Cleopatra Ultimately Committed Suicide

After a failed naval skirmish with Octavian in an attempt to take control of Rome, Cleopatra and Mark Antony ultimately then lost another series of battles to Octavian when he and his army invaded Egypt. Realizing that he would soon be killed, Mark Antony committed suicide and died in Cleopatra’s arms.

Cleopatra herself committed suicide not long after Antony, knowing that Octavian had plans to bring her to Rome and parade her through the streets in a display of victory. Though the manner in which she killed herself has been widely debated, Cleopatra chose to take control of her own death instead of risking a painful, humiliating one at the hands of Octavian.