Cleopatra 's presence in Rome most likely had an effect on the events at the Lupercalia festival a month before Caesar 's assassination . Antony attempted to place a royal diadem on Caesar 's head , with the latter refusing in what was most likely a staged performance , perhaps to gauge the Roman public 's mood about accepting Hellenistic-style kingship . Cicero , who was present at the festival , mockingly asked where the diadem came from , an obvious reference to the Ptolemaic queen who he abhorred . Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March ( 15 March 44 BC ) , but Cleopatra stayed in Rome until about mid-April , in the vain hope of having Caesarion recognized as Caesar 's heir . However , Caesar 's will named his grandnephew Octavian as the primary heir , and Octavian arrived in Italy around the same time Cleopatra decided to depart for Egypt . A few months later , Cleopatra had Ptolemy XIV killed by poisoning , elevating her son Caesarion as her co-ruler
Caesar was assassinated
Assassination of Julius Caesar
Cleopatra