CLEOPATRA AS JULIO-CLAUDIAN

Rom-Com

Let's face it: Despite being Queen of a rich (eventually) empire, Cleopatra VII was a peregrina (foreigner). Had she or any of her children appeared on Caesar's will, it would have invalidated the whole thing (exactly the reason it's clear Octavian forged Antony's will). Caesar may have been taking steps to fix this as he was murdered (a law to allow him multiple wives for the purposes of Roman offspring). Cleopatra's child by Caesar (the Caesarion) had no clear path to any Roman position of power. The same goes for Cleopatra's children by Antony.

Still, I thought it would be interesting to map out Cleopatra VII's place in the Julio-Claudian family tree, since it starts at a single point, splits around her, then joins up again. Her bloodline does produce Roman emperors, but not Julio-Claudians (see Cleopatra's family tree).

Julius Caesar had one legitimate child, Julia, who died in childbirth (end of the line). Marc Antony's bloodline produces Claudius, Caligula, and Nero (not really his fault). The Julio-Claudians may end, but Antony's bloodline is traceable through Mediterranean royalty alone for another 200 years.