A legendary beauty, lover of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony and last of the Pharaohs, Cleopatra has inspired countless plays, films, operas and books. Married to two of her brothers in succession, as was the Egyptian tradition, she used her relationship with Caesar to overthrow him and rule alone, in league with Rome. After Caesar's death she embarked on an affair with Mark Antony, who married her in an Egyptian rite despite being married to his co-ruler of Rome's sister at the time. Antony's behaviour outraged Rome and eventually, war was declared on Egypt. The lovers were defeated at the naval battle of Actium. Believing that Cleopatra had been captured, her lover fatally stabbed himself with his sword. With her beloved Antony dead and the prospect of being paraded through the streets of Rome a captive in chains, Cleopatra killed herself, reputedly by casing an asp to bite her.