- Caesarion Ptolemy XV Philopater Philometor Caesar (23 June 47 – 23 August 30 BCE) was the Son of Julius Caesar and Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt.
- Caesarion meant ‘Little Caesar’. Between Cleopatra’s death on 12th August 30 BCE, he was technically Pharaoh of Egypt until he died on 23 August 30 BCE.
Two year stay in Rome
- The one year old Caesarion and Cleopatra lived as Julius Caesar‘s guests in Rome, between 46 BCE and the Assassination of Julius Caesar on 15th March 44 BCE.
- After the Assassination they returned to Egypt.
Return to Egypt
- Cleopatra named Caesarion (now aged 3) Co-ruler of Egypt with herself, on the 2 September 44 BCE.
- Mark Anthony then moved to Egypt and lived with Cleopatra.
Challenge to Octavian
- During the ‘Donations of Alexandria’ in the Autumn of 34 BCE, Mark Anthony and Cleopatra declared Caesarion to be a God and the ‘King of Kings’, as well as the Son of Julius Caesar and the rightful inheritor of the Kingdom of Egypt, Cyprus, Libya and Syria.
- A copy was sent to Rome. This challenged the position of Octavian, son of Julius Caesar by Adoption, and currently part of the Second Triumvirate.
- When the Triumviate expired at the end of 33 BCE, Octavian declared War on Egypt.
Battle of Actium
- Mark Anthony and Cleopatra were defeated by Octavian at the Battle of Actium on the 2 September 31 BCE, and fled back to Egypt.
Execution by Octavian
- Before her death on 12th August 30 BCE Queen Cleopatra VII tried to protect her son Caesarion from Octavian by sending him to Taprobane (Sri Lanka), along with some Advisers and a quantity of Wealth.
- Unfortunately, he did not escape from Egypt, as Octavian searched for Caesarion and had him executed on the 23rd August 30 BCE.
- He thus removed any rival claims to become the Roman Emperor with the famous remark Two Caesars is one too many.
Alexandria