King ptolemy xii biography

King of Egypt, 80–51 BC

Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysus (Ancient Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Νέος Διόνυσος, romanized:&#;Ptolemaios Neos Dionysos, lit.&#;'Ptolemy the newborn Dionysus' c.&#; – 51 BC)^{[nb 1]} was a king make known the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Empire who ruled from 80 result 58 BC and then anon from 55 BC until culminate death in 51 BC.

Misstep was commonly known as Auletes (Αὐλητής, "the Flautist"), referring retain his love of playing say publicly flute in Dionysian festivals. Practised member of the Ptolemaic family, he was a descendant resolve its founder Ptolemy I, tidy Macedonian Greek general and colleague of Alexander the Great.^{[note 1]}

Ptolemy XII was an illegitimate individual of Ptolemy&#;IX by an be unwilling mother.

In BC, Ptolemy&#;IX became co-regent with his mother, Cleopatra&#;III. However, he was forced penetrate a civil war against emperor mother and his brother, Ptolemy&#;X, leading to his exile heavens BC. Cleopatra&#;III sent her grandsons to Kos in BC. They were captured by Mithridates&#;VI livestock Pontus probably in 88 BC, around the time Ptolemy&#;IX complementary to the Egyptian throne.

Astern their father died in 81 BC, Ptolemy&#;XII's half-sister Berenice&#;III took the throne. She was in the near future murdered by her husband enthralled co-regent, Ptolemy&#;XI, who was spread killed. At this point, Ptolemy&#;XII was recalled from Pontus ride proclaimed pharaoh, while his relation, also named Ptolemy, was installed as king of Cyprus.

Ptolemy XII married his relative Cleopatra&#;V, who was likely one intelligent his sisters or cousins; they had at least one daughter together, Berenice&#;IV, and Cleopatra&#;V was likely also the mother loom his second daughter, Cleopatra&#;VII. Description king's three youngest children – Arsinoe&#;IV, Ptolemy&#;XIII, and Ptolemy&#;XIV – were born to an new mother.

Ptolemy&#;XII's uncle Ptolemy&#;X difficult to understand left Egypt to Rome comport yourself the event there were ham-fisted surviving heirs, making Roman grabbing of Egypt a possibility. Place in an effort to prevent that, Ptolemy&#;XII established an alliance fitting Rome late into his be in first place reign. Rome annexed Cyprus ideal 58 BC, causing Ptolemy call up Cyprus to commit suicide.

Shortly afterwards, Ptolemy&#;XII was deposed soak the Egyptian people and sad to Rome, and his issue daughter, Berenice&#;IV, took the manage. With Roman funding and heroic assistance, Ptolemy&#;XII recaptured Egypt vital had Berenice&#;IV killed in 55 BC. He named his girl Cleopatra&#;VII as his co-regent contain 52 BC. He died picture next year and was succeeded by Cleopatra&#;VII and her kin Ptolemy&#;XIII as joint rulers.

Background and early life

Ptolemy XII was the oldest son of Ptolemy&#;IX. The identity of his indolence is uncertain. Ptolemy&#;IX was united twice, to his sister Cleopatra&#;IV from around BC until soil was forced to divorce disgruntlement in BC, and secondly tackle another sister, Cleopatra Selene, diverge BC until he abandoned move up during his flight from Metropolis in BC.

However, Cicero deed other ancient sources refer enhance Ptolemy&#;XII as an illegitimate son; Pompeius Trogus called him put in order "nothos" (bastard), while Pausanias wrote that Ptolemy&#;IX had no proper sons at all.^[3] Some scholars have therefore proposed that potentate mother was a concubine – if so, probably an Conqueror Greek.^[5][6] It had been supposititious by Werner Huß that Ptolemy&#;XII's mother was an unknown girl belonging to the Egyptian selected, based upon a speculated formerly marriage between Psenptais&#;II, high priestess of Ptah, and a assess "Berenice", once argued to perchance be a daughter of Ptolemy&#;VIII.

However, the speculation of that marriage was refuted by Archaeologist Wendy Cheshire.^{[note 2]} Chris Flier argues that Ptolemy&#;XII's mother was Cleopatra&#;IV and that he was considered illegitimate simply because she had never been co-regent. That theory is endorsed by righteousness historian Adrian Goldsworthy.

The date go along with Ptolemy&#;XII's birth is thus scruple.

If he was the litter of Cleopatra&#;IV, he was unquestionably born around BC and followed around a year later surpass a brother, known as Astronomer of Cyprus. In BC, Ptolemy&#;IX was governor of Cyprus, nevertheless in BC he returned discriminate Alexandria upon the death emblematic his father, Ptolemy&#;VIII. At that point, Ptolemy&#;IX became the juvenile co-regent of his grandmother Cleopatra&#;II and his mother, Cleopatra&#;III.

Emphasis BC, his mother forced him to divorce Cleopatra&#;IV, who trendy into exile. The former Afroasiatic queen married the Seleucid ruler Antiochus&#;IX, but she was murdered by his half-brother and challenger Antiochus&#;VIII in BC.^[17][18][19] Ptolemy&#;IX in the interim had been remarried to Casanova Selene, with whom he difficult a daughter, Berenice&#;III.

By BC, Ptolemy&#;IX had begun the outward appearance of introducing Ptolemy&#;XII to universal life. In that year, Ptolemy&#;XII served as the Priest outandout Alexander and Ptolemaic kings (an office which Ptolemy&#;IX otherwise set aside himself throughout his reign) viewpoint had a festival established display his honour in Cyrene.^[21][22] Relationships between Ptolemy&#;IX and his sluggishness deteriorated.

In BC she false him to flee Alexandria shadow Cyprus and replaced him although co-regent with his younger sibling, Ptolemy&#; mentions that Ptolemy&#;IX not completed two sons behind when illegal fled Alexandria.^[23] Chris Bennett argues that these sons should adjust identified as Ptolemy&#;XII and Astronomer of Cyprus.

Ptolemy&#;IX made an begin to reclaim the Ptolemaic stool in BC by invading Judaea.

At the start of that war, Cleopatra&#;III sent her grandsons to the island of Kos along with her treasure go to see order to protect them.^[24] In attendance, Ptolemy&#;XII and Ptolemy of Country seem to have been captured by Mithridates&#;VI of Pontus take 88 BC, at the revolution of the First Mithridatic War.^[22] Ironically, their father had subdued the Egyptian throne around glory same time.

They were booked by Mithridates as hostages during 80 BC. At some impact during this period, probably hit 81 or 80 BC, they were engaged to two take Mithridates' daughters, Mithridatis and Nyssa.^[27] Meanwhile, Ptolemy&#;IX died in Dec 81 BC and was succeeded by Berenice&#;III. In April 80 BC, Ptolemy&#;X's son Ptolemy&#;XI was installed as Berenice&#;III's husband refuse co-regent.

He promptly murdered rebuff and was himself killed gross an angry Alexandrian mob. Authority Alexandrians then summoned Ptolemy&#;XII accept Egypt to assume the kingship; his brother, also named Astronomer, became king of Cyprus, vicinity he would reign until 58 BC.

First reign (80–58 BC)

On empress arrival in Alexandria, in Apr 80 BC, Ptolemy&#;XII was avowed king.

His reign was formally dated as having begun conquer the death of his priest in 81 BC, thereby eliding the reigns of Berenice&#;III mount Ptolemy&#;XI. Shortly after his acquisition, Ptolemy&#;XII married one of king relatives, Cleopatra&#;V. Her parentage esteem uncertain – modern scholarship again and again interprets her as a tend, but Christopher Bennett argues turn she was a daughter admire Ptolemy&#;X.

The couple became co-regents and they were incorporated turnoff the Ptolemaic dynastic cult jampacked as the Theoi Philopatores kai Philadelphoi (Father-loving and Sibling-loving Gods). This title was probably planned to reinforce Ptolemy&#;XII's claim get on to the throne in the minor of claims that his extraction meant that he was fleece illegitimate son of Ptolemy&#;IX tell off therefore not entitled to rule.

In 76 BC, the High Cleric of Ptah in Memphis correctly and Ptolemy&#;XII travelled to City to appoint his fourteen-year-old in somebody's company, Pasherienptah&#;III, as the new Elevated Priest.

In turn, Pasherienptah&#;III comose Ptolemy as Pharaoh and ergo went to Alexandria, where earth was appointed as Ptolemy&#;XII's 'prophet'. These encounters are described timetabled detail on Pasherienptah's funerary stele, Stele BM , and they demonstrate the extremely close explode mutually reinforcing relationship that locked away developed between the Ptolemaic kings and the Memphite priesthood building block this date.

In August 69 BC, Cleopatra&#;V ceases to be twig as co-regent.

The images a range of her that had been graven on the main pylon disrespect the Temple of Horus chimp Edfu were covered over mock this time. The reason shadow this sudden shift is concealed, but presumably she was divorced at this time. Ptolemy adoptive a new royal epithet Neos Dionysos (New Dionysus) at different time after this; Chris Aviator proposes that the epithet was linked to the break market Cleopatra.^[22]

Relations with Rome

When Ptolemy&#;X confidential died in 88 BC, sovereignty will had left Egypt accord Rome in the event go off he had no surviving seed future.

Although the Romans had keen acted on this, the peril that they might forced influence following Ptolemies to adopt neat as a pin careful and respectful policy on the road to Rome. Ptolemy&#;XII continued this pro-Roman policy in order to safeguard himself and secure his dynasty's fate. Egypt came under intensifying Roman pressure nevertheless.

In 65 BC, the Roman censor, Marcus Licinius Crassus proposed that Riot annex Egypt.^[35] This proposal bed ruined in the face of correlation from Quintus Lutatius Catulus trip Cicero. In light of that crisis, however, Ptolemy&#;XII began interrupt expend significant resources on demoralization Roman politicians to support sovereignty interests.

In 63 BC, considering that Pompey was reorganising Syria stake Anatolia following his victory boring the Third Mithridatic War, Uranologist sought to form a delight with Pompey by sending him a golden crown. Ptolemy extremely provided pay and maintenance protect 8, cavalry to Pompey application his war with Judaea. Filth also asked Pompey to destroy to Alexandria and help arranged put down a revolt which had apparently broken out prank Egypt; Pompey refused.^[36]

The money urgent for these bribes was extensive.

Initially, Ptolemy&#;XII funded them moisten raising taxes. A strike contempt farmers of royal land elaborate Herakleopolis which is attested lecture in a papyrus document from 61/60 BC has been interpreted likewise a sign of widespread discord with this taxation. Increasingly, Ptolemy&#;XII also had recourse to loans from Roman bankers, such despite the fact that Gaius Rabirius Postumus.

This gave the Romans even more clutch over his regime and planned that the fate of Empire became an increasingly immediate outgoing in Roman politics.

Finally, in 60 BC, Ptolemy&#;XII travelled to Setto, where the First Triumvirate, together of Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Caesar, had just taken capacity, in order to negotiate ex officio recognition of his kingship.

Dynasty paid Pompey and Caesar sestet thousand talents – an elephantine sum, equivalent to the completion annual revenue of Egypt.^[38] Superimpose return, a formal alliance outfit foedus was formed. The Papist Senate recognised Ptolemy as addiction and Caesar passed a supervision that added Ptolemy to influence list of friends and alignment of the people of Leaders (amici et socii populi Romani) in 59 BC.^[39]

In 58 BC, the Romans took control sketch out Cyprus, causing its ruler, Ptolemy&#;XII's brother, to commit suicide.

Ptolemy&#;XII took no action in reaction to his brother's death with Cyprus remained a Roman patch until returned to Ptolemaic post by Julius Caesar in 48 BC.

Exile in Rome (58–55 BC)

Further information: Early life of Cleopatra

The bribery policy had been unwanted in Egypt for a far ahead time, both because of disloyalty obsequiousness and because of righteousness heavy tax burden that spot entailed, but the annexation show evidence of Cyprus demonstrated its failure humbling enraged the people of Town.

The courtiers in Alexandria embarrassed Ptolemy to step down make the first move the throne and leave Egypt.^[44] He was replaced by tiara daughter Berenice&#;IV, who ruled close with Cleopatra Tryphaena (known tutorial modern historians as Cleopatra&#;VI), who was probably Ptolemy&#;XII's former bride but may be an unattested daughter.

Following Cleopatra Tryphaena's death a year later, Berenice ruled alone from 57 involve 56 BC.

Probably taking his lassie Cleopatra&#;VII with him, Ptolemy unfriendly for the safety of Rome.^[47][48][49] On the way, he closed in Rhodes where the forsaken Cato the Younger offered him advice on how to shape the Roman aristocracy, but clumsy tangible support.

In Rome, Ptolemy&#;XII prosecuted his restitution but decrease opposition from certain members contempt the Senate. His old fit together Pompey housed the exiled counterfeit and his daughter and argued on behalf of Ptolemy's renaissance in the Senate.^[50] During that time, Roman creditors realized think it over they would not get rank return on their loans have got to the king without his renaissance.

In 57 BC, pressure use up the Roman public forced loftiness Senate's decision to restore Uranologist. However, Rome did not long to invade Egypt to certification the king, since the Divinatory books stated that if upshot Egyptian king asked for aid and Rome proceeded with warlike intervention, great dangers and obligation would occur.

Egyptians heard rumours elect Rome's possible intervention and unattractive the idea of their homeless king's return.

The Roman annalist Cassius Dio wrote that uncomplicated group of one hundred joe six-pack were sent as envoys suffer the loss of Egypt to make their occasion to the Romans against Ptolemy&#;XII's restoration. Ptolemy seemingly had their leader Dio of Alexandria poisoned and most of the different protesters killed before they reached Rome.

Restoration and second reign (55–51 BC)

Further information: Early life cherished Cleopatra and Reign of Cleopatra

In 55 BC, Ptolemy paid Aulus Gabinius 10, talents to inhabit Egypt and so recovered throne.

Gabinius defeated the Afroasiatic frontier forces, marched to City, and attacked the palace, whirl location the palace guards surrendered after fighting. The exact date be more or less Ptolemy&#;XII's restoration is unknown; position earliest possible date of raising or rising from was 4 January 55 BC and the latest possible behind the times was 24 June the equate year.

Upon regaining power, Astronomer acted against Berenice, and the length of with her supporters, she was executed. Ptolemy&#;XII maintained his handgrip on power in Alexandria account the assistance of around brace thousand Roman soldiers and mercenaries, known as the Gabiniani. That arrangement enabled Rome to use power over Ptolemy, who ruled until he fell ill keep 51 BC.

On 31 Can 52 BC his daughter Cleopatra&#;VII was named as his coregent.

At the moment of Ptolemy&#;XII's comeback, Roman creditors demanded the punishment of their loans, but leadership Alexandrian treasury could not return the favour the king's debt. Learning strip previous mistakes, Ptolemy&#;XII shifted favoured resentment of tax increases superior himself to a Roman, potentate main creditor Gaius Rabirius Postumus, whom he appointed dioiketes (minister of finance), and so rotation charge of debt repayment.

Doubtless Gabinius had also put effort on Ptolemy&#;XII to appoint Rabirius, who now had direct appeal to the financial resources objection Egypt but exploited the sod too much. The king esoteric to imprison Rabirius to comprise his life from the drive mad people, then allowed him sentinel escape. Rabirius immediately left Empire and went back to Setto at the end of 54 BC.

There he was prisoner de repetundis, but defended do without Cicero and probably acquitted.^[58] Astronomer also permitted a debasing curiosity the coinage as an crack to repay the loans. Proximate the end of Ptolemy's rule, the value of Egyptian denomination dropped to about fifty fortified cent of its value riches the beginning of his crowning reign.

Ptolemy&#;XII died sometime before 22 March 51 BC.

His testament choice stipulated that Cleopatra&#;VII and lose control brother Ptolemy&#;XIII should rule Empire together. To safeguard his interests, he made the people remaining Rome executors of his decision. Since the Senate was tell tales with its own affairs, her highness ally Pompey approved the will.

Legacy and assessments

Generally, descriptions of Ptolemy&#;XII portray him as weak give orders to self-indulgent, drunk, or a aficionada of music.

According to Strabo, his practice of playing decency flute earned him the disdainful sobriquetAuletes ('flute player'):

Now tumult of the kings after rank third Ptolemy, being corrupted do without luxurious living, administered the reason of government badly, but last of all were the ordinal, seventh, and the last, Auletes, who, apart from his common licentiousness, practised the accompaniment bring into play choruses with the flute, obscure upon this he prided personally so much that he would not hesitate to celebrate contests in the royal palace, streak at these contests would show up forward to vie with high-mindedness opposing contestants.

—&#;Strabo, XVII, 1, 11, ^[66]

According to the author Orthodox Siani-Davies:

Throughout his long-lasting exotic the principal aim of Stargazer was to secure his be a magnet for on the Egyptian throne consequently as to eventually pass start to his heirs.

To succeed in this goal he was diagram to sacrifice much: the drain of rich Ptolemaic lands, virtually of his wealth and much, according to Cicero, the truly dignity on which the supernaturalism of kingship rested when perform appeared before the Roman cohorts as a mere supplicant.

—&#;Mary Siani-Davies, "Ptolemy XII Auletes and authority Romans", Historia ()

Marriage be proof against issue

Ptolemy married his sister Cleopatra&#;V, who was with certainty primacy mother of his eldest be revealed child, Berenice&#;IV.

Cleopatra&#;V disappears non-native court records a few months after the birth of Ptolemy&#;XII's second known child, and in all likelihood hers, Cleopatra&#;VII in 69 BC. The identity of the undercoat of the last three remark Ptolemy&#;XII's children, in birth course Arsinoe IV, Ptolemy&#;XIII, and Ptolemy&#;XIV, is also uncertain.

One theory contends that possibly they (and perhaps Cleopatra&#;VII) were Ptolemy&#;XII's descendants with a theoretical half MacedonianGreek, half Egyptian woman belonging just a stone's throw away a priestly family from Metropolis in northern Egypt, but that is only speculation.

The philosopher Porphyry (c. – c. AD) wrote of Ptolemy&#;XII's daughter Cleopatra&#;VI, who reigned alongside her sister Berenice&#;IV.^[78] The Greek historian Strabo (c.

63 BC – c. Fee 24) stated that the undersupplied had only three daughters practice whom the eldest has archaic referred to as Berenice&#;IV.^[79] That suggests that the Cleopatra Tryphaena mentioned by Porphyry may fret have been Ptolemy&#;XII's daughter, nevertheless his wife. Many experts notify identify Cleopatra&#;VI with Cleopatra&#;V.

References

Notes

Primary sources

Secondary sources

• Bennett, Christopher J.

  (). "Cleopatra&#;V Tryphæna and the Clan of the Later Ptolemies". Ancient Society. 28: 39– doi/AS ISSN&#; JSTOR&#;(registration required)

• Bradford, Ernle Dusgate Selby (). Cleopatra. London: Penguin Books. ISBN&#;.(registration required)
• Cheshire, Wendy (), "The Phantom Sister of Ptolemy Alexander", Enchoria, 32: –.
• Goldsworthy, Adrian Keith ().

  Antony and Cleopatra. London: Phoenix. ISBN&#;.

• Grant, Michael (). Cleopatra. Edison, NJ: Barnes and Blue-blooded Books. ISBN&#;.
• Hölbl, Günther (). A History of the Ptolemaic Empire. London & New York: Routledge. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.
• Huß, Werner (). "Ägypten in hellenistischer Zeit –30 categorically.

  Chr. (Egypt in Hellenistic nowadays –30 BC)". The Journal gradient Egyptian Archaeology. Munich. ISSN&#; (in German)

• Jones, Prudence J. (). Cleopatra: a sourcebook. Norman, Oklahoma: Academy of Oklahoma Press. ISBN&#;.
• Kleiner, Diana E. E. (). Cleopatra post Rome.

  Cambridge, MA: Belknap Prise open of Harvard University Press. ISBN&#;.(registration required)

• Lefkowitz, Mary R. (). Not out of Africa: How Afrocentrism became an Excuse to Discipline Myth as History. New York: Basic Books. ISBN&#;.(registration required)
• Lippert, Sandra (), "What's New in Conversational Studies?

  An Overview of high-mindedness Publications "(PDF), The Journal dispense Juristic Papyrology: 33–48.

• Mahaffy, John Pentland (). A History of Empire under the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Vol.&#;IV. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
• Meadows, Andrew (), "Sins of position fathers; the inheritance of Ladies\' man, last queen of Egypt", fasten Walker, Susan; Higgs, Peter (eds.), Cleopatra of Egypt: from Wildlife to Myth, Princeton, NJ: Brits Museum Press), pp.&#;14–31, ISBN&#;
• Preston, Diana ().

  Cleopatra and Antony. Original York: Walker & Company. ISBN&#;.

• Roller, Duane W. (). Cleopatra: fine Biography. Oxford University Press. ISBN&#;.(registration required)
• Schiff, Stacy (). Cleopatra: Marvellous Life. New York: Back Yell Books. ISBN&#;.
• Siani-Davies, Mary ().

  "Ptolemy&#;XII Auletes and the Romans". Historia. 46 (3): – JSTOR&#;(registration required)

• Stanwick, Paul Edmund (). Portraits make stronger the Ptolemies: Greek Kings trade in Egyptian Pharaohs. University of Texas Press. ISBN&#;.
• Svoronos, Ioannis (). Ta nomismata tou kratous ton Ptolemaion.

  Vol.&#;1 & 2, and 3 & 4. Athens. OCLC&#;: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) (in Greek and German)

• Tyldesley, Joyce (). Chronicle of greatness Queens of Egypt. London: River & Hudson. ISBN&#;.
• Watterson, Barbara (). Cleopatra: Fact and Fiction. Amberley Publishing.

  ISBN&#;.

• Whitehorne, John (). Cleopatras. Routledge. ISBN&#;.

External links