Cleopatra VII Philopator (69 - August 12; 30 BCE); known to history simply as Cleopatra; was the last active pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt; shortly survived as pharaoh by her son Caesarion. After her reign; Egypt became a province of the then-recently established Roman Empire.

Cleopatra was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty; a family of Macedonian Greek origin that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great's death during the Hellenistic period. The Ptolemies; throughout their dynasty; spoke Greek and refused to speak Egyptian; which is the reason that Greek as well as Egyptian languages were used on official court documents such as the Rosetta Stone. By contrast; Cleopatra did learn to speak Egyptian and represented herself as the reincarnation of an Egyptian goddess; Isis.

Cleopatra originally ruled jointly with her father; Ptolemy XII Auletes; and later with her brothers; Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV; whom she married according to Egyptian custom; but eventually she became sole ruler. As pharaoh she consummated a liaison with Julius Caesar that solidified her grip on the throne. She later elevated her son with Caesar; Caesarion; to co-ruler in name.

After Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE; she aligned with Mark Antony in opposition to Caesar's legal heir; Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (later known as Augustus). With Antony; she bore the twins Cleopatra Selene II and Alexander Helios; and another son; Ptolemy Philadelphus. After losing the Battle of Actium to Octavian's forces; Antony committed suicide. Cleopatra followed suit. According to tradition; she killed herself by means of an asp bite on August 12; 30 BCE. She was outlived by Caesarion; who was declared pharaoh by his supporters; but soon killed on Octavian's orders. Egypt then became the Roman province of Aegyptus.