Cleopatra: life, legacy, and historical significance

¶ … leadership styles of Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I, comparing their ruling styles, the sociological thinking of the day that might have influenced their decision-making, and their strengths as women in a male dominated society. Women as leaders have always existed, from Biblical times to the present day. However, some women, such as Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I have been exceptional leaders with leadership skills that set them apart from many illustrious male rulers.

Cleopatra ruled Egypt from "51-30 BC and was the last Macedonian ruler of that country.

She first ruled jointly with her brothers/husbands Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV" (Gonos). Cleopatra is famous for her love affairs with Roman leaders Caesar and Marc Antony, but her leadership style set her apart, as well. She was a forward-thinking leader even for her time, and one of her most far-reaching leadership skills was to attempt to make Egypt as strong as possible by aligning it with one of the world's most formidable powers - the Roman Empire.

Cleopatra used her womanly charms to gain access to some of the world's most powerful leaders, but it was all because of her own beliefs about Egypt and world domination. Writer Gonos continues, "Cleopatra's personal goal was to keep Egypt from losing its position of power within the Mediterranean. She used power and influence tactics to overcome the leadership limitations placed upon her as women" (Gonos). There were limitations on women leaders, because they had to overcome an extremely male dominated society, and become effective leaders when some of those men might even be plotting against them. Both of these women were clearly strong and well educated, and they knew how to use their power effectively, not only to dominate their enemies, as Queen Elizabeth did, but to gain alliances with others, as Cleopatra did. They had to be strong to survive in a world of men, and they knew it.

Queen Elizabeth I, also known as one of the world's strongest female leaders, was also the daughter of a strong leader, Henry VIII. She ruled England for over 60 years, bringing far-sweeping changes to the country during her reign. She was a student of Machiavelli, who advocated strong leadership skills in his book "The Prince," (Adair 169). Historian Adair writes of her, "Her restless and calculating mind was always at work, plotting a course forwards through a tangled maze of possibilities and dangers. She observed men closely and played upon their emotions as if they were the keys of her harpsichord" (Adair 172). Thus, she was a good planner and could view problems dispassionately and with expectation, which helped her anticipate problems, such as the invasion of the Spanish Armada that threatened England but she managed to overcome with planning and foresight. When visiting her men personally on the battlefield she said, "I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not ffor my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat off the battle, to live or die amongst you all, to lay down ffor my God, and ffor my kingdom and ffor my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust'" (Adair 281). Thus, she gained the trust and loyalty of her subjects, another important, even vital, leadership quality. Elizabeth never married, and some people believe this is because she did not want to be dominated by a man in any way (Adair 282). This is speculation, but considering her strong leadership skills, it may be the reason she remained England's beloved "Virgin Queen" throughout her reign.