Queen Eunoe Maura – The Queen who became Julius Caesar’s mistress

Queen Eunoe Maura was the wife of King Bogudes II of the western region of Mauretania.^[1] Yet, she is most famous for being Julius Caesar’s lover.^[2] Queen Eunoe Maura and Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt were the only queens who became mistresses of Julius Caesar.^[3] Unlike the famous Queen Cleopatra VII, very little is known about Queen Eunoe Maura.^[4] Many ancient and modern historians have bypassed Queen Eunoe Maura’s story in favour of Queen Cleopatra VII’s more colourful story.^[5] Still, Queen Eunoe Maura of the western region of Mauretania must also have possessed her own charms since she once seduced the famous Julius Caesar.^[6]

The birthdate of Queen Eunoe Maura is unknown.^[7] Her parentage is also unknown.^[8] However, the ancient chronicles claimed that she was Greek.^[9] They also claimed that she was from a wealthy and noble family.^[10] Eunoe Maura eventually married King Bogudes II (r. 64-38 B.C.E.), who ruled the western region of Mauretania.^[11] He established Volubilis as his capital.^[12] His brother or cousin, King Bocchus II, ruled the eastern region of Mauretania.^[13] King Bocchus II established Iol as his capital.^[14] The fact that King Bogudes II married Eunoe Maura proved that he had connections in Greece.^[15] Therefore, Eunoe Maura became queen of the western region of Mauretania.^[16]

At some point in their marriage, King Bogudes II took a trip along the Atlantic coast.^[17] During his trip, King Bogudes II collected asparagus and reeds. Upon his return to Volubilis, King Bogudes II gifted them to Queen Eunoe Maura.^[18] During the Civil War against Julius Caesar and Pompey, King Bogudes II was a strong supporter of Julius Caesar.^[19] During Julius Caesar’s North African campaign and before the Battle of Thapsus on 6 April 46 B.C.E., Julius Caesar visited King Bogudes II’s court.^[20] It was there that Julius Caesar met Queen Eunoe Maura.^[21] The two became lovers, and Julius Caesar gave Queen Eunoe Maura many extravagant gifts.^[22] The love affair between Julius Caesar and Queen Eunoe Maura of the western region of Mauretania was very brief.^[23] Julius Caesar left North Africa five and a half months after his arrival.^[24]

After Queen Eunoe Maura’s love affair with the famous Julius Caesar, nothing else is known about her life.^[25] It is unknown if she ever bore King Bogudes II any children.^[26] If she did, they did not survive to adulthood.^[27] Her death and the cause of her death remain unrecorded.^[28] Thus, Queen Eunoe Maura disappears from historical records.^[29]

In 38 B.C.E., King Bogudes II went on a military campaign in Spain.^[30] During his absence, King Bogudes II’s own subjects rebelled against him.^[31] The rebellion forced King Bogudes II to abandon his kingdom in 38 B.C.E.^[32] He then fled to Mark Antony in the East, and he became one of his strongest supporters.^[33] In 31 B.C.E., King Bogudes II was killed in Greece while fighting Mark Antony’s war against Octavian.^[34] King Bogudes II’s brother or cousin, King Bocchus II of the eastern region of Mauretania, staunchly supported Octavian during his war against Mark Antony.^[35] After King Bogudes II was forced to abandon his kingdom in 38 B.C.E., Octavian made King Bocchus II the sole ruler of Mauretania.^[36]  King Bocchus II of Mauretania died of natural causes in 33 B.C.E.^[37] Upon his death, King Bocchus II of Mauretania bequeathed his kingdom to Octavian.^[38] In 25 B.C.E., Octavian (who became known as Emperor Augustus) bequeathed the kingdom of Mauretania to both King Juba II and Queen Cleopatra Selene, who was the daughter of Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt.^[39]

Very little is known about Queen Eunoe Maura of the western region of Mauretania.^[40] It is unknown if she ever had children or when she died.^[41] There are more known facts about her husband, King Bogudes II of the western region of Mauretania.^[42] If it wasn’t for her love affair with the famous Julius Caesar, Queen Eunoe Maura would have been a forgotten figure in ancient history.^[43] Because of her love affair with a famous historical figure who changed the course of history, Queen Eunoe Maura of the western region of Mauretania’s name still lives on in history.^[44]

Sources:

Goldsworthy, A. (2008). Caesar: Life of a Colossus. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Jones, P. J. (2006). Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.

Roller, D.W. (2012). “Bocchus, II”. Dictionary of African Biography. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Retrieved on May 30, 2025, from https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001/acref-9780195382075-e-0358.

Roller, D. W. (2004). The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene: Royal Scholarship on Rome’s African Frontier. New York: Taylor & Francis.