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On their return to Syria, she met him and what was left of his army, with food, clothing and, importantly, money. Early in 35 BC, he returned to Egypt with her.

Antony’s wife, Octavia was in Athens with supplies and reinforcements waiting for her husband. He sent her a letter telling her to not come any further. Her brother, Octavian, tried to provoke Antony into a fight. Octavian would release troops as well as ships to try to force Antony into a war, which, by this time was almost inevitable.

Antony might have been able to patch things up with Octavia and her brother had he returned to Rome in 35 BC. Cleopatra probably did her best to keep him in Alexandria. Octavia remained completely loyal to Antony through all of this.

In 34 BC, Antony had a campaign into Armenia, which was successful and financially rewarding. He celebrated his triumph with a parade through Alexandria, with Cleopatra presiding over as the New Isis. Antony presented himself as the New Dionysus as part of his dream of the Graeco-Roman rule.

Within a few days, a more political ceremony took place in which the children were given their royal titles with Antony sitting on the throne as well. Ptolemy XV (Caesarion) was made the co-ruler with his mother and was called the King of Kings. Cleopatra was called the Queen of Kings, which was a higher position than that of Caesarion’s.

Alexander Helios, which meant the sun, was named Great King of the Seleucid empire when it was at its highest. Cleopatra Selene, which meant the moon, was called Queen of Cyrenaica and Crete. Cleopatra and Antony’s son, Ptolemy Philadelphos was named King of Syria and Asia Minor at the age of just 2.

Cleopatra had dreams of becoming the Empress of the world. She was very close to achieving these dreams and her favorite oath was, “As surely as I shall yet dispense justice on the Roman Capital.” In 32 to 31 BC, Antony finally divorced Octavia. This forced the Western part of the world to recognise his relationship with Cleopatra. He had already put her name and face on a Roman coin, the silver denarii. The denarii was widely circulated throughout the Mediterranean. By doing this, Antony’s relationship with the Roman allegiance was officially ended and Octavian decided to publish Antony’s will.

Octavian then formally declared war against Cleopatra. Antony’s name was not mentioned anywhere in the official declaration. Many false accusations were made against Cleopatra saying that she was a harlot and a drunken Oriental. These accusations were most likely made out of fear of Cleopatra and Antony. Many probably thought that the New Isis would prevail and that Antony would start up a new wave of world conquest and rule in a co-partnership from Alexandria.

However, Octavian’s navy severely defeated Antony in Actium, which is in Greece, on September 2, 31 BC. Octavian’s admiral, Agrippa, planned and carried out the defeat. In less than a year, Antony half-heartedly defended Alexandria against the advancing army of Octavian. When Alexandria was finally defeated, Antony committed suicide by falling on his own sword in 30 BC.