Berenice III
Berenice III | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pharaoh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reign | 101–88 BC (with Ptolemy X) 81–80 BC (as sole monarch) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Predecessor | Ptolemy X Alexander I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Successor | Ptolemy XI Alexander II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Consorts | Cleopatra V of Egypt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Father | Ptolemy IX Soter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mother | Cleopatra Selene
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Born | 115/114 BC[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | April 80 BC (aged 34–35)[1] Alexandria, Egypt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dynasty | Ptolemaic |
Berenice III (
Background and early life
The Ptolemy and Berenice of the era were both Greek and Egyptian. Their heritage became a very prominent symbol in their reign taking from both of their parent cultures and intertwining it into their rule.[3] Berenice's father was Ptolemy IX Soter, who became king of Egypt in 116 BC, with his mother Cleopatra III as his co-regent and the dominant force in government. He was initially married to his sister Cleopatra IV, but his mother forced him to divorce her and marry another sister, Cleopatra Selene, probably in early 115 BC. It is not certain which of these wives was Berenice's mother. Cleopatra IV has been favored by some modern scholarship.[4]
Historian Christopher Bennett notes that Berenice III's legitimacy was never questioned by ancient historians, unlike her brothers,
Ptolemy IX and Cleopatra III eventually came into conflict with one another. In 107 BC, Cleopatra whipped up the Alexandrian mob against Ptolemy IX, causing him to flee to
Ptolemy X married Berenice's probable mother Cleopatra Selene and thus became step-father to the seven-year-old Berenice. They probably had a son together, the future
Co-regency with Ptolemy X (101–88 BC)
In 101 BC, Ptolemy X had Cleopatra III murdered. Shortly after that, he married the thirteen-year-old Berenice and elevated her to the role of co-regent. The pair were joined together in the dynastic cult as the Theoi Philadelphoi (Sibling-loving Gods).[1][9]
In 91 BC, a rebellion broke out in
Around May 88 BC, the Alexandrians and the army turned against Ptolemy X and expelled him.[11] The Alexandrians then invited Ptolemy IX to return to Alexandria and retake the throne, which he did. Berenice accompanied her husband into exile. The pair gathered a naval force to recapture the kingdom, but were defeated in battle. Ptolemy X recruited a second force at Myra, invaded Cyprus, and was killed.[12][13][14]
Berenice returned to Egypt at some point after Ptolemy X's death and before 81 BC, but the exact date is not known.[1]
Reign (81–80 BC)
On 5 August 81 BC, Ptolemy IX promoted his daughter Berenice III, who had previously been the wife and co-regent of Ptolemy X, to the status of co-regent. Some sources claim that Ptolemy IX had made Berenice III his co-regent at the start of his second reign in 88 BC, but all documentary evidence shows that he reigned alone until this point. Ptolemy died shortly thereafter, probably in December of the same year, leaving Berenice alone on the throne. At this point she was reincorporated into the dynastic cult as the Thea Philopator (Father-loving God), a clear reference to her inheritance of power from her father.[15]
After a few months of sole rule, Berenice summoned her younger half-brother and former step-son, Ptolemy XI, from
Legacy
Berenice is the subject of Berenice, an opera by Handel.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Bennett, Chris. "Berenice III". Egyptian Royal Genealogy. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- ^ "Cleopatra Berenice III - Livius". www.livius.org. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
- JSTOR 20191430. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-405-17935-5.
- ^ Bennett 1997, p. 54.
- ^ Justin (historian), Epitome of Pompeius Trogus 39.4.1; Pausanias 1.9.2
- ^ Hölbl 2001, pp. 206–207
- ^ Bennett, Chris. "Cleopatra Selene". Egyptian Royal Genealogy. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ Hölbl 2001, pp. 207–210
- ^ Pausanias 1.9.3
- FGrH 260 F2.9; StraboGeography 17.1.8
- ^ Bennett, Chris. "Ptolemy X". Egyptian Royal Genealogy. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- ^ Hölbl 2001, p. 211
- ^ a b Hölbl 2001, pp. 213–214
- ^ Appian Bellum Civile 1.102
- OCLC 893686286.
- Bellum Civile 1.102.
Bibliography
- Bennett, Christopher J. (1997). "Cleopatra V Tryphæna and the Genealogy of the Later Ptolemies". Ancient Society. 28. Peeters Publishers: 39–66. ISSN 0066-1619.
- Hölbl, Günther (2001). A History of the Ptolemaic Empire. London & New York: Routledge. ISBN 0415201454.