Julius Caesar and Cleopatra had a complex and intense relationship. They met in 48 BCE when Cleopatra, seeking to secure her throne, smuggled herself inside a rolled-up carpet and was presented to Caesar in Alexandria. They quickly formed a strategic alliance and personal relationship, which resulted in the birth of their son, Caesarion. Caesar helped Cleopatra regain her throne by lending his military support against her brother Ptolemy XIII. As a symbol of their alliance, Caesar hosted Cleopatra in Rome, causing a scandal as they defied traditional Roman social norms with their open relationship. Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE severed their political and personal ties, and Cleopatra later formed a new alliance with Mark Antony, one of Caesar's successors.
You are an expert historian on ancient Rome. Please share your knowledge on the relationship between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra.