From Europe to India, from ancient times to the present day. There are many partners who have managed to share not only love but also power in the course of their lives. Among them are surely Caesar and Cleopatra, who together ruled one of the greatest empires in history. Looking instead at the present day, it is necessary to mention Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jacqueline and John Fitzgerald Kennedy and even Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
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From Europe to India, from ancient times to the present day. There are many partners who have managed to share not only love but also power in the course of their lives. So let us discover together some of the most influential political couples in history.
Famous Political Couples: Caesar and Cleopatra
In a world where men has dominated for centuries, women have often had little opportunity to emerge. Some, however, have taken advantage of the reputation of their partners and supported them in the management of power.
This is the case of Caesar and Cleopatra. Though Shakespeare’s famous tragedy places the name of Anthony alongside that of the Queen of Egypt, the real “power relationship” that Cleopatra had during her life was with the conqueror of Gaul.
In 48 B.C. when the Romans marched on Egypt, Cleopatra managed to become Caesar’s lover and retain power in her kingdom. The couple also had a son, Caesarion. However, Caesar’s assassination during the Ides of March 44 B.C. broke their bond. Later the queen began a relationship with Mark Antony. Unfortunately, their power relationship ended with the famous double suicide.
Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon
In 1469 the marriage of Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon allowed to merge the two Iberian kingdoms. In other words, it led to the establishment of today’s Spain as a unitary state. The couple then managed to drive the Arabs out of Andalusia and restore religious unity by establishing the Inquisition Tribunal in 1483. But the most important thing is that they financed Christopher Columbus – who discovered America in 1492.
Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt
Another famous power couple is the one formed by the President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor. After 28 years of marriage, the couple landed at the White House in 1933 and stayed there for 12 years. While Franklin brought the United States out of the Great Depression and defeated the Axis powers in World War II, Eleanor had a great influence on American society. She carried out social policies, progressive themes and fought for women’s rights.
Political Couples Today: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
A very popular couple nowadays is Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The two got married on November 20, 1947. For 70 years they served as royalty side by side since Elizabeth’s coronation when she was just 25 years old.
Jacqueline and John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Jacqueline and John Kennedy were one of the most famous couples in history. They entered the White House in 1960 and were immediately admired for their impeccable style and progressive mentality. Although John was often unfaithful to his partner, they remained America’s most iconic couple. Of course, until the tragic assassination of the President on November 22, 1963 in Dallas.
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