,000
He's not even
a citizen of Rome.
608
00:34:47,708 --> 00:34:49,917
ROBERT: One of the key people
that Cleopatra meets
609
00:34:50,125 --> 00:34:52,042
while she's in Rome
is Marc Antony.
610
00:34:52,208 --> 00:34:53,625
Now, Marc Antony,
by this time
611
00:34:53,833 --> 00:34:55,500
had distinguished
himself on the battlefield.
612
00:34:55,708 --> 00:34:58,292
He had been instrumental
in various campaigns
613
00:34:58,417 --> 00:35:01,083
in Northern Gaul.
But not only that,
614
00:35:01,208 --> 00:35:04,333
he had come to be
Caesar's right-hand man.
615
00:35:06,375 --> 00:35:09,875
Caesar... hold your son.
616
00:35:10,042 --> 00:35:14,667
โช
617
00:35:14,833 --> 00:35:17,833
ROBERT: Caesar doesn't say,
"This is my son,"
618
00:35:18,042 --> 00:35:21,375
but he allows
Caesarion to use his name,
619
00:35:21,542 --> 00:35:23,958
which is kind
of like a tacit admission.
620
00:35:24,167 --> 00:35:27,333
AARON: Caesar's recognition
of Caesarion
621
00:35:27,417 --> 00:35:30,500
is more personal
than it is formal.
622
00:35:30,708 --> 00:35:34,333
But it is the informal
personal connections
623
00:35:34,542 --> 00:35:36,500
that matter to Cleopatra.
624
00:35:36,667 --> 00:35:41,208
It is the idea that she has
Caesar's personal support
625
00:35:41,375 --> 00:35:45,083
and his willingness
to work on her behalf.
626
00:35:47,500 --> 00:35:49,833
BOB: At the time
of Cleopatra's visit to Rome,
627
00:35:49,917 --> 00:35:54,750
Julius Caesar's power
is exponentially expanding.
628
00:35:54,875 --> 00:36:00,792
He's becoming the more dominant
single force in Roman politics.
629
00:36:03,083 --> 00:36:06,125
Caesar houses Cleopatra,
not in the city of Rome,
630
00:36:06,292 --> 00:36:08,333
but in his villa.
631
00:36:08,458 --> 00:36:11,167
But at the same time, Caesar's
lawfully wedded Roman wife,
632
00:36:11,333 --> 00:36:13,667
Calpurnia is there in Rome.
633
00:36:13,875 --> 00:36:16,458
AMANDA:
Rome is scandalized.
634
00:36:16,625 --> 00:36:18,333
There are already
a lot of concerns
635
00:36:18,542 --> 00:36:21,167
that he is seeking
to have far too much power.
636
00:36:21,375 --> 00:36:23,958
And so consorting
with an Egyptian queen,
637
00:36:24,125 --> 00:36:25,875
supreme ruler in her own right,
638
00:36:26,042 --> 00:36:27,417
certainly
doesn't help matters.
639
00:36:29,042 --> 00:36:31,667
[crowd cheering]
640
00:36:31,875 --> 00:36:36,333
โช
641
00:36:36,542 --> 00:36:41,250
In late 46 B.C., Julius Caesar
gets what's called a Triumph.
642
00:36:43,208 --> 00:36:46,500
A Roman Triumph
is a giant military parade
643
00:36:46,708 --> 00:36:49,708
and a show
of Rome's might and power.
644
00:36:50,708 --> 00:36:52,417
PATRICK: When Caesar appears
in public for the Triumph,
645
00:36:52,542 --> 00:36:55,333
he has his face painted red
because red is the color
646
00:36:55,417 --> 00:36:57,500
of the god Jupiter,
the chief Roman god.
647
00:36:57,667 --> 00:37:00,833
Just for a day,
Caesar is becoming a god.
648
00:37:02,208 --> 00:37:04,500
NARRATOR: Caesar's Triumph
celebrates his victories
649
00:37:04,667 --> 00:37:07,667
in Egypt, the Middle East,
North Africa,
650
00:37:07,792 --> 00:37:12,000
and Gaul where he defeated the
Gallic chieftain Vercingetorix.
651
00:37:12,833 --> 00:37:18,708
There is a long Roman tradition
of publicly executing enemies.
652
00:37:20,708 --> 00:37:24,708
This was the climax
of the Roman Triumph...
653
00:37:24,833 --> 00:37:26,500
[man grunts]
654
00:37:26,667 --> 00:37:29,750
...where the captured enemy
would be strangled to death
655
00:37:29,917 --> 00:37:33,208
[audience cheers]
656
00:37:33,375 --> 00:37:35,583
...in front
of the entire Roman crowd.
657
00:37:35,750 --> 00:37:39,792
โช
658
00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:43,750
[distant crowd din]
659
00:37:45,542 --> 00:37:48,000
AMANDA: One of the prisoners
to be paraded through the city
660
00:37:48,125 --> 00:37:52,833
in this Triumph is Arsinoe,
Cleopatra's 18-year-old sister.
661
00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:55,750
[ominous music]
662
00:38:00,375 --> 00:38:02,333
[softly] Please...
663
00:38:02,458 --> 00:38:05,625
You have to help me.
I know you will. Please.
664
00:38:06,583 --> 00:38:08,375
I'm going to lose everything.
665
00:38:10,042 --> 00:38:12,250
You are my queen.
I am nothing.
666
00:38:12,917 --> 00:38:14,250
Nothing...
667
00:38:17,125 --> 00:38:18,792
I can't help you.
668
00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:22,750
โช
669
00:38:22,958 --> 00:38:24,375
Then why are you here?
670
00:38:26,042 --> 00:38:27,417
To remind myself...
671
00:38:28,375 --> 00:38:30,417
...how dangerous you are.
672
00:38:30,583 --> 00:38:32,125
STACY:
I don't think that Cleopatra
673
00:38:32,292 --> 00:38:34,250
can rest completely comfortably
674
00:38:34,375 --> 00:38:36,333
until her sister
has been dealt with.
675
00:38:36,542 --> 00:38:38,333
I don't think
that one ever lost sight
676
00:38:38,542 --> 00:38:40,667
entirely of one's
siblings as a Ptolemy.
677
00:38:42,750 --> 00:38:44,167
NARRATOR:
But Cleopatra's plan
678
00:38:44,375 --> 00:38:47,417
to finally rid herself
of Arsinoe fails.
679
00:38:49,708 --> 00:38:52,708
[crowd booing]
680
00:38:55,458 --> 00:38:58,833
Arsinoe is a young, frail girl.
681
00:39:00,583 --> 00:39:02,875
Although she is
ferociously ambitious,
682
00:39:03,042 --> 00:39:07,417
she really engenders pity
from the Roman population.
683
00:39:09,542 --> 00:39:13,250
Julius Caesar
does not want to...
684
00:39:13,417 --> 00:39:16,125
portray himself
to the Roman public
685
00:39:16,292 --> 00:39:18,083
as some kind
of a savage barbarian.
686
00:39:18,250 --> 00:39:21,083
[crowd jeers]
687
00:39:21,250 --> 00:39:22,833
The princess...
688
00:39:24,042 --> 00:39:25,333
...will be spared.
689
00:39:25,500 --> 00:39:29,833
[crowd cheering]
690
00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:34,000
Given the murderous nature
of the Ptolemaic dynasty,
691
00:39:35,208 --> 00:39:37,583
the idea that Arsinoe
is still alive
692
00:39:37,750 --> 00:39:39,792
is extremely
worrying to Cleopatra.
693
00:39:41,042 --> 00:39:44,542
She will always be a rival
as long as she still lives.
694
00:39:44,708 --> 00:39:52,542
โช
695
00:39:52,542 --> 00:39:55,917
There's a vile rumor circling
that my sister is still alive.
696
00:39:56,042 --> 00:39:58,500
[sighs] She'll be confined
to the temple of Artemis
697
00:39:58,667 --> 00:40:00,292
and live there
under Roman guards.
698
00:40:00,458 --> 00:40:02,667
No, she was supposed
to be executed, not exiled.
699
00:40:02,833 --> 00:40:07,542
Caesar keeping Arsinoe alive
indicates that, for Caesar,
700
00:40:07,708 --> 00:40:10,500
Cleopatra ultimately is little
more than a political tool.
701
00:40:10,625 --> 00:40:15,083
Knowing that he needs Egypt,
he needs those resources,
702
00:40:15,292 --> 00:40:17,375
Caesar still
acknowledges the fact
703
00:40:17,542 --> 00:40:18,833
that he might
have to turn against her.
704
00:40:19,042 --> 00:40:21,667
โช
705
00:40:21,833 --> 00:40:23,750
NARRATOR:
To protect her position,
706
00:40:23,958 --> 00:40:26,750
Cleopatra travels
between Rome and Egypt
707
00:40:26,958 --> 00:40:28,667
for the next two years,
708
00:40:28,875 --> 00:40:31,083
maintaining
her relationship with Caesar.
709
00:40:31,625 --> 00:40:35,917
BOB: When she was out of Egypt,
the country was secure.
710
00:40:36,458 --> 00:40:38,708
There were no revolts
and there was no attempt
711
00:40:38,875 --> 00:40:41,000
at a palace coup
to overthrow her.
712
00:40:41,125 --> 00:40:43,333
So she was very, very confident
713
00:40:43,542 --> 00:40:45,583
that she could be in Rome
714
00:40:45,750 --> 00:40:48,875
and her country was
functioning and loyal to her.
715
00:40:50,500 --> 00:40:52,000
[crowd jeering]
716
00:40:52,208 --> 00:40:54,417
BARRY: Caesar's enemies
seeing the Queen of Egypt
717
00:40:54,542 --> 00:40:57,583
in the outskirts of Rome
with her son, the future king,
718
00:40:57,750 --> 00:41:00,417
and knowing
that she's Caesars mistress,
719
00:41:00,542 --> 00:41:03,333
stokes all of their worst fears,
720
00:41:03,500 --> 00:41:05,208
that Caesar wants to become
a king,
721
00:41:05,375 --> 00:41:07,667
and that his loyalty
is to Cleopatra.
722
00:41:07,875 --> 00:41:10,417
This is not
an outlandish concern
723
00:41:10,583 --> 00:41:12,500
because Rome
after all at this time,
724
00:41:12,625 --> 00:41:16,250
is still a republic,
which has elected officials.
725
00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:20,792
Rome established that republic
by overthrowing a monarchy.
726
00:41:23,750 --> 00:41:27,292
BOB: Cicero,
one of Rome's leading statesmen,
727
00:41:27,500 --> 00:41:29,500
indicates that there's a rumor
728
00:41:29,708 --> 00:41:33,125
that Cleopatra
is in fact pregnant yet again
729
00:41:33,292 --> 00:41:36,042
with another
child of Julius Caesar.
730
00:41:37,542 --> 00:41:41,792
If that child happened
to be a boy,
731
00:41:41,958 --> 00:41:47,500
that son being born in Rome
to a Roman citizen
732
00:41:47,708 --> 00:41:50,833
would certainly trump
Caesarion's position
733
00:41:51,000 --> 00:41:55,000
as the heir of Julius Caesar
in Italy.
734
00:41:55,167 --> 00:42:00,792
โช
735
00:42:00,958 --> 00:42:03,542
Cleopatra's relationship
with Caesar
736
00:42:03,708 --> 00:42:08,125
gives her immense power
and immense possibilities.
737
00:42:09,917 --> 00:42:13,625
But it's all...
blown apart.
738
00:42:13,792 --> 00:42:16,333
-[knife scraping]
-[Caesar grunting and groaning]
739
00:42:16,458 --> 00:42:18,167
-[squelching]
-Caesar: Ah!
740
00:42:18,625 --> 00:42:21,167
-[gasping]
-[stabbing scrape]
741
00:42:22,375 --> 00:42:24,167
[thudding]
742
00:42:24,333 --> 00:42:26,333
AMANDA:
On March 15th, 44 B.C.,
743
00:42:26,500 --> 00:42:30,000
Caesar is assassinated
by a group of senators
744
00:42:30,125 --> 00:42:33,042
who are worried that he is
seeking to install a monarchy.
745
00:42:33,208 --> 00:42:35,083
โช
746
00:42:35,250 --> 00:42:38,875
This throws everything
into disarray for Cleopatra.
747
00:42:39,042 --> 00:42:42,667
โช
748
00:42:47,042 --> 00:42:48,500
Caesar is dead.
749
00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:52,042
They murdered him.
You're not safe here anymore.
750
00:42:53,625 --> 00:42:56,667
For Cleopatra, this
is a disaster beyond reckoning.
751
00:42:56,833 --> 00:42:58,833
Suddenly her patron is gone.
752
00:42:59,042 --> 00:43:02,750
Suddenly her position in Rome
couldn't be more precarious.
753
00:43:02,917 --> 00:43:06,875
โช
754
00:43:07,542 --> 00:43:11,542
Cleopatra has gone
from being as secure
755
00:43:11,708 --> 00:43:14,625
as she has ever been
in her entire life
756
00:43:14,792 --> 00:43:18,375
to overnight she finds herself
under threat
757
00:43:18,542 --> 00:43:22,208
and her entire position
called into question.
758
00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:27,083
NARRATOR:
Soon after the brutal murder,
759
00:43:27,250 --> 00:43:31,208
Marc Anthony presents Caesar's
will to the Roman public.
760
00:43:33,042 --> 00:43:38,583
To the people of Rome,
I leave 75 denarii each.
761
00:43:40,000 --> 00:43:42,125
The rest of my
estate will fall to my--
762
00:43:45,583 --> 00:43:48,167
...to my principle
heir Gaius Octavius.
763
00:43:48,375 --> 00:43:52,000
The big winner in Caesar's will
764
00:43:52,208 --> 00:43:55,792
is his grandnephew,
Gaius Octavius.
765
00:43:57,875 --> 00:44:00,583
He is named as Caesar's heir,
766
00:44:00,792 --> 00:44:02,708
heir to most
of Caesar's fortune,
767
00:44:02,875 --> 00:44:06,083
and Caesar offers
him posthumous adoption.
768
00:44:07,750 --> 00:44:11,292
Caesarion's mere existence
is a threat to Octavian.
769
00:44:12,875 --> 00:44:14,667
This puts Cleopatra in
770
00:44:14,875 --> 00:44:17,542
an extremely uncomfortable
and dangerous position.
771
00:44:17,708 --> 00:44:20,500
[music crescendos, ends]
772
00:44:20,708 --> 00:44:22,708
NARRATOR:
Fearing for her safety,
773
00:44:22,875 --> 00:44:25,708
Cleopatra flees Rome for Egypt.
774
00:44:25,875 --> 00:44:28,625
Cleopatra's
possible second pregnancy
775
00:44:28,750 --> 00:44:31,667
that seems not to have
had anything come of it.
776
00:44:31,833 --> 00:44:33,833
There's certainly
no birth recorded.
777
00:44:35,417 --> 00:44:37,167
AARON:
With Caesar's assassination,
778
00:44:37,333 --> 00:44:40,667
Cleopatra realizes
she can no longer cultivate
779
00:44:40,875 --> 00:44:43,042
dependencies
with those above her.
780
00:44:43,208 --> 00:44:46,500
She has to get others
dependent on her
781
00:44:46,625 --> 00:44:49,000
from a position of advantage.
782
00:44:51,250 --> 00:44:53,542
NARRATOR: Caesar's death
leaves Cleopatra again exposed
783
00:44:53,708 --> 00:44:55,292
to her greatest rival...
784
00:44:55,500 --> 00:44:58,708
โช
785
00:44:58,833 --> 00:45:01,083
her sister, Arsinoe,
786
00:45:01,292 --> 00:45:05,542
who Caesar banished to the Roman
controlled city of Ephesus.
787
00:45:05,708 --> 00:45:10,333
โช
788
00:45:13,208 --> 00:45:15,500
Arsinoe now
thinks it's her chance
789
00:45:15,708 --> 00:45:17,333
to stake a claim
to the Egyptian throne.
790
00:45:19,083 --> 00:45:22,208
Arsinoe reaches out to some
of Egypt's priestly class
791
00:45:22,375 --> 00:45:25,125
who recognize her claim
to the throne over Cleopatra's.
792
00:45:25,250 --> 00:45:27,333
[applause]
793
00:45:27,500 --> 00:45:29,000
And she quite likely colludes
794
00:45:29,167 --> 00:45:31,417
with the now
15-year-old Ptolemy XIV,
795
00:45:31,625 --> 00:45:32,958
who is Cleopatra's co-ruler.
796
00:45:34,083 --> 00:45:37,208
NARRATOR: With Arsinoe deep
in Roman territory,
797
00:45:39,667 --> 00:45:42,542
Cleopatra cannot strike back
directly,
798
00:45:42,708 --> 00:45:45,375
so she tries
a different tactic.
799
00:45:46,708 --> 00:45:50,542
So what great prize
did our sister promise
800
00:45:50,708 --> 00:45:52,792
to win your support, hm?
801
00:45:56,208 --> 00:45:59,292
That one day you would
rule together as equals?
802
00:46:00,375 --> 00:46:03,417
MELINDA: Shortly after
Cleopatra comes back to Egypt,
803
00:46:03,583 --> 00:46:06,208
Ptolemy XIV disappears
from the record.
804
00:46:09,167 --> 00:46:13,125
Many historians believe that
Cleopatra poisoned her brother.
805
00:46:15,083 --> 00:46:17,917
BARRY: Cleopatra was famous
for her knowledge on poisons,
806
00:46:18,042 --> 00:46:21,875
and supposedly she even
tested poisons on prisoners.
807
00:46:24,042 --> 00:46:27,500
AARON: Removing this base
of support from Arsinoe,
808
00:46:27,667 --> 00:46:29,958
removing the potential threat...
809
00:46:31,542 --> 00:46:34,042
...this is what she has
literally been raised to do,
810
00:46:34,208 --> 00:46:36,375
which is to backstab
her siblings.
811
00:46:37,792 --> 00:46:39,542
She is having to rule,
812
00:46:40,917 --> 00:46:44,083
and to plan
and to plot,
813
00:46:45,500 --> 00:46:51,167
to turn herself into
an ironed-fisted monarch.
814
00:46:51,375 --> 00:46:56,333
โช
815
00:46:56,333 --> 00:46:59,000
[dramatic music]
816
00:46:59,167 --> 00:47:03,375
NARRATOR: In 44 B.C., after
7 years on the Egyptian throne,
817
00:47:03,542 --> 00:47:06,708
Cleopatra finally gets
what she's been striving for.
818
00:47:06,875 --> 00:47:08,958
Absolute power.
819
00:47:09,542 --> 00:47:12,542
With the death of Ptolemy XIV,
an opening has been created
820
00:47:12,667 --> 00:47:17,667
for Caesarion to be installed
alongside Cleopatra as co-ruler.
821
00:47:18,417 --> 00:47:21,917
Having Caesarion as her
co-ruler is really perfect
822
00:47:22,042 --> 00:47:25,625
for Cleopatra,
because he's a baby.
823
00:47:25,750 --> 00:47:28,208
She controls him completely.
824
00:47:29,250 --> 00:47:31,792
NARRATOR: By making her
three-year-old son king,
825
00:47:31,958 --> 00:47:35,333
Cleopatra tightens
her own grip on the throne.
826
00:47:36,917 --> 00:47:40,792
For the next two years,
she rules over a stable Egypt.
827
00:47:40,958 --> 00:47:43,708
Meanwhile, Rome is in chaos.
828
00:47:43,875 --> 00:47:46,750
[dramatic percussion]
829
00:47:46,875 --> 00:47:50,500
The assassination
of Julius Caesar precipitates
830
00:47:50,667 --> 00:47:52,375
a horrific civil war...
831
00:47:53,667 --> 00:47:57,667
...in which Marc Anthony,
Caesar's trusted general,
832
00:47:57,833 --> 00:48:02,292
and Octavian,
Caesar's grandnephew,
833
00:48:02,417 --> 00:48:06,208
join forces
and pursue the assassins
834
00:48:06,375 --> 00:48:11,083
across the Mediterranean in
order to bring them to justice.
835
00:48:12,292 --> 00:48:16,333
After the defeat of Caesar's
assassins on the battlefield,
836
00:48:16,500 --> 00:48:19,500
Octavian and Anthony
split the empire between them.
837
00:48:19,708 --> 00:48:21,833
ROBERT: So Marc Anthony controls
838
00:48:21,958 --> 00:48:24,167
the eastern part
of the empire,
839
00:48:24,375 --> 00:48:27,708
which includes Greece
and Syria and Turkey and Libya.
840
00:48:27,875 --> 00:48:31,125
Octavian rules
the territories to the west
841
00:48:31,333 --> 00:48:35,625
like Gaul and Spain,
and he's basically close to Rome
842
00:48:35,750 --> 00:48:37,833
where he can
cultivate his image.
843
00:48:38,000 --> 00:48:39,917
BARRY:
The alliance between the two men
844
00:48:40,125 --> 00:48:42,417
is anything but natural.
They are rivals.
845
00:48:42,583 --> 00:48:45,375
Neither one has any reason
to trust the other.
846
00:48:45,542 --> 00:48:48,042
And the Roman world
it's holding its breath
847
00:48:48,208 --> 00:48:51,292
wondering when the two
of them will come to blows.
848
00:48:51,375 --> 00:48:53,208
[seagulls cawing]
849
00:48:53,375 --> 00:48:57,750
In order to shore up
his position against Octavian,
850
00:48:57,875 --> 00:49:02,125
Antony decides to engage
in military campaigning.
851
00:49:02,292 --> 00:49:07,000
This, for the Romans, is the
classical way of getting ahead.
852
00:49:07,167 --> 00:49:10,625
This is a way for Antony
to stay in the forefront
853
00:49:10,792 --> 00:49:13,333
of Roman politics.
854
00:49:13,542 --> 00:49:16,500
To do this though,
he needs resources
855
00:49:16,625 --> 00:49:18,667
and so as many Roman generals
have in the past,
856
00:49:18,833 --> 00:49:20,333
he turns to Egypt,
857
00:49:20,500 --> 00:49:22,333
believing that there
shouldn't be any problems
858
00:49:22,417 --> 00:49:24,833
with him getting
whatever food and manpower
859
00:49:25,042 --> 00:49:26,542
and resources he needs.
860
00:49:29,833 --> 00:49:34,167
Cleopatra sees in Antony's need
for funds an opportunity.
861
00:49:34,250 --> 00:49:39,208
As opposed
to hurrying to donate,
862
00:49:39,375 --> 00:49:41,208
she thinks how
she can negotiate.
863
00:49:41,375 --> 00:49:44,625
She wants something
from Antony.
864
00:49:44,792 --> 00:49:46,542
Majesty,
865
00:49:46,708 --> 00:49:49,458
your presence is requested in
Tarsus by General Mark Antony.
866
00:49:50,833 --> 00:49:52,708
Requested?
867
00:49:52,833 --> 00:49:54,458
Demanded.
868
00:49:55,167 --> 00:49:58,333
He doesn't have time
to meet with intermediaries.
869
00:49:58,542 --> 00:50:00,542
Neither do I.
870
00:50:11,083 --> 00:50:13,625
PATRICIA: Antony, who is based
out of Tarsus in Turkey
871
00:50:13,833 --> 00:50:15,375
at this point,
872
00:50:15,542 --> 00:50:18,500
sends several letters
to Cleopatra summoning her
873
00:50:18,708 --> 00:50:22,125
and she refuses to
respond and to visit him.
874
00:50:23,500 --> 00:50:27,125
ROBERT:
This is a huge bet on herself.
875
00:50:27,292 --> 00:50:31,875
Mark Antony now has to come
begging Cleopatra for money,
876
00:50:32,042 --> 00:50:34,833
which is a remarkable rise
for a woman
877
00:50:35,000 --> 00:50:39,125
who once hid to meet Caesar
in a carpet bag.
878
00:50:39,292 --> 00:50:42,000
SHELLEY: Cleopatra knows
879
00:50:42,208 --> 00:50:45,958
she can put Antony off
for the short term.
880
00:50:46,125 --> 00:50:48,333
but in the long term,
881
00:50:48,458 --> 00:50:54,375
she realizes that she has
to have the Romans on her side.
882
00:50:59,167 --> 00:51:02,250
When Cleopatra finally comes
to Antony, she comes to him,
883
00:51:02,417 --> 00:51:07,667
not as a subject, bringing
money or tribute or taxes,
884
00:51:07,875 --> 00:51:12,667
but as a sovereign over
a great power meeting an equal.
885
00:51:14,792 --> 00:51:19,000
AMANDA: Cleopatra is
a master of political theater,
886
00:51:19,125 --> 00:51:21,250
but even
Cleopatra outdoes herself
887
00:51:21,417 --> 00:51:23,250
with her appearance in Tarsus.
888
00:51:24,417 --> 00:51:28,333
She comes in on a barge,
the sails are purple,
889
00:51:28,458 --> 00:51:32,125
the barge is painted gold,
the oars are made of silver.
890
00:51:32,292 --> 00:51:35,167
The oarsmen are keeping time
to the sound of flutes.
891
00:51:35,292 --> 00:51:37,000
And in the midst of all of it,
892
00:51:37,167 --> 00:51:39,250
Cleopatra is
dressed as Aphrodite,
893
00:51:39,417 --> 00:51:44,083
the Greek goddess of beauty,
pleasure, and fertility.
894
00:51:44,250 --> 00:51:46,250
SIMON:
She has to charm him.
895
00:51:46,417 --> 00:51:49,000
She has to form
an alliance with him
896
00:51:49,125 --> 00:51:51,042
and she knows that
the best form of alliance
897
00:51:51,208 --> 00:51:52,750
is a personal one.
898
00:51:52,875 --> 00:51:54,750
[thrilling
percussive instrumental]
899
00:52:18,500 --> 00:52:20,667
Please.
900
00:52:20,875 --> 00:52:24,792
Antony was a partier.
He was a lady's man.
901
00:52:24,958 --> 00:52:28,333
He liked to drink, he liked
to gamble, he liked pleasure.
902
00:52:28,542 --> 00:52:31,500
And so, she's really speaking
right to Antony's soul.
903
00:52:35,125 --> 00:52:37,583
CLEOPATRA: You certainly drink
more than Caesar.
904
00:52:37,750 --> 00:52:42,167
I have 60,000 men
waiting to be paid.
905
00:52:42,375 --> 00:52:45,167
Must we talk all night
about Caesar?
906
00:52:45,375 --> 00:52:47,708
I might be able to help
907
00:52:47,875 --> 00:52:52,125
if you fix one
of Caesar's greatest mistakes.
908
00:52:53,375 --> 00:52:55,333
NARRATOR: Cleopatra agrees
to provide Antony
909
00:52:55,458 --> 00:52:57,250
with gold and grain
for his army,
910
00:52:57,375 --> 00:53:00,292
but not without conditions.
911
00:53:00,375 --> 00:53:02,333
In exchange for all
she's doing for Antony,
912
00:53:02,500 --> 00:53:04,458
Cleopatra wants
something in return.
913
00:53:07,208 --> 00:53:10,792
She gets Antony to agree
to Arsinoe's execution.
914
00:53:11,875 --> 00:53:14,250
NARRATOR: As ruler
of Rome's Eastern Empire,
915
00:53:14,458 --> 00:53:16,542
Antony controls Ephesus
916
00:53:16,708 --> 00:53:19,625
where Arsinoe lives in
exile under Roman Guard.
917
00:53:23,042 --> 00:53:24,875
SIMON: Political violence
is a necessity
918
00:53:25,042 --> 00:53:27,083
of Cleopatra's position,
919
00:53:27,292 --> 00:53:29,958
both as a Ptolemaic queen
of Egypt,
920
00:53:30,125 --> 00:53:34,917
but also as a player
in the Roman Republic.
921
00:53:37,417 --> 00:53:43,292
She exists in a world where
power is a murderous game...
922
00:53:46,375 --> 00:53:48,833
...and it's either
a case of kill...
923
00:53:51,000 --> 00:53:52,583
...or be killed.
924
00:54:05,167 --> 00:54:07,333
NARRATOR:
Soon after Cleopatra agrees
925
00:54:07,500 --> 00:54:09,583
to fund Mark Antony's army,
926
00:54:09,708 --> 00:54:12,875
she invites him to Alexandria
to cement their new alliance.
927
00:54:13,917 --> 00:54:17,875
Through Antony,
Cleopatra had a Roman leader
928
00:54:18,042 --> 00:54:19,667
who was in
the palm of her hand.
929
00:54:19,833 --> 00:54:23,417
This was not the same
relationship with Caesar.
930
00:54:23,583 --> 00:54:26,958
This was not her
cow-towing to a superior.
931
00:54:27,125 --> 00:54:31,875
This was now her in a position
where she was the superior.
932
00:54:33,792 --> 00:54:36,000
It's not only gold
this one wants.
933
00:54:36,208 --> 00:54:37,958
Then what else?
934
00:54:38,083 --> 00:54:40,375
A victory to outshine Caesar.
935
00:54:41,500 --> 00:54:45,625
Up to this time,
Antony has not defeated
936
00:54:45,750 --> 00:54:48,750
quote, "a foreign enemy
of stature,"
937
00:54:48,875 --> 00:54:51,333
so he needs a big win.
938
00:54:51,500 --> 00:54:54,208
So, he looks for
military success against
939
00:54:54,375 --> 00:54:56,500
the so-called Parthians.
940
00:54:56,583 --> 00:54:59,833
Parthia is a region of the world
941
00:55:00,042 --> 00:55:04,333
that basically goes
from what is now Eastern Turkey
942
00:55:04,458 --> 00:55:06,333
over toward Afghanistan.
943
00:55:06,542 --> 00:55:09,333
Parthia has inflicted
a humiliating defeat
944
00:55:09,417 --> 00:55:12,708
on the Roman army at the battle
of Carrhae, in 53 B.C.
945
00:55:12,875 --> 00:55:15,125
and killed
the Roman General, Crassus.
946
00:55:15,208 --> 00:55:18,375
Caesar was planning
to make war on Parthia
947
00:55:18,583 --> 00:55:20,208
when he was assassinated.
948
00:55:20,375 --> 00:55:23,708
This war against Parthia
is on the agenda for Rome
949
00:55:23,875 --> 00:55:26,667
and it's Antony who wants
to fulfill this destiny.
950
00:55:26,792 --> 00:55:29,958
Lord Antony,
how are your plans for Parthia?
951
00:55:31,167 --> 00:55:33,042
Preparations are underway.
952
00:55:33,208 --> 00:55:35,208
CLIFFORD:
There's every reason to believe
953
00:55:35,375 --> 00:55:37,542
that Cleopatra
saw Antony's campaigns,
954
00:55:37,708 --> 00:55:39,833
not simply as
an extension of Roman power,
955
00:55:40,042 --> 00:55:43,125
but as a mechanism
to extend her own power as well.
956
00:55:43,292 --> 00:55:46,375
We think of Cleopatra
as the queen of Egypt,
957
00:55:46,542 --> 00:55:49,125
but earlier versions
of the Ptolemaic Kingdom
958
00:55:49,292 --> 00:55:51,750
had tentacles of power
that stretched up
959
00:55:51,917 --> 00:55:53,333
along the eastern coast
of the Mediterranean
960
00:55:53,500 --> 00:55:55,583
towards Asia Minor.
961
00:55:55,792 --> 00:55:59,042
Funding Antony's army
gives Cleopatra a lot of clout.
962
00:55:59,208 --> 00:56:03,292
If he was, in fact, successful
in conquering the Parthians,
963
00:56:03,500 --> 00:56:07,042
an enormous chunk of Asia Minor
964
00:56:07,208 --> 00:56:10,250
would be brought
to Cleopatra's realm,
965
00:56:10,458 --> 00:56:14,542
restoring Egypt
to its former position of glory
966
00:56:14,708 --> 00:56:19,333
by adding to it as much
territory as she possibly can.
967
00:56:19,542 --> 00:56:23,000
Why don't I show you
the real Alexandria?
968
00:56:26,875 --> 00:56:30,292
SHELLEY: Several times during
Antony's visits to Alexandria,
969
00:56:30,417 --> 00:56:34,833
they would go out
incognito to visit taverns
970
00:56:35,000 --> 00:56:37,333
and drink together.
971
00:56:37,542 --> 00:56:39,667
CLEOPATRA: Come, this way.
972
00:56:39,875 --> 00:56:43,750
Sources describe Antony and
Cleopatra's social relationship
973
00:56:43,875 --> 00:56:47,125
as debaucherous,
as rowdy, and as fun.
974
00:56:47,292 --> 00:56:49,750
They tell us
about a drinking society
975
00:56:49,875 --> 00:56:52,625
that the couple
co-founded in Alexandria
976
00:56:52,750 --> 00:56:55,500
called the
Inimitable Livers Association,
977
00:56:55,667 --> 00:56:59,583
a frat party in
an ancient context, if you will,
978
00:56:59,750 --> 00:57:02,833
in which participants
would compete to see
979
00:57:02,958 --> 00:57:06,667
who could drink the most
without passing out or dying.
980
00:57:06,875 --> 00:57:09,958
BOB: Antony falls in
love with Cleopatra
981
00:57:10,125 --> 00:57:14,458
and what emerges is one of
the most passionate love affairs
982
00:57:14,625 --> 00:57:17,875
ever recorded
in the ancient world.
983
00:57:19,875 --> 00:57:23,125
MELINDA: Antony and Cleopatra's
relationship takes on
984
00:57:23,292 --> 00:57:25,083
a new dimension in 40 B.C.
985
00:57:25,250 --> 00:57:27,250
Cleopatra gives birth to twins,
986
00:57:27,375 --> 00:57:31,000
Alexander Helios
and Cleopatra Selene,
987
00:57:31,125 --> 00:57:33,458
meaning the sun and the moon.
988
00:57:33,625 --> 00:57:37,667
BOB: The naming
of the children suggest
989
00:57:37,792 --> 00:57:44,458
that Mark Antony and Cleopatra
are now master and mistress
990
00:57:44,583 --> 00:57:46,833
of the universe
991
00:57:47,042 --> 00:57:49,167
because what they're
announcing to the world
992
00:57:49,292 --> 00:57:53,708
is we now have the sun
and the moon in our hands.
993
00:57:55,208 --> 00:57:58,667
NARRATOR: As Cleopatra deepens
her relationship with Antony,
994
00:57:58,875 --> 00:58:00,667
back in Rome,
995
00:58:00,875 --> 00:58:03,000
his partnership with
Octavian grows more tenuous.
996
00:58:03,125 --> 00:58:05,917
In order to cement
his alliance with Octavian,
997
00:58:06,042 --> 00:58:08,708
Antony marries
Octavian's sister, Octavia.
998
00:58:08,875 --> 00:58:11,292
He has multiple
children with her.
999
00:58:11,500 --> 00:58:14,792
This is a basic
way of cementing a bond
1000
00:58:14,917 --> 00:58:17,708
between two powerful individuals
and two powerful families.
1001
00:58:17,875 --> 00:58:20,542
But despite this,
Antony is not discreet
1002
00:58:20,667 --> 00:58:22,667
about his extramarital affairs
1003
00:58:22,875 --> 00:58:24,833
and he continues his
relationship with Cleopatra.
1004
00:58:25,000 --> 00:58:28,375
Roman wives are used
to looking the other way,
1005
00:58:28,542 --> 00:58:31,917
but still, this is
a fairly spectacular dalliance
1006
00:58:32,083 --> 00:58:35,375
that might provoke Octavian
and rub him the wrong way,
1007
00:58:35,542 --> 00:58:37,625
to see his sister
mistreated in this manner.
1008
00:58:40,458 --> 00:58:44,625
NARRATOR: After four years
of preparation, in 36 B.C.,
1009
00:58:44,833 --> 00:58:48,917
Antony leads an army funded
by Cleopatra into Parthia.
1010
00:58:49,042 --> 00:58:51,625
AMANDA: Antony's strategy
is to invade Parthia
1011
00:58:51,750 --> 00:58:54,833
by way of Armenia,
which is a Roman ally.
1012
00:58:55,042 --> 00:58:58,458
On his way, he picks up 6,000
cavalry that are given to him
1013
00:58:58,625 --> 00:59:00,500
by the Armenian King.
1014
00:59:07,542 --> 00:59:11,417
BOB: Antony now has
a well-financed army,
1015
00:59:11,542 --> 00:59:14,500
60,000 Roman soldiers,
1016
00:59:14,667 --> 00:59:20,042
30,000 allies,
almost 100,000 strong.
1017
00:59:21,792 --> 00:59:24,667
-[grunting]
-[swords clanging]
1018
00:59:24,875 --> 00:59:28,708
AARON:
If Antony defeats Parthia,
1019
00:59:28,875 --> 00:59:31,792
he becomes more important
in Roman politics.
1020
00:59:33,708 --> 00:59:38,708
And this, in turn,
allows Cleopatra to exercise
1021
00:59:38,833 --> 00:59:42,083
a greater degree of control
over Roman politics.
1022
00:59:43,667 --> 00:59:45,333
AMANDA:
But unfortunately,
1023
00:59:45,500 --> 00:59:49,333
Antony's invasion of Parthia
is an unmitigated disaster.
1024
00:59:49,500 --> 00:59:53,708
He winds up losing 24,000 men
1025
00:59:53,875 --> 00:59:58,292
and then the 6,000 Armenian
cavalry he was given betray him
1026
00:59:58,417 --> 01:00:00,000
at the orders of their king.
1027
01:00:00,167 --> 01:00:02,500
It's one of the worst defeats
in Roman history.
1028
01:00:02,667 --> 01:00:05,208
The Parthian unit that
causes Antony the most problems
1029
01:00:05,375 --> 01:00:07,042
are the mounted archers.
1030
01:00:09,042 --> 01:00:12,917
We get the English phrase,
"a parting shot,"
1031
01:00:13,083 --> 01:00:16,667
and that derives
from the Parthian tactic
1032
01:00:16,833 --> 01:00:22,250
of seemingly fleeing,
but actually shooting back.
1033
01:00:30,708 --> 01:00:34,458
AARON: Antony's loss to Parthia
is almost the best thing
1034
01:00:34,542 --> 01:00:36,917
that could
possibly happen to Cleopatra
1035
01:00:37,083 --> 01:00:40,875
because she needs Antony
personally invested in her.
1036
01:00:41,042 --> 01:00:44,667
She needs Antony
personally dependent on her.
1037
01:00:44,875 --> 01:00:51,167
So, Cleopatra actively
invests in Antony's reputation,
1038
01:00:51,292 --> 01:00:53,000
in building him back up.
1039
01:00:53,125 --> 01:00:56,500
CLIFFORD: With the full
funding of Cleopatra,
1040
01:00:56,708 --> 01:00:59,667
Antony launches a campaign
of revenge in Armenia.
1041
01:00:59,875 --> 01:01:02,833
He deposes the king who
had previously betrayed him
1042
01:01:03,042 --> 01:01:06,750
and declares the best possible
victory that he could obtain.
1043
01:01:10,708 --> 01:01:13,250
NARRATOR: Cleopatra
celebrates Antony's victory
1044
01:01:13,417 --> 01:01:15,750
with a Roman-style triumph.
1045
01:01:18,208 --> 01:01:21,333
Then, at a second,
more lavish event,
1046
01:01:21,458 --> 01:01:23,292
she dares to challenge Rome.
1047
01:01:24,083 --> 01:01:27,542
It will become known as
the Donations of Alexandria.
1048
01:01:27,750 --> 01:01:29,167
-CLEOPATRA: It's time.
-ANTONY: You sure?
1049
01:01:31,208 --> 01:01:32,750
There'll be no going back.
1050
01:01:33,708 --> 01:01:35,042
I'm sure.
1051
01:01:39,208 --> 01:01:40,917
[dramatic instrumental]
1052
01:01:44,417 --> 01:01:45,958
AMANDA:
In this ceremony,
1053
01:01:46,125 --> 01:01:49,583
Antony gives lands
to his children by Cleopatra.
1054
01:01:49,750 --> 01:01:53,000
They are claiming rule
over a kingdom
1055
01:01:53,208 --> 01:01:58,500
that stretches from the
Nubian Desert to Southwest Asia
1056
01:01:58,583 --> 01:02:01,958
to Eastern Mediterranean
to Europe.
1057
01:02:02,125 --> 01:02:05,542
I mean, they were
claiming land, namely Parthia,
1058
01:02:05,708 --> 01:02:07,917
that they hadn't
even conquered yet.
1059
01:02:08,083 --> 01:02:10,292
This is Cleopatra
making a statement.
1060
01:02:10,458 --> 01:02:12,667
Egypt is going to dominate
1061
01:02:12,833 --> 01:02:14,625
and she will be
the most powerful person
1062
01:02:14,792 --> 01:02:16,167
in the ancient world.
1063
01:02:16,333 --> 01:02:22,167
This is an amazing
power grab by Cleopatra,
1064
01:02:22,375 --> 01:02:28,083
but it's also a challenge
to Rome and the Romans.
1065
01:02:33,167 --> 01:02:35,458
NARRATOR:
News of Cleopatra's brazen claim
1066
01:02:35,625 --> 01:02:38,208
makes its way rapidly to Rome.
1067
01:02:38,375 --> 01:02:42,375
And one statement pushes
Octavian to the breaking point.
1068
01:02:44,000 --> 01:02:45,333
"At the end of the ceremony...
1069
01:02:45,500 --> 01:02:47,500
[applause]
1070
01:02:47,667 --> 01:02:49,500
...the royal couple...
1071
01:02:49,625 --> 01:02:50,833
[applause]
1072
01:02:51,042 --> 01:02:53,458
...presented a teenage boy
1073
01:02:53,625 --> 01:02:56,000
to the adoring spectators.
1074
01:02:56,125 --> 01:03:00,333
ANTONY:
We present you, Ptolemy Caesar.
1075
01:03:00,542 --> 01:03:02,875
"The one and only heir...
1076
01:03:03,042 --> 01:03:05,375
To the late Julius Caesar.
1077
01:03:08,083 --> 01:03:13,917
Octavian sees himself as
the true heir of Julius Caesar.
1078
01:03:14,083 --> 01:03:20,542
So, he sees Caesarion being
named as the heir of Caesar
1079
01:03:20,708 --> 01:03:23,292
as a personal insult.
1080
01:03:24,958 --> 01:03:28,208
At the very least,
Octavian recognizes
1081
01:03:28,333 --> 01:03:32,917
that an ascendant Egyptian
empire is a potential reality.
1082
01:03:33,083 --> 01:03:37,417
He recognizes that
Cleopatra is now a threat.
1083
01:03:46,333 --> 01:03:48,417
STACY: Octavian is one
of those people in history
1084
01:03:48,583 --> 01:03:50,000
who was as powerful as he was
1085
01:03:50,167 --> 01:03:52,167
because he was so
seriously underestimated.
1086
01:03:53,542 --> 01:03:56,667
When first
he arrives on the scene,
1087
01:03:56,750 --> 01:03:58,708
he's got no military
experience whatsoever.
1088
01:03:58,875 --> 01:04:02,458
And he's a very deliberative,
controlling person.
1089
01:04:04,583 --> 01:04:06,250
AARON:
I think somewhat ironically,
1090
01:04:06,375 --> 01:04:09,000
there's a tremendous
amount in common
1091
01:04:09,167 --> 01:04:12,292
between Octavian and Cleopatra.
1092
01:04:13,292 --> 01:04:18,833
Octavian in Rome is able
to create this mythology
1093
01:04:19,042 --> 01:04:23,750
around himself as the heir,
the successor,
1094
01:04:23,917 --> 01:04:28,167
the embodiment
of Caesar as a divine being.
1095
01:04:28,333 --> 01:04:31,958
Very much the same way that
Cleopatra is presenting herself
1096
01:04:32,125 --> 01:04:34,458
as the goddess Isis.
1097
01:04:36,917 --> 01:04:39,167
NARRATOR:
To fight back against Cleopatra,
1098
01:04:39,375 --> 01:04:42,458
Octavian violates one
of Rome's most sacred spaces,
1099
01:04:42,625 --> 01:04:45,083
the Temple of Vesta.
1100
01:04:50,042 --> 01:04:52,250
AMANDA: The Temple of Vesta
happens to be
1101
01:04:52,375 --> 01:04:55,375
where a lot of Rome's
elites store their wills.
1102
01:04:55,542 --> 01:04:58,125
It is forbidden for
a man to enter the temple
1103
01:04:58,292 --> 01:05:00,792
and it's also forbidden
to unseal a will
1104
01:05:00,958 --> 01:05:02,875
before a man has died.
1105
01:05:10,792 --> 01:05:12,917
But none of this stops Octavian.
1106
01:05:13,083 --> 01:05:15,500
He enters the temple
and he gets his hands
1107
01:05:15,667 --> 01:05:17,292
on Mark Antony's will.
1108
01:05:19,208 --> 01:05:22,083
ROBERT: Octavian is one
of those politicians
1109
01:05:22,250 --> 01:05:26,083
for whom shared power
is not enough.
1110
01:05:26,250 --> 01:05:30,375
So, when he sees an opportunity
to take total power,
1111
01:05:30,542 --> 01:05:32,000
he's going to go for it.
1112
01:05:33,750 --> 01:05:40,042
The noble Mark Antony,
upon his death,
1113
01:05:40,208 --> 01:05:46,500
leaves all his lands
and his wealth to his children.
1114
01:05:46,708 --> 01:05:48,667
Not those by my sister...
1115
01:05:51,208 --> 01:05:53,917
...but those by
Queen of Eunuchs,
1116
01:05:54,083 --> 01:05:57,792
a worshiper, a beast god.
1117
01:05:57,958 --> 01:06:01,458
Octavian's reading
of Antony's will
1118
01:06:01,625 --> 01:06:06,708
suggests that Antony's intention
is to move the seat of power
1119
01:06:06,875 --> 01:06:09,292
from Rome to Alexandria,
1120
01:06:09,458 --> 01:06:14,167
abolishing the Republic and
replacing it with a monarchy.
1121
01:06:14,333 --> 01:06:17,833
He is clearly under the spell
of a foreign witch, Cleopatra.
1122
01:06:18,042 --> 01:06:19,333
[men shouting]
1123
01:06:19,542 --> 01:06:21,375
AMANDA: The Romans
are weary of civil war
1124
01:06:21,583 --> 01:06:24,083
and so they might not
look too kindly upon the idea
1125
01:06:24,208 --> 01:06:26,375
that Octavian is trying
to spark another war
1126
01:06:26,542 --> 01:06:28,042
against a fellow Roman.
1127
01:06:28,208 --> 01:06:30,167
Instead, he's able
to paint Cleopatra
1128
01:06:30,375 --> 01:06:31,875
as the real enemy of state
1129
01:06:32,042 --> 01:06:34,708
and Antony
essentially as her dupe.
1130
01:06:34,875 --> 01:06:41,000
AARON: Antony has been seduced
by a sorceress in Cleopatra,
1131
01:06:41,208 --> 01:06:44,333
who has stripped him
of his manhood.
1132
01:06:44,500 --> 01:06:48,333
She is opposed, of course,
to everything that the good,
1133
01:06:48,458 --> 01:06:51,875
proper, patriarchal
Roman empire stands for.
1134
01:06:52,042 --> 01:06:54,833
AMANDA: After two years
1135
01:06:55,042 --> 01:06:57,000
of painting Cleopatra
as a foreign queen
1136
01:06:57,125 --> 01:06:59,125
who plans to conquer Rome,
1137
01:06:59,250 --> 01:07:01,500
Octavian is able
to convince the Senate
1138
01:07:01,708 --> 01:07:03,625
to declare war on Egypt.
1139
01:07:03,833 --> 01:07:06,042
Really, it's a war on Antony,
1140
01:07:06,208 --> 01:07:08,000
with Cleopatra as the scapegoat.
1141
01:07:08,167 --> 01:07:11,125
NARRATOR:
As Rome turns on Antony,
1142
01:07:11,250 --> 01:07:14,375
Cleopatra's kingdom
is also under threat.
1143
01:07:14,542 --> 01:07:18,042
And in 32 B.C.,
the two of them unite
1144
01:07:18,208 --> 01:07:21,167
against their common enemy,
Octavian.
1145
01:07:21,375 --> 01:07:22,875
Will everything
be ready in time?
1146
01:07:23,042 --> 01:07:25,083
Yes, majesty.
1147
01:07:28,167 --> 01:07:30,500
CLIFFORD:
As Antony gathers his forces,
1148
01:07:30,667 --> 01:07:34,167
Cleopatra supports him
in two very substantial ways.
1149
01:07:34,333 --> 01:07:37,708
A huge influx of gold with
which he can pay his soldiers
1150
01:07:37,917 --> 01:07:41,708
and a fleet of her own,
of some 60 ships.
1151
01:07:41,917 --> 01:07:44,208
Cleopatra is a foreign queen
1152
01:07:44,375 --> 01:07:49,250
and if they go invading
Octavian in Rome together,
1153
01:07:49,417 --> 01:07:52,667
this feeds right
into Octavian's propaganda.
1154
01:07:52,833 --> 01:07:56,583
So, their plan is to draw
Octavian away from Rome
1155
01:07:56,750 --> 01:07:58,500
and fight the battle at sea.
1156
01:07:58,708 --> 01:08:02,500
NARRATOR: Cleopatra joins
Antony in western Greece,
1157
01:08:02,708 --> 01:08:04,792
near the Bay of Actium.
1158
01:08:04,958 --> 01:08:09,542
Their combined force now
includes 100,000 soldiers
1159
01:08:09,708 --> 01:08:13,833
and a fleet of 500 warships,
equal to Octavian's.
1160
01:08:14,042 --> 01:08:16,167
BOB: In the winter of 31 B.C.,
1161
01:08:16,333 --> 01:08:20,458
the forces of Octavian
moved more rapidly
1162
01:08:20,625 --> 01:08:22,542
than Antony anticipated.
1163
01:08:22,750 --> 01:08:28,000
Octavian's forces create
an unexpected blockade,
1164
01:08:28,167 --> 01:08:32,375
which cuts off
the supply line of Antony.
1165
01:08:32,583 --> 01:08:35,833
So, it becomes more
and more difficult for him
1166
01:08:35,958 --> 01:08:37,750
to acquire reinforcements.
1167
01:08:43,250 --> 01:08:46,125
BARRY:
As the weeks and months pass,
1168
01:08:46,333 --> 01:08:49,125
Antony's army condition
gets worse and worse.
1169
01:08:49,250 --> 01:08:51,250
They are deprived of food.
1170
01:08:51,417 --> 01:08:53,208
They are in a malarial area.
1171
01:08:53,375 --> 01:08:56,958
They are probably
suffering from dysentery
1172
01:08:57,167 --> 01:09:01,583
and quite a few of his
allies defect to Octavian.
1173
01:09:02,292 --> 01:09:03,542
As a way
of maintaining discipline,
1174
01:09:03,750 --> 01:09:06,583
he orders the execution
of an allied king
1175
01:09:06,750 --> 01:09:08,500
and even of a Roman Senator.
1176
01:09:11,875 --> 01:09:15,667
STACY: At this point, Cleopatra
finds herself in a multi-ethnic,
1177
01:09:15,833 --> 01:09:17,125
all-male military camp
1178
01:09:17,250 --> 01:09:19,000
where she's quite
unwelcome as a woman
1179
01:09:19,125 --> 01:09:20,500
and as an Eastern monarch.
1180
01:09:24,875 --> 01:09:30,833
Octavian's forces are
here and here, land and sea.
1181
01:09:31,042 --> 01:09:33,500
[sighing]
1182
01:09:33,625 --> 01:09:36,167
We draw them
North and our ships--
1183
01:09:36,375 --> 01:09:39,333
There is the other option, Sir.
1184
01:09:39,458 --> 01:09:42,833
There are some senior advisors
in Antony's camp,
1185
01:09:43,042 --> 01:09:47,000
in his army,
that see Cleopatra as toxic.
1186
01:09:47,208 --> 01:09:49,417
So, maybe if Antony
would stop taking decisions
1187
01:09:49,542 --> 01:09:52,833
from this foreign queen
and just hand her over,
1188
01:09:53,042 --> 01:09:54,167
this thing would be over.
1189
01:09:54,375 --> 01:09:59,167
There's no other option.
We fight by sea.
1190
01:10:02,375 --> 01:10:05,292
NARRATOR: But Antony does
not betray Cleopatra.
1191
01:10:08,167 --> 01:10:10,708
BARRY: It's all too easy
for us historians
1192
01:10:10,875 --> 01:10:13,625
to say, "We don't do love,
we don't do emotions.
1193
01:10:13,792 --> 01:10:16,458
"It's all rationality
and cold statecraft."
1194
01:10:16,583 --> 01:10:18,333
But we know as human beings
1195
01:10:18,458 --> 01:10:20,333
that often
the most powerful thing
1196
01:10:20,458 --> 01:10:22,917
for why people do something
is love.
1197
01:10:23,125 --> 01:10:25,125
And I find it
difficult to explain
1198
01:10:25,292 --> 01:10:27,000
some of Antony's behavior
1199
01:10:27,167 --> 01:10:28,583
if we don't add
love to the equation.
1200
01:10:31,417 --> 01:10:34,417
PRUDENCE: Cleopatra has a way
of taking circumstance,
1201
01:10:34,583 --> 01:10:37,500
even a bad circumstance,
and using it to her advantage.
1202
01:10:37,708 --> 01:10:41,000
Just when we think it
has to be all over for her,
1203
01:10:41,167 --> 01:10:42,958
she has another plan.
1204
01:10:43,042 --> 01:10:44,875
I'm not afraid
to go down fighting.
1205
01:10:47,333 --> 01:10:50,250
Perhaps we don't fight at all.
1206
01:10:50,417 --> 01:10:53,333
Octavian wants to end it here.
1207
01:10:53,500 --> 01:10:56,583
But if we pack our sails,
we can outrun his fastest ships.
1208
01:10:56,750 --> 01:10:58,583
Flee?
1209
01:11:00,042 --> 01:11:01,417
Survive.
1210
01:11:02,375 --> 01:11:05,333
It's unusual
to bring your sails with you
1211
01:11:05,417 --> 01:11:07,208
into an ancient naval battle.
1212
01:11:07,375 --> 01:11:09,333
The reason is that you
wanted your ships to be as light
1213
01:11:09,542 --> 01:11:11,250
and maneuverable as possible.
1214
01:11:11,417 --> 01:11:14,000
But by having
sails on their ships
1215
01:11:14,208 --> 01:11:15,917
where the enemy
presumably won't,
1216
01:11:16,083 --> 01:11:17,542
they will have an advantage
1217
01:11:17,708 --> 01:11:19,125
because with
the wind at their backs,
1218
01:11:19,292 --> 01:11:21,000
they'll move much more quickly
1219
01:11:21,125 --> 01:11:22,708
than the enemy can
in following them.
1220
01:11:23,750 --> 01:11:26,333
AMANDA:
Sensing an unwinnable situation,
1221
01:11:26,542 --> 01:11:30,125
Cleopatra convinces Antony
to make a tactical retreat.
1222
01:11:30,292 --> 01:11:32,667
And what they'll do
is line up their ships
1223
01:11:32,833 --> 01:11:35,708
as if they're preparing to
engage in battle with Octavian.
1224
01:11:35,875 --> 01:11:38,000
But instead,
they'll maneuver to make a gap
1225
01:11:38,208 --> 01:11:40,667
in the opposing forces,
they'll sail through
1226
01:11:40,833 --> 01:11:43,250
and hopefully, live on
to fight another day.
1227
01:11:46,833 --> 01:11:49,292
SIMON: Faced with all
the desertions of troops,
1228
01:11:49,458 --> 01:11:51,500
Antony doesn't
have enough men now
1229
01:11:51,667 --> 01:11:54,333
to man this enormous number
of ships.
1230
01:11:54,500 --> 01:11:56,333
And so,
he's faced with a dilemma.
1231
01:11:56,458 --> 01:11:58,042
If he abandons them,
1232
01:11:58,208 --> 01:12:00,500
Octavian may use
the ships against him.
1233
01:12:00,708 --> 01:12:02,875
And so he takes
the difficult decision
1234
01:12:03,042 --> 01:12:05,542
to burn some of his feet.
1235
01:12:05,708 --> 01:12:07,292
Fire!
1236
01:12:09,833 --> 01:12:12,458
BARRY: The stakes at Actium
couldn't be higher.
1237
01:12:12,625 --> 01:12:14,792
If Octavian can
defeat Antony and Cleopatra,
1238
01:12:14,958 --> 01:12:17,333
then he will have control
of the Roman Empire.
1239
01:12:17,542 --> 01:12:19,833
But what if Antony and Cleopatra
are able to escape?
1240
01:12:20,042 --> 01:12:23,583
Then they might be able to live
and fight again another day
1241
01:12:26,333 --> 01:12:29,708
.
1242
01:12:31,375 --> 01:12:35,333
She has risked her entire power,
her entire kingdom,
1243
01:12:35,458 --> 01:12:41,083
the survival of her entire
dynasty on one man, Antony.
1244
01:12:45,125 --> 01:12:49,417
NARRATOR: On the morning
of September 2nd, 31 B.C.,
1245
01:12:49,542 --> 01:12:52,167
Antony's warships
advance out of Actium
1246
01:12:52,375 --> 01:12:54,750
with Cleopatra's
vessels in the rear.
1247
01:12:54,917 --> 01:12:57,292
AARON:
During the course of the battle,
1248
01:12:57,458 --> 01:13:00,667
Antony's forces are
able to open up the center
1249
01:13:00,875 --> 01:13:04,667
of Octavian's line
and give his ships
1250
01:13:04,875 --> 01:13:09,875
a means of escaping
the narrow bay of Actium.
1251
01:13:11,042 --> 01:13:13,500
Then the fog of war
seems to take over.
1252
01:13:13,667 --> 01:13:17,375
Our sources are confused about
what exactly is going on.
1253
01:13:17,542 --> 01:13:20,458
But what we do know is that
Cleopatra's ships
1254
01:13:20,625 --> 01:13:22,500
now try to make an escape
into the open ocean.
1255
01:13:22,708 --> 01:13:24,750
Antony tries to follow her.
1256
01:13:24,875 --> 01:13:28,750
His formation is completely
broken up.
1257
01:13:29,833 --> 01:13:32,250
And the Roman Forces
of Octavian
1258
01:13:32,417 --> 01:13:35,417
are able to take advantage
of the situation
1259
01:13:35,542 --> 01:13:39,375
and cause the destruction
of almost the entire fleet.
1260
01:13:41,625 --> 01:13:43,250
The impact of Actium
1261
01:13:43,417 --> 01:13:46,667
on Cleopatra
and Mark Antony is catastrophic.
1262
01:13:47,708 --> 01:13:50,375
Most of the army
defects to Octavian
1263
01:13:50,542 --> 01:13:53,000
so they are not going
to recover from this loss.
1264
01:13:53,167 --> 01:13:56,250
And the dream of Egypt
at the center of a world empire
1265
01:13:56,417 --> 01:13:57,667
has been shattered.
1266
01:13:59,208 --> 01:14:02,667
Like other great battles such
as Waterloo or Gettysburg,
1267
01:14:02,833 --> 01:14:05,458
it really reshapes what
the world will look like
1268
01:14:05,667 --> 01:14:07,542
for centuries
and millennia to come.
1269
01:14:09,542 --> 01:14:11,208
As soon as she's back in Egypt,
1270
01:14:12,042 --> 01:14:14,542
Cleopatra forges a plan
to protect her dynasty.
1271
01:14:16,542 --> 01:14:19,542
Caesarion now has a huge target
on his back
1272
01:14:20,042 --> 01:14:24,417
because Octavian is looking
for a way to murder
1273
01:14:24,583 --> 01:14:28,208
the last challenger to his rule.
1274
01:14:28,875 --> 01:14:30,083
Be safe.
1275
01:14:31,583 --> 01:14:35,125
So she takes Caesarion along
with a huge pot of gold
1276
01:14:35,292 --> 01:14:37,667
and sends him off to India.
1277
01:14:38,250 --> 01:14:40,417
In the hope not only
to protect him
1278
01:14:40,542 --> 01:14:43,708
but hopefully one day
he'll be able to raise an army
1279
01:14:43,875 --> 01:14:47,583
and perhaps even come back
and challenge Octavia.
1280
01:14:49,000 --> 01:14:51,833
โช
1281
01:14:58,125 --> 01:15:01,000
After Actium, Cleopatra
becomes immensely resourceful.
1282
01:15:01,208 --> 01:15:04,708
She begins to cast about for
all possible means of escape.
1283
01:15:05,417 --> 01:15:07,500
For every possible way
to insulate her kingdom
1284
01:15:07,625 --> 01:15:09,583
from Octavian's approach.
1285
01:15:11,208 --> 01:15:13,458
Antony takes
the opposite attack.
1286
01:15:13,875 --> 01:15:17,833
Antony is quite frankly
depressed after this loss,
1287
01:15:18,042 --> 01:15:20,750
it marks the end
of his role as one of
1288
01:15:20,917 --> 01:15:22,833
the two strongest men
in the Roman State.
1289
01:15:23,042 --> 01:15:25,458
And he knows that
he is going to have to submit
1290
01:15:25,667 --> 01:15:27,167
to Octavian's power.
1291
01:15:27,333 --> 01:15:29,833
Cleopatra tries to negotiate,
1292
01:15:30,042 --> 01:15:32,750
tries to do what she had always
done throughout her life.
1293
01:15:32,875 --> 01:15:36,958
Figure out
what can she give to Octavian
1294
01:15:37,083 --> 01:15:41,750
that will give her
some degree of flexibility.
1295
01:15:47,375 --> 01:15:48,625
So?
1296
01:15:50,083 --> 01:15:54,500
He said I could remain queen,
if I hand you over.
1297
01:15:56,167 --> 01:15:57,292
Dead or alive?
1298
01:15:59,125 --> 01:16:00,167
He doesn't care.
1299
01:16:02,625 --> 01:16:04,000
And do you?
1300
01:16:05,958 --> 01:16:09,167
I think there was
this common bond
1301
01:16:09,333 --> 01:16:10,917
between Antony and Cleopatra
1302
01:16:11,042 --> 01:16:13,875
and just as Antony would not
abandon her at Actium,
1303
01:16:14,042 --> 01:16:15,792
Cleopatra would not
abandon him.
1304
01:16:17,875 --> 01:16:20,500
Rejecting Octavian's offer,
1305
01:16:20,625 --> 01:16:23,208
Cleopatra prepares for
his inevitable invasion
1306
01:16:24,250 --> 01:16:26,292
by constructing her own tomb.
1307
01:16:27,375 --> 01:16:29,792
Cleopatra begins
to build a mausoleum
1308
01:16:29,958 --> 01:16:33,833
into which she piles
as many treasures as she can
1309
01:16:34,042 --> 01:16:36,250
possibly transport
across Alexandria.
1310
01:16:36,792 --> 01:16:39,333
What does any Roman ruler want?
1311
01:16:39,458 --> 01:16:42,042
They want goods,
they want treasure
1312
01:16:42,208 --> 01:16:45,417
and this she can use
to bargain with Octavian
1313
01:16:45,583 --> 01:16:49,708
for her kingdom, and her life.
1314
01:16:50,500 --> 01:16:54,083
โช
1315
01:17:01,542 --> 01:17:04,000
In the summer of 30 B.C.,
1316
01:17:04,167 --> 01:17:10,500
Octavian renews his campaign
against Antony and Cleopatra
1317
01:17:10,667 --> 01:17:12,833
by actually invading Egypt.
1318
01:17:14,125 --> 01:17:17,000
Octavian lands his fleets
on the East and the West coast
1319
01:17:17,125 --> 01:17:20,708
of Alexandria and his forces
then surround the city.
1320
01:17:23,958 --> 01:17:26,042
AMANDA: Mark Antony leads
his cavalry
1321
01:17:26,208 --> 01:17:27,750
against Octavian's troops.
1322
01:17:27,917 --> 01:17:29,958
And he earns a surprise victory.
1323
01:17:30,083 --> 01:17:34,292
Even so, in the next few days,
most of his troops defect.
1324
01:17:34,917 --> 01:17:36,000
Wake up!
1325
01:17:37,125 --> 01:17:40,667
For Antony,
it is simply unbelievable
1326
01:17:40,833 --> 01:17:44,333
that he has been
outmaneuvered by Octavian.
1327
01:17:44,500 --> 01:17:46,083
Traitor!
1328
01:17:46,292 --> 01:17:49,125
He believes that it must be
the work of Cleopatra.
1329
01:17:49,333 --> 01:17:50,708
You sold me out.
1330
01:17:51,042 --> 01:17:52,292
You sold me out!
1331
01:17:54,167 --> 01:17:55,292
You're wrong.
1332
01:17:59,542 --> 01:18:01,208
Cleopatra doesn't betray
Mark Antony.
1333
01:18:01,375 --> 01:18:03,708
She may have realized that
it was not going to pacify
1334
01:18:03,917 --> 01:18:05,500
Octavian in the first place.
1335
01:18:05,708 --> 01:18:08,000
She may have been utterly
loyal to Mark Antony.
1336
01:18:08,208 --> 01:18:10,625
We really have no insight into
her thinking at that moment.
1337
01:18:16,792 --> 01:18:19,000
NARRATOR: Taking refuge
in her tomb,
1338
01:18:19,083 --> 01:18:21,917
Cleopatra makes
a surprising declaration.
1339
01:18:23,042 --> 01:18:25,292
Cleopatra sends the message
to Antony
1340
01:18:25,500 --> 01:18:27,125
that she's committed
suicide.
1341
01:18:27,625 --> 01:18:29,667
Why does she do this?
1342
01:18:30,083 --> 01:18:32,417
This is the great question.
1343
01:18:32,583 --> 01:18:34,667
Some historians
seem to think that
1344
01:18:34,833 --> 01:18:37,167
Cleopatra announces
her death publicly
1345
01:18:37,375 --> 01:18:39,375
in order to warn Antony.
1346
01:18:39,500 --> 01:18:43,542
To give him time to escape or
to die by suicide if he wishes.
1347
01:18:44,375 --> 01:18:47,083
BARRY: Did she want to get rid
of him as a way to survive
1348
01:18:47,208 --> 01:18:49,167
and to present herself
to Octavia in saying,
1349
01:18:49,292 --> 01:18:50,667
"Look what I did for you?
1350
01:18:50,875 --> 01:18:52,208
I got rid of Antony."
1351
01:18:52,375 --> 01:18:53,792
We can't rule that out.
1352
01:18:54,458 --> 01:18:57,333
PRUDENCE: In any case,
Antony receives a message
1353
01:18:57,542 --> 01:18:59,250
that Cleopatra is dead.
1354
01:18:59,375 --> 01:19:04,625
This causes him to immediately
try to take his own life.
1355
01:19:04,750 --> 01:19:06,208
[banging on door]
1356
01:19:06,375 --> 01:19:07,667
Open the door.
1357
01:19:08,083 --> 01:19:10,958
The Romans had a very rigid
idea of what constituted
1358
01:19:11,083 --> 01:19:13,750
an honorable suicide,
particularly for someone
1359
01:19:13,917 --> 01:19:18,375
of Antony's standing
and this was death by the sword.
1360
01:19:20,083 --> 01:19:23,792
Unfortunately, Antony misses
his vital organs.
1361
01:19:24,000 --> 01:19:27,250
So we think that his death
was quite painful and long.
1362
01:19:29,375 --> 01:19:31,000
In his dying moments,
1363
01:19:31,167 --> 01:19:35,833
Antony warns Cleopatra,
"Do not trust Octavian."
1364
01:19:36,708 --> 01:19:39,167
[heavy breathing]
1365
01:19:39,333 --> 01:19:41,125
Don't believe his lies.
1366
01:19:41,542 --> 01:19:45,292
He'll parade you in Rome.
1367
01:19:45,500 --> 01:19:47,125
[sobbing]
1368
01:19:47,792 --> 01:19:49,125
His prize.
1369
01:19:57,042 --> 01:19:58,458
PRUDENCE: With Antony's death,
1370
01:19:58,625 --> 01:20:01,042
Cleopatra has lost
her last ally.
1371
01:20:01,875 --> 01:20:03,292
She's now alone,
1372
01:20:04,917 --> 01:20:09,167
fighting for her kingdom
and fighting for her life.
1373
01:20:09,333 --> 01:20:17,292
โช
1374
01:20:17,292 --> 01:20:19,167
[fire crackling]
1375
01:20:21,958 --> 01:20:23,583
STACY: Cleopatra seems
truly unnerved
1376
01:20:23,708 --> 01:20:25,292
by the death of Mark Antony.
1377
01:20:27,958 --> 01:20:30,917
She very rarely,
on the historical record anyway,
1378
01:20:31,042 --> 01:20:34,042
loses her calm
and her poise and here she does.
1379
01:20:35,583 --> 01:20:37,458
The grief seems really sincere.
1380
01:20:45,042 --> 01:20:46,583
REBECCA: If nothing else,
1381
01:20:46,750 --> 01:20:49,375
Cleopatra is
extremely resourceful.
1382
01:20:49,500 --> 01:20:51,167
She's very strategic.
1383
01:20:51,292 --> 01:20:53,750
And so we may imagine
that at this point,
1384
01:20:53,958 --> 01:20:56,042
even though all hope
seems lost,
1385
01:20:56,208 --> 01:20:59,458
that she's still planning
and plotting for a way out.
1386
01:21:14,875 --> 01:21:16,500
You'll come with me to Rome.
1387
01:21:18,167 --> 01:21:21,375
You'll live under my protection,
in your own home.
1388
01:21:23,333 --> 01:21:27,500
I call you now,
in all but name.
1389
01:21:38,042 --> 01:21:40,167
SHELLEY: Cleopatra
has been to Rome.
1390
01:21:40,375 --> 01:21:43,625
Cleopatra knows what
a triumph is like.
1391
01:21:43,833 --> 01:21:48,292
She will not give Octavian
the satisfaction
1392
01:21:48,500 --> 01:21:51,417
of seeing her paraded
through the streets of Rome.
1393
01:21:53,042 --> 01:21:56,875
That's when she decides that
she will commit suicide.
1394
01:21:59,792 --> 01:22:02,667
PRUDENCE: Most likely way
for Cleopatra to kill herself
1395
01:22:02,792 --> 01:22:04,542
is some sort of poison.
1396
01:22:04,667 --> 01:22:06,000
Your majesty.
1397
01:22:07,250 --> 01:22:10,083
How that was applied,
I think we don't know.
1398
01:22:10,625 --> 01:22:16,458
The traditional story is that
Cleopatra hid a viper
1399
01:22:16,583 --> 01:22:20,333
in a bowl of fruit
and at the appropriate time,
1400
01:22:20,542 --> 01:22:25,583
was able to reach over
into the basket and got bitten.
1401
01:22:27,000 --> 01:22:31,208
The snake ties into the Roman
portrayal of Cleopatra
1402
01:22:31,417 --> 01:22:33,667
being very sly
and being very cunning.
1403
01:22:33,833 --> 01:22:38,125
And of course, a certain element
of her being a seductress.
1404
01:22:40,708 --> 01:22:42,833
Cleopatra, I don't think would
have abandoned herself
1405
01:22:43,000 --> 01:22:45,000
to a very uncertain end.
1406
01:22:45,208 --> 01:22:47,500
She was a woman who made crisp
decisions and entrusting
1407
01:22:47,667 --> 01:22:49,792
your fate to-- to a snake
doesn't sound like
1408
01:22:49,958 --> 01:22:51,333
it would have
been among them.
1409
01:22:52,833 --> 01:22:54,250
Everything seems to have
pointed to a death
1410
01:22:54,375 --> 01:22:56,042
that was
very well controlled.
1411
01:22:59,208 --> 01:23:01,458
There are a couple
of hypotheses,
1412
01:23:01,625 --> 01:23:05,000
one being that she carried
with her at all times,
1413
01:23:05,125 --> 01:23:07,167
a hairpin coated in poison.
1414
01:23:07,333 --> 01:23:10,625
So, should she ever need to
make a hasty exit, she could.
1415
01:23:14,583 --> 01:23:16,167
In my view,
1416
01:23:16,333 --> 01:23:19,458
Cleopatra was a very,
very principled individual,
1417
01:23:20,208 --> 01:23:23,500
and once her principles were
destroyed,
1418
01:23:23,625 --> 01:23:28,292
she chose to take her life
rather than to compromise,
1419
01:23:28,417 --> 01:23:32,250
rather than to be second best,
rather than be humiliated.
1420
01:23:33,375 --> 01:23:36,208
It's a noble death.
It's a very calculated death.
1421
01:23:36,375 --> 01:23:39,167
Women tended in Roman history
to get points for doing things
1422
01:23:39,292 --> 01:23:42,667
like swallowing hot coals
and gashing their innards out.
1423
01:23:42,875 --> 01:23:45,875
And there's an enormous respect
for Cleopatra at this point
1424
01:23:46,042 --> 01:23:49,083
who proves herself
to be a woman of valor.
1425
01:23:49,208 --> 01:23:51,292
NARRATOR: With her death,
Cleopatra becomes
1426
01:23:51,458 --> 01:23:56,583
the last independent ruler
in Egypt's 3,000-year history.
1427
01:23:57,042 --> 01:23:59,958
Cleopatra's death
is the end of an empire.
1428
01:24:00,125 --> 01:24:01,458
It's the end of the Ptolemies
1429
01:24:01,625 --> 01:24:04,167
and it's the end
of Egypt as we know it.
1430
01:24:04,375 --> 01:24:08,000
Cleopatra's suicide
was a final act of defiance
1431
01:24:08,208 --> 01:24:10,292
against the Romans
and against the men
1432
01:24:10,417 --> 01:24:11,917
who wanted to have her paraded
1433
01:24:12,083 --> 01:24:13,333
through the streets
as a prisoner.
1434
01:24:13,500 --> 01:24:15,292
When Cleopatra's backed into a
corner,
1435
01:24:15,458 --> 01:24:17,750
she almost always
finds a way out.
1436
01:24:17,917 --> 01:24:20,042
Even at her death,
there's a victory.
1437
01:24:22,458 --> 01:24:27,167
DEBORA: Octavian decides that
he wants to either eliminate
1438
01:24:27,375 --> 01:24:30,125
or control
Cleopatra's legacy.
1439
01:24:30,250 --> 01:24:34,833
The one competing heir,
Caesarion, is killed.
1440
01:24:37,667 --> 01:24:40,250
Octavian is well aware that
even after her death,
1441
01:24:40,458 --> 01:24:43,792
Cleopatra is a potent symbol
of Egyptian power.
1442
01:24:43,958 --> 01:24:45,833
Perhaps a figurehead
1443
01:24:46,042 --> 01:24:48,417
for any Egyptian rebellion
against Rome.
1444
01:24:48,583 --> 01:24:52,167
So he eradicates
all of her statues,
1445
01:24:52,292 --> 01:24:54,917
all of her images on
temple buildings
1446
01:24:55,042 --> 01:24:58,000
and in this way,
crushes the potential use
1447
01:24:58,167 --> 01:24:59,833
of her personality.
1448
01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:04,250
She becomes little more
than a character
1449
01:25:04,375 --> 01:25:08,792
within the rise
of Octavian to Augustus.
1450
01:25:08,958 --> 01:25:11,083
The first emperor
of the Roman world.
1451
01:25:11,250 --> 01:25:16,167
And his portrayal of her as
this ultimate femme fatal,
1452
01:25:16,375 --> 01:25:18,958
unfortunately, is the image
that carries on
1453
01:25:19,083 --> 01:25:20,625
even into
the present day.
1454
01:25:21,042 --> 01:25:23,375
โช
1455
01:25:23,833 --> 01:25:27,333
People are always going to be
fascinated and titillated
1456
01:25:27,500 --> 01:25:29,958
by this idea of a powerful woman
1457
01:25:30,083 --> 01:25:32,292
who's exercising influence
over men.
1458
01:25:32,458 --> 01:25:34,792
This was true for the Romans
who were writing the stories
1459
01:25:34,958 --> 01:25:37,708
that we still rely on for
our understanding of Cleopatra.
1460
01:25:38,750 --> 01:25:42,875
It's always easier to believe
that a woman was beautiful
1461
01:25:43,083 --> 01:25:45,208
and seductive
than it is to believe
1462
01:25:45,375 --> 01:25:47,250
that she was actually
intelligent and adept.
1463
01:25:48,583 --> 01:25:50,292
I think if you look
at the record,
1464
01:25:50,458 --> 01:25:53,250
she comes down to us
as a remarkably capable
1465
01:25:53,417 --> 01:25:55,667
and quite
brilliant woman.
1466
01:25:57,750 --> 01:26:01,833
At a time when women were
largely seen as property,
1467
01:26:01,958 --> 01:26:08,042
Cleopatra had taken the remains
of a broken and decrepit empire,
1468
01:26:08,208 --> 01:26:11,292
that was running along
at best on fumes.
1469
01:26:11,417 --> 01:26:15,125
And turned it into a potential
superpower
1470
01:26:15,333 --> 01:26:19,000
that was able to challenge
the Roman Empire itself.
1471
01:26:19,208 --> 01:26:23,792
If not for a single instance
in history
1472
01:26:24,000 --> 01:26:25,750
at the battle of Actium,
1473
01:26:25,958 --> 01:26:29,375
we very well might be
speaking Egyptian today.
1474
01:26:29,500 --> 01:26:33,667
โชโช
116054
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