How can any list of powerful political women not include the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt? Cleopatra reigned from 69-30 BC, battling politically to defend her beloved Egypt from the expanding Roman Empire. In doing so, she formed romantic alliances with Rome’s most powerful leaders of that day, Marc Anthony and Julius Caesar, but historians say she was just a very canny and effective political strategist who did what it took to ensure Egypt’s sovereignty.