Thus Cleopatra had inherited a kingdom that underwent much turmoil and needed to regain its status, wealth and respect. By great ingenuity Cleopatra in bid to maintain Egypt as a powerful state, took on the Romans in her own way.
Pompey having been defeated by Cesar in 48BC, arrived in Egypt, hoping to seek refuge under Ptolemy XIII. How ever the young king influenced by his advisers had Pompey, immediately beheaded, Caesar at the time had just arrived at Alexandria. When Theodotus came to him with Pompey's head, Caesar refused to look at him, but he took Pompey's signet rung and shed tears as he did so'(Plutarch). Pothinus who was the most influential person at the court, after recently killing Pompey had driven Cleopatra out and was now plotting to kill Cesar. .
Highly intelligent, as well as being fluent in seven languages and well versed in range of subjects and activities, Cleopatra knew what had to be done in order to maintain her position and protect herself from her ever present rivals. Her very life was in danger, coming from a dysfunctional family the need for protection and power became more than a desire, in fact it was necessary for her survival. Cleopatra concluded that to hold onto her kingdom she need strong Romans on her side. "Cleopatra was to base her foreign policy on Roman alliances." A strategy used by her father earlier in order to escape the angry Alexandrian's. The entering of Julius Cesar in Cleopatra's life was perhaps one of the most significant events of her life. .
After defeating Pompey, Julius Caesar entered the city as a conqueror. This caused obvious distaste amongst the Alexandrians. These developments caused Cleopatra to seek Cesar's asylum, as he had summoned both Cleopatra and her brother for conciliation. Sources, mainly those of Plutarch and Dio Cassius' tell us of her bold and witting meeting with the roman emperor. Fearing that she may killed by her brother's troops Cleopatra was taken by her trusted servant Apollodorous in the midst of the night "wrapped in a coverlet"(Plutarch) or according to others in a carpet, and unrolled before Cesar's very eyes, as the legend goes.