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Volume 13 issue 1 August 2012

ANCIENT EGYPT explores the WORLD WIDE WEB ...

PTOLEMY XII AULETES
This month’s NETFISHING continues its look at the history of Egypt by seeing what the World Wide Web has to say about the early rule of Ptolemy XII Auletes, the father of the famous Cleopatra VII

PTOLEMY XI Alexander II (80 BC) could not be considered a popular king and murdering his own bride, the popular Queen Cleopatra Berenice III, within days of arriving in Egypt. He was lynched by the Alexandrian mob after a rule of only nineteen days. His death left Egypt with no direct heir, and his will (to gain Roman support for his rule) had left the throne of Egypt not to any descendant but instead to ‘the Roman People’. Egypt’s independence had simply been signed away ... and givento the Senate of Rome. Refer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemy_XI_Alexander_II

The Egyptian bureaucracy could not accept this situation, however, and as Ptolemy XI had left no direct heir to the throne they sought to find a viable candidate to become the next king of Egypt. The nearest traceable descendant of the royal line was one PTOLEMY XII Neos Dionysos (80-58 BC) who was believed to be an illegitimate son of PTOLEMY IX. His mother is unknown, and many levelled the charge that she was an little more than an Alexandrian prostitute, but this did not stop Ptolemy XII from becoming the next king of Egypt.

Quite why the Roman Senate did not object to his appointment is still a matter of much debate among scholars, but it appears there was a sizable faction within the Senate who felt the Republic was quite difficult enough to govern as it was, and that the addition of Egypt would be a step too far. In addition Egypt presented just too rich a prize, for who would rule her, as governor, and have access to all her wealth? Each Senator in turn felt that only he could be trusted not to abuse such a position, and hence they did not want the position to fall into the hands of another; so the will of Ptolemy XI was not acted upon.

Ptolemy XII saw things differently and duly set about confirming his right to rule Egypt by offering the leader of the Senate, one JULIUS CAESAR, a massive bribe of six thousand talents of silver. This was enough to secure his kingship and ‘the Julian Law’ was duly passed by the Senate confirming Ptolemy XII as King and ‘the friend and ally of the Roman People’. Rome was satisfied, but his Egyptian people were not as pleased since the heavy taxes imposed on them to pay the bribe enraged them.

Ptolemy XII now gained the title Auletes (the Flute Player) for all the good he was, or Nothos (the Bastard). The final humiliation for the Egyptian people came in 58 BC when Rome annexed the island of Cyprus, long seen as Egyptian territory, and put to death its ruler, Ptolemy of Cyprus. Riots resulted in Alexandria and Ptolemy XII was forced to flee the country. Refer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemy_XII_Auletes

http://www.livius.org/ps-pz/ptolemies/ptolemy_xii_auletes.html

http://www.touregypt.net/32dyn13.htm

http://virtualreligion.net/iho/ptolemy_12.html

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Africa/Egypt/_Texts/BEVHOP/13*.html

http://www.tyndalehouse.com/egypt/ptolemies/ptolemy_xii.htm

It appears that his wife, CLEOPATRA V Tryphaena, and his eldest daughter BERENICE IV (58-55 BC) ruled together after Ptolemy XII had fled the country. A misreading of an ancient text, for many years, led to the belief that two daughters ruled Egypt after Ptolemy XII had fled. One of these daughters had the name Cleopatra Tryphaena, the same name as ‘her mother, Cleopatra V, and so in Victorian times this daughter was termed CLEOPATRA VI. It is now believed that it was actually

the mother and daughter who ruled together, which means that a Cleopatra VI never really existed, Cleopatra VI Tryphaena being in reality the same person as Cleopatra V, the wife of Ptolemy XII. Nowadays Cleopatra VI is removed from history, although to avoid further confusion the numbering system for the Ptolemies has remained unchanged.

Cleopatra V and her daughter Berenice IV ruled Egypt in the absence of Ptolemy XII, but within the year Cleopatra V had died. Berenice IV took as her consort her own cousin, Seleucus, but had him strangled within the week. She then took as her husband her long time friend, Archelaus, and the pair ruled Egypt successfully, although aware that Ptolemy XII was plotting, in Rome, to return and reclaim his kingdom.

PTOLEMAIC DYNASTY FAMILY TREE

Victor Blunden

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