Caesarion Table of Contents Introduction & Top Questions References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics Images & Videos Quizzes Kings and Emperors (Part III) Quiz Related Questions How did Caesarion die? Why is Cleopatra famous? How did Cleopatra come to power? How did Cleopatra die? 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External Websites World History Encyclopedia - Biography of Caesarion UNRV Roman History - Caesarion (Ptolemy XV) Academia - Cavafy’s Historical Poetics in Context: “Caesarion” as Palimpsest Also known as: Ptolemy Philopator Philometor Caesar, Ptolemy XV Caesar, Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: May 28, 2024 ? Article History Table of Contents Ptolemy XV Caesar See all media In full: Ptolemy Philopator Philometor Caesar (Show more) Also called: Ptolemy XV Caesar (Show more) Born: June 47 bce (Show more) Died: 30 bce (Show more) Title / Office: Cleopatra (44BC-30BC) , Egypt (Show more) On the Web: Academia - Cavafy’s Historical Poetics in Context: “Caesarion” as Palimpsest (May 20, 2024) (Show more) See all related content → Top Questions Who was Caesarion? Caesarion, in full Ptolemy Philopator Philometor Caesar, was a king of Egypt (reigned 44?30 BCE) and a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Having ascended the throne as a child, Ptolemy was his mother’s coruler. Who were Caesarion’s parents? Caesarion was the child of Cleopatra and Caesar , although a few Classical authors, perhaps for political reasons, expressed doubts about his paternity. After Cleopatra’s arrival in Rome in 46, Caesar himself, officially recognized the child as his son. How did Caesarion die? Cleopatra and her lover Mark Antony suffered a disastrous defeat at Actium in 31 BCE during the war against Octavian , and Egypt fell to Octavian in 30. Cleopatra sent Caesarion to Berenice, a seaport on the Red Sea coast of Upper Egypt, but Octavian lured him to Alexandria , where the 17-year-old king was executed. Caesarion (born June 47 bce ?died 30 bce ) was the king of Egypt (reigned 44?30 bce ), son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra VII . Ptolemy was his mother’s co-ruler, killed by Octavian, later the emperor Augustus , after Cleopatra’s death in 30. Ptolemy was the child of Cleopatra and Caesar, although a few classical authors, perhaps for political reasons, expressed doubts about his paternity. After Cleopatra’s arrival in Rome in 46, Caesar himself, however, officially recognized the child as his son. When his father was assassinated in 44, Cleopatra returned with the boy to Egypt, where she probably arranged the death of her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV Theos Philopator II , to make room for her son on the throne. Her ambition was to make Caesarion Caesar’s successor, although in the meantime she remained first in the royal succession. Britannica Quiz Kings and Emperors (Part III) Quiz After Cleopatra had begun her liaison with Mark Antony , the Roman triumvir of the East, Caesarion appeared at Alexandria in 34 with the title “King of Kings,” while his mother called herself “Queen of Kings.” Following Antony’s disastrous defeat at Actium in 31 during the war against his fellow triumvir Octavian, Cleopatra sent Caesarion to Berenice, a seaport on the Red Sea coast of Upper Egypt; but Octavian lured him back to Alexandria, where the young king was executed. This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica .