Women in power

CLEOPATRA 

  • Her reign brought around 22 years of prosperity in Egypt. She maintained Egypt’s independence from Rome, traded with Eastern countries, built up Egypt’s economy and bolstered Egypt’s status as a world power. 

  • Cleopatra was involved in relationships with both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony and the relationships contributed to her power in different ways.  

  • Following Cleopatra’s attempt to establish herself as sole sovereign of Egypt resulting in her exile to Syria, her relationship with Julius Caesar proved pivotal in establishing herself as ruler of Egypt. 

  • While her relationship with Caesar brought Cleopatra to power, her relationship with Mark Antony was used to expand and solidify her influence throughout the Mediterranean. Undoubtedly an affectionate relationship, their long-standing partnership was also mutually beneficial. Cleopatra provided significant financial support for Antony's Parthian Campaign, and in return Cleopatra requested the return of much of Egypt's eastern empire, including parts of Syria, Lebanon and Jericho. 

  • Caesar was inspired by Egypt when first visiting Cleopatra 

  • Last Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Dynasty 

  • Classical writers (e.g. Plutarch) believed she committed suicide with an asp, following the death of Mark Antony 

  • Asp is a symbol of divine royalty 

  • Plutarch wrote that “She alone of her house took the trouble to learn Egyptian and, for political reasons, styled herself as the new Isis” 

  • Distinguished her from Cleopatra III → who claimed to be the living embodiment of Isis 

  • Born in 70/69 BCE and died August 30 BCE 

  • Both in Alexandria 

  • She wanted to “restore the glories of the first Ptolemies and recover as much as possible of their dominion” 

  • Cleopatra and Antony formed the society of “inimitable livers” 

  • Historians interpreted the society as the “Cult of Dionysus” 

  • She was a scholar, scientist, philosopher and chemist → applied her intelligence 

ELIZABETH I 

  • 1533 to 1603 

  • The third daughter of King Henry VIII Elizabeth was not expected to become monarch. Her half-brother Edward VI and half-sister Mary Tudor both ascended the throne before her. Elizabeth was close with Edward but had a tense and oftentimes violent relationship with Mary, who was a Catholic while Elizabeth was protestant. After Edward and Mary both died Elizabeth became Queen. 

  • “Cunning, vain, smart, manipulative” - traits used to describe her 

  • Similar to the descriptions of cleopatra 

  • Daughter of Anne Boylen and King Henry VIII - born 1533 

  • 1587 – arrested Queen Mary of Scotts and had her executed 

  • 1588 - Elizabeth becomes queen of England 

  • Conflicting background - Catholic vs. Protestants – Mary vs. Elizabeth 

  • Used her outfits to represents her power, role + earn public affection 

  • March 24, 1603 – Elizabeth died 

  • “...A brilliant survivor... survived with a great success” - what she should be remembered for 

  • 1588 - Defeated the Spanish-Armada and King Philip II of Spain - most powerful European force at the time. England army was outgunned and outnumbered 

  • Last of the Tudors 

  • Coronated at age of 25 at the tower of London 

  • Symbolism of the tower -> her mother was executed there 

  • Symbolism her taking her power back 

  • Seem as “illegitimate” and “not of pure of blood” as of her mother's death 

  • “Celebrated her [Anne Boylen], proud to be her daughter” - commissioned a statue of Anne Boylen 

  • Wants those to read the gospel twice, once in Latin and once in English – new approach to religion – at her coronation ceremony 

  • To bring together both Protestants + Catholics – Catholics read gospel in Latin, Protestants read it in English 

  • “One of her greatest achievements” - “setting in her authority” - Laws relating to religion 

  • Utilized her status as “single” to increase her power 

  • Flowers behind her represent her status as “fertile and single” 

  • Pearls – symbolize her purity 

  • Flowers in hand – purity 

  • Witnessed Catherine Howard being dragged to her death -> influenced her perception of marriage 

  • “Potentially” a victim of grooming – Cathrine Parr’s husband groomed her -> evidence supporting this 

  • All influencing her perception of marriage 

  • Manipulating the idea of her mantal status, despite refusing to marry 

  • Demonstrates her ambition, cunning + intelligence 

  • Used her single status as a diplomatic tool – played with heir vanity 

  • “if they were courting her, they can’t go to war with her” 

  • Played Fransis Drake 60,000 pounds to raid Spanish ships 

  • Pretended to be the first Englishman to sail across the world 

  • Stole the equivalent of 460 million pounds for England 

  • Drake = Pirate 

  • Instrumental to the colonization of the America’s 

  • Early in her reign, she quickly established peace between the tense divisions of Protestant and Catholic by enshrining the reading of Bible into Latin and English  - This is recognized as one of her most significant achievements  

  • “She was not indecisive... she was doing what she wanted in a male dominated time.” 

  • “Used men to keep her grip on power” 

  • IS considered as a MAJOR influence on the formation of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade + the beginning of the colonisation of the Americas 

  • “Master manipulator of her image” uses artworks + portraits as a way to demonstrate her power 

  • “Her power is her viriginty” - projects the image of ther power and authority 

  • Power interconnected with her public image  

  • Portrayed the image of her never ageing - “the mask of youth” - portrayed herself as eternally youthful 

ELIZABETH II 

  • Born 21 April 1926 died 8 September 2022. 

  • Similarly to both Cleopatra and Elizabeth I, Elizabeth II was not originally supposed to be monarch. Her Uncle Edward VIII abdicated and Elizabeth’s father George VI became King.  

  • After his passing in 1952 Elizabeth became Queen at age 25. Elizabeth was on tour with her husband Phillip She was coronated on the 2nd of June 1953 and her coronation was the first to be broadcast on television. 

  • Elizabeth was renowned for her international trips, visiting every realm and region of the Commonwealth. 

  • Was the first British sovereign to visit German since WWI when she visited West Germany in 1965. Viewed as a culmination of the political reconciliation of the two countries. 

  • Was the first British monarch to visit China. 

  • She was a patron of over 600 organisations and charities. 

  • Because England was a constitutional monarchy, Queen Elizabeth felt less actual power and instead acted as an extension of parliament and a figurehead of the Commonwealth. 

  • Longest reigning English monarch, 1953 – 2022.