What if Cleopatra and Octavian Had Been Friends?

Cleopatra and Octavian are one of the most famous sets of enemies in history. The lover and the adopted son of Gaius Julius Caesar both created monumental chapters in the history of ancient Egypt and Rome. For centuries, people have asked the same question: what would have happened if they had become allies instead of enemies?

Cleopatra VII was the last queen of Egypt and from the dynasty created by Ptolemy I Soter. After three centuries of Ptolemaic rule, she hoped to end the impoverished state of Egypt. To achieve her goals, she decided to connect her dynasty with the greatest man of her times – Julius Caesar. The story about the beginning of their romance became one of the most famous love stories in the world.

The Most Famous Couple of the Ancient World

Julius Caesar seemed to be under the Cleopatra's spells. For that reason, the senators of Rome gossiped that the queen of Egypt must have been a witch, as she had such a strong influence on the thoughts of the famous Roman.

Cleopatra and Caesar (1866). Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme (Public Domain)