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, 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 31 BC.
The dynastic history of Ptolemaic Egypt is very confusing, because all the male rulers of the dynasty took the name Ptolemy, and because most of them married their sisters, who were usually called Cleopatra. The most famous member of the line was the last Ptolemaic queen, Cleopatra VII.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Simplified Ptolemaic family tree 3 Related articles 4 External links |
The dates in brackets are regnal dates for the kings. They frequently ruled jointly with their wives, who were also their sisters. The only queen who actually exercised regal authority was Cleopatra VII (51 BC-30 BC), with her two brothers and her son as successive nominal co-rulers.
Ptolemaic rulers and consorts
Simplified Ptolemaic family tree
Ptolemy I = Berenice I
|
|
-----------------
| |
| |
Arsinoe II = Ptolemy II
|
|
Ptolemy III = Berenice II
|
|
------------------
| |
| |
Arsinoe III = Ptolemy IV
|
|
Cleopatra I = Ptolemy V
|
|
---------------------------------------------
| | |
| | |
Ptolemy VI = Cleopatra II Ptolemy VIII = Cleopatra III
| |
| |
----------------------- |
| | |
Ptolemy VII Cleopatra III |
|
--------------------------------------------------------------
| | | |
| | | |
Ptolemy IX (1) = Cleopatra IV Ptolemy X = (1) Cleopatra
= (2) Cleopatra | = (2) | Selene
| Selene | Berenice III |
| | | |
| | | |
Berenice III Ptolemy XII = Cleopatra V |
| |
| Berenice III = Ptolemy XI
|
-----------------------------------
| | |
| | |
Cleopatra VII (1) = Ptolemy XIII |
Julius Caesar = (2) = Ptolemy XIV
|
|
Ptolemy XV
Related articles
External links