| Berenice III | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pharaoh | |
Queen of thePtolemaic 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 | Ptolemy X Ptolemy XI Alexander II |
| Children | Cleopatra V of Egypt (possibly) |
| Father | Ptolemy IX Soter |
| Mother | Cleopatra Selene |
| Born | 115/114 BC[1] |
| Died | April 80 BC (aged 34–35)[1] Alexandria, Egypt |
| Dynasty | Ptolemaic |
Berenice III (Greek: Βερενίκη; 120–80 BC), also known asCleopatra,[2] ruled between 101 and 80 BC. Modern scholars studying Berenice III refer to her sometimes asCleopatra Berenice. She was co-ruling queen ofPtolemaic Egypt with her uncle/husbandPtolemy X Alexander I, from 101 to 88 BC[1] and again in 81 BC with her fatherPtolemy IX Soter, before reigning as sole monarch of Egypt from 81 to 80 BC.
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 wasPtolemy IX Soter, who became king of Egypt in 116 BC, with his motherCleopatra III as his co-regent and the dominant force in government. He was initially married to his sisterCleopatra 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 XII andPtolemy of Cyprus, and that Ptolemy IX's marriage to Cleopatra IV seems to have been considered illegitimate—making it more probable that Berenice III was the result of the legitimate marriage to Cleopatra Selene. In this case, she was probably born in late 115 or early 114 BC.[1][5]
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 toCyprus, abandoning Berenice and her brothers in Alexandria in the process. Cleopatra then installed Ptolemy IX's younger brotherPtolemy X Alexander on the throne, as a more pliant co-regent.[6][7]
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 futurePtolemy XI, but around 103 BC Cleopatra III forced them to divorce so that Cleopatra Selene could be married to theSeleucid kingAntiochus VIII.[8]
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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 theTheoi Philadelphoi (Sibling-loving Gods).[1][9]
In 91 BC, a rebellion broke out inUpper Egypt. This rebellion was the latest in a series of native Egyptian uprisings in the region, following those ofHugronaphor (205–185 BC) andHarsiesi (131–130 BC). It is unknown what the name of the rebellion's leader was or whether he claimed the title ofPharaoh, as earlier rebel leaders had. The rebels gained control ofThebes and were supported by the Theban priests. Their forces are also attested inLatopolis andPathyris. The rebellion also meant that the Ptolemies lost contact with theTriacontaschoenus region (Lower Nubia).Meroe took control of the region and retained it until theRoman period.[10]
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 atMyra, 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]
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 theThea 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, fromRome to serve as co-regent. According toAppian, this co-regency was established at the behest of the RomandictatorSulla, who hoped that Ptolemy XI would serve as a pliantclient king.[16] Ptolemy XI was crowned king on 3 April 80 BC. He murdered Berenice nineteen days later.[17] Berenice's death angered the Alexandrians, and in response to her murder the people rioted on 22 April 80 BC. He was cornered in thegymnasium and killed.[1][18] The throne then passed toPtolemy XII Auletes, who was an illegitimate son of Ptolemy IX and the half-brother of Berenice.[15]
Berenice is the subject ofBerenice, an opera byHandel.
Berenice III Born: ca. 115 – 114 BC Died: 80 BC | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Queen of Egypt 101 BC–88 BC withPtolemy X | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Queen of Egypt 81 BC–80 BC withPtolemy XI | Succeeded by |
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