By the later half of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, rule over Egypt was decided through violence, betrayal, and complicated family relationships as brother fought brother, wives betrayed their husbands, and a mother might turn against her own son. By 163 BC Ptolemy the Eighth, Euergetes the Second, also known as Psychon, was joint ruler with his brother, Ptolemy the Sixth, or Philometor.
After Philometor died, his son Philopator took over the throne with his mother Cleopatra the Second as co-regent. Psychon married Cleopatra the Second in 144 BC, and killed Philopator at the wedding feast. Psychon then took Cleopatra the Third, his niece, as wife in 142 BC. He was not able to divorce Cleopatra the Second. She led a successful revolt against him in 132 BC. He reconquered Alexandria in 127 BC, and a peaceful reign with the two queens followed from 124 BC.
When Psychon died, he left his power to Cleopatra the Third and whichever of her sons she preferred. Cleopatra the Third accused her older son, Lathyros, of trying to kill her and drove him out. She ruled with Alexander the First until she grew tired of him and forced him to flee Alexandria as well. In 101, he returned, claiming he wanted to reconcile, but instead had her assassinated. After his death, his wife Cleopatra Berenice, the daughter of his brother Lathyros, ruled alone for about a year.
She was forced to marry Ptolemy the Eleventh, her young stepson, or possibly son. Nineteen days after the marriage, he murdered her, but was then lynched by the Alexandrian mob. The illegitimate son of Lathyros, Ptolemy the Twelfth, then took power. He was driven out of Alexandria in 58 BC and left his wife-sister Cleopatra the Fifth Tryphaena and their eldest daughter, Berenice the Fourth as co-regents.
About a year later, the mother died, leaving Berenice the Fourth as ruler. She was forced to marry Seleucus Kybiosaktes, but had him strangled. Her father Ptolemy the Twelfth returned to rule and left the kingdom to the famous Cleopatra the Seventh when he died.
Cleopatra the Seventh was the last of the Ptolemaic rulers in Egypt. She was married to her brother, Ptolemy the Thirteenth, but had an affair with Caesar, who decided that Cleopatra and her brother must share the throne according to their late father's will. Her brother objected and fought against Caesar, but was drowned.
After Philometor died, his son Philopator took over the throne with his mother Cleopatra the Second as co-regent. Psychon married Cleopatra the Second in 144 BC, and killed Philopator at the wedding feast. Psychon then took Cleopatra the Third, his niece, as wife in 142 BC. He was not able to divorce Cleopatra the Second. She led a successful revolt against him in 132 BC. He reconquered Alexandria in 127 BC, and a peaceful reign with the two queens followed from 124 BC.
When Psychon died, he left his power to Cleopatra the Third and whichever of her sons she preferred. Cleopatra the Third accused her older son, Lathyros, of trying to kill her and drove him out. She ruled with Alexander the First until she grew tired of him and forced him to flee Alexandria as well. In 101, he returned, claiming he wanted to reconcile, but instead had her assassinated. After his death, his wife Cleopatra Berenice, the daughter of his brother Lathyros, ruled alone for about a year.
She was forced to marry Ptolemy the Eleventh, her young stepson, or possibly son. Nineteen days after the marriage, he murdered her, but was then lynched by the Alexandrian mob. The illegitimate son of Lathyros, Ptolemy the Twelfth, then took power. He was driven out of Alexandria in 58 BC and left his wife-sister Cleopatra the Fifth Tryphaena and their eldest daughter, Berenice the Fourth as co-regents.
About a year later, the mother died, leaving Berenice the Fourth as ruler. She was forced to marry Seleucus Kybiosaktes, but had him strangled. Her father Ptolemy the Twelfth returned to rule and left the kingdom to the famous Cleopatra the Seventh when he died.
Cleopatra the Seventh was the last of the Ptolemaic rulers in Egypt. She was married to her brother, Ptolemy the Thirteenth, but had an affair with Caesar, who decided that Cleopatra and her brother must share the throne according to their late father's will. Her brother objected and fought against Caesar, but was drowned.
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