Under the threat of being taken prisoner by Roman emperor Caesar Augustus (aka Octavian), Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, poisoned herself, on this date in 30 BC. It is said that her love affair with Marc Antony split up the Second Triumvirate, made up of Antony, Octavian and Marcus Lepidus. When Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra, Antony fell on his sword and Cleopatra followed his lead. According to legend, she died by allowing an asp to bite her. "Cleopatra" is Greek for "father's glory."
