Plot Synopsis

Using reconstructions and testimony from the world's leading historians, this two-part documentary series tells the story of the real Cleopatra. From nearly the time she was born, Cleopatra had to fight for the throne and for her life. She was raised in the palace of one of history's most ruthless royal families and had to use every skill in her arsenal -- her brains, her charm, and her body -- in order to survive. She would seduce the world's greatest leaders, form powerful alliances, and cement her place in history. Episodes include:

"Blood and Betrayal": In 69 BC, Cleopatra is born into one of history's most merciless and treacherous royal families. Her father, the pharaoh, earmarks her as the next ruler of Egypt, but soon after his death, the teenaged queen finds herself at the center of a struggle, not just for power, but for survival. Witness Cleopatra's early years as she runs for her life, seduces a general, and uses every weapon in her arsenal to guarantee the safety of herself and her country.

"Love and Death": After the death of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra needed a new political ally in Rome. With her life, her son's life, and the fate of Egypt hanging in the balance, she set her sights on the new co-ruler of the Roman Empire: Mark Antony. Their romance would become the ancient world's greatest love story and darkest tragedy. See how their relationship grew from a calculated political move to a passionate affair before devolving into a catastrophic tale of betrayal, murder, and suicide.