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Dynasties of Ancient Egypt
Ptolemy, one of Alexander the Great's generals, was appointed satrap of Egypt after Alexander's death in 323 BC. In 305 BC he declared himself King Ptolemy I, later known as "Soter" (saviour). The Egyptians soon accepted the Ptolemies as the successors to the pharaohs of independent Egypt. Ptolemy's family ruled Egypt until the Roman conquest of 30 BC.
The dynastic history of Ptolemaic Egypt is very confusing, because all the male rulers of the dynasty took the name Ptolemy, and because many of them married their sisters, who were often called Cleopatra. The most famous member of the line was the last Ptolemaic queen, Cleopatra VII.
1 Ptolemaic rulers and consorts
The dates in brackets are regnal dates for the kings. They frequently ruled jointly with their wives, who were often also their sisters. Several queens exercised regal authority, but the most famous and successful was Cleopatra VII ( 51 BC- 30 BC), with her two brothers and her son as successive nominal co-rulers.
- Ptolemy I Soter ( 305 BC- 282 BC) married Eurydice , then Berenice I
- Ptolemy II Philadelphos ( 284 BC- 246 BC) married Arsinoe I , then Arsinoe IIPtolemy II Philadelphus ( 309- 246 BC), with Arsinoe II ( 316- 270 BC). Arsinoe II ( 316- 270 BC), queen of Thrace and later co-ruler of Egypt with her brother and husband Ptolemy II of Egypt. Arsinoe II was first married to King Lysimachus of Thrace, to Philadelphos; ruled jointly with Ptolemy the Son ( 267 BCCenturies: 4th century BC 3rd century BC 2nd century BC Decades: 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 272 BC 271 BC 270 BC 269 BC 268 BC 267 BC 266 BC 265 BC 264 BC 263 BC 262 BC This is a template. Remove this l- 259 BCCenturies: 4th century BC 3rd century BC 2nd century BC Decades: 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC Years: 264 BC 263 BC 262 BC 261 BC 260 BC 259 BC 258 BC 257 BC 256 BC 255 BC 254 BC Events First Punic)
- Ptolemy IIIPtolemy III Euergetes I Ptolemaeus III Evergetes Euergetes ( 246 BC- 222 BC). The third ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt, he was the eldest son of Ptolemy II of Egypt Philadelphus and Arsinoe II of Egypt. He came to power in 246 BC upon the death o Euergetes I ( 246 BC- 222 BCCenturies: 4th century BC 3rd century BC 2nd century BC Decades: 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC Years: 227 BC 226 BC 225 BC 224 BC 223 BC 222 BC 221 BC 220 BC 219 BC 218 BC 217 BC Events Marcus Clau) married Berenice IIBerenice was the daughter of Magas, king of Cyrene, and the wife of Ptolemy III Euergetes I, the third ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. During her husband's absence on an expedition to Syria, she dedicated her hair to Venus for his safe return, an
- Ptolemy IV Philopator ( 222 BC- 204 BC) married Arsinoe III
- Ptolemy V Epiphanes ( 204 BC- 180 BC) married Cleopatra I
- Ptolemy VI Philometor ( 180 BC- 164 BC, 163 BC- 145 BC) married Cleopatra II
- Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator (never reigned)
- Ptolemy VIII ( 170 BC- 163 BC, 145 BC- 116 BC) Euergetes II (Physcon) married Cleopatra II then Cleopatra III (Kokke)
- Cleopatra II ( 132 BC- 124 BC) Philometora Soteira, in opposition to Ptolemy VIII
- Ptolemy IX Philometor Soter II (Lathyros) ( 116 BC- 107 BC, 88 BC- 81 BC) married Cleopatra IV then Cleopatra Selene; ruled jointly with Cleopatra III in his first reign
- Ptolemy X Alexander I ( 107 BC- 88 BC) married Cleopatra Selene then Berenice III ; ruled jointly with Cleopatra III till 101 BC
- Berenice III Philopator ( 81 BC- 80 BC)
- Ptolemy XI Alexander II ( 80 BC) married and ruled jointly with Berenice III then alone for 18/19 days
- Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos (Auletes) ( 80 BC- 58 BC, 55 BC- 51 BC) and Cleopatra V Tryphaena
- Cleopatra V Tryphaena ( 58 BC- 57 BC) ruled jointly with Berenice IV Epiphaneia ( 58 BC- 55 BC)
- Cleopatra VII Thea Neotera ( 51 BC- 30 BC) ruled jointly with Ptolemy XIII ( 51 BC- 47 BC)
- Arsinoe IV ( 48 BC- 47 BC) in opposition to Cleopatra VII
- Ptolemy XIV ( 47 BC- 44 BC) jointly with Cleopatra VII then
- Ptolemy XV Caesarion ( 44 BC- 30 BC) jointly with Cleopatra VII
