Cleopatra's Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to African Queen by Jane Draycott: A Book Review

 

Cleopatra’s Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to African Queen

Author: Jane Draycott

Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography

Publisher: Liveright

Release Date: 2023

Pages: 336

Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: The first modern biography of one of the most influential yet long-neglected rulers of the ancient world: Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Antony and Cleopatra.

     As the only daughter of Roman Triumvir Marc Antony and Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII, Cleopatra Selene was expected to uphold traditional feminine virtues; to marry well and bear sons; and to legitimize and strengthen her parents’ rule. Yet with their parents’ deaths by suicide, the princess and her brothers found themselves the inheritors of Egypt, a claim that placed them squarely in the warpath of the Roman emperor.

     “Supported by a feast of visual and literary references” (Caroline Lawrence), Cleopatra’s Daughter reimagines the life of Cleopatra Selene, a woman who, although born into Egyptian royalty and raised in her mother’s court, was cruelly abandoned and held captive by Augustus Caesar. Creating a narrative from frescos and coinage, ivory dolls and bronzes, historian and archaeologist Jane Draycott shows how Cleopatra Selene navigated years of imprisonment on Palatine Hill―where Octavia, the emperor’s sister and Antony’s fourth wife, housed royal children orphaned in the wake of Roman expansion―and emerged a queen.

     Despite the disrepute of her family, Cleopatra Selene in time endeared herself to her captors through her remarkable intellect and political acumen. Rather than put her to death, Augustus wed her to the Numidian prince Juba, son of the deposed regent Juba I, and installed them both as client rulers of Mauretania in Africa. There, Cleopatra Selene ruled successfully for nearly twenty years, promoting trade, fostering the arts, and reclaiming her mother’s legacy―all at a time, Draycott reminds us, when kingship was an inherently male activity.

A princess who became a prisoner and a prisoner who became a queen, Cleopatra Selene here “finally attains her rightful place in history” (Barry Strauss). A much-needed corrective, Cleopatra’s Daughter sheds new and revelatory light on Egyptian and Roman politics, society, and culture in the early days of the Roman Empire.

     My Review: Cleopatra is one of the most notorious figures in ancient history. She is mostly known for her passionate love affair with Marc Antony. Yet, very few people have heard about their daughter, Cleopatra Selene. In this first modern biography of Cleopatra’s daughter, it shows how Cleopatra Selene was arguably as successful as her famous mother.

     Cleopatra Selene was the daughter of Cleopatra and Marc Antony. She was an Egyptian princess who at an early age was given lands to rule. However, the defeat of both Marc Antony and Cleopatra changed the course of her life forever. She became a prisoner of Rome and was brought up by Octavia. She eventually married Prince Juba of Mauretania. Emperor Augustus made Cleopatra Selene and Juba II client rulers of Mauretania. Once they arrived, they were patrons of the arts and scholars. They made their capital a bustling,  thriving, and intellectual capital. Cleopatra Selene ruled alongside King Juba II as his co-ruler but died at a young age.

     Overall, this biography of Cleopatra Selene is a short and easy read. However, this biography is mostly conjecture. It is clear that there is not a lot of information about Cleopatra Selene to write a book on. Even though Cleopatra Selene is supposed to be the main subject of this biography, she is largely overshadowed by her own mother. Her mother takes up most of this biography. The writing itself is repetitive. The biography is also disjointed and instead of flowing chronologically, it constantly jumps around to various topics that do not relate to Cleopatra Selene. Therefore, Cleopatra’s Daughter would have been better if it was a short history article published in an academic journal or a historical fiction novel. Still, I recommend this for those who love reading everything about Cleopatra! This biography is perfect for fans of Kara Cooney, Joann Fletcher, and Joyce A. Tyldesley!

Rating: 2 ½ out of 5 stars