Queen of Kings

Augustus (Octavian) riled up the Roman public’s sentiment against Mark Antony for his empowerment of Cleopatra, who was a foreign queen, and his neglect of his virtuous Roman wife Octavia. This made Mark Antony wary of him and on top of this, Mark Antony’s disastrous Parthian campaign in 36 B.C. made him afraid of the risks involved in returning to Rome. In 34 B.C., emboldened by the adoration of Mark Antony, Cleopatra declared herself the Queen of Kings during a royal event in his presence. Antony and Cleopatra may have been wed during this ceremony.