Cleopatra II.

Marble bust of Cleopatra II (or III) in the Louvre

Cleopatra II. (* Around 185 BC; † 116 or 115 BC) was a queen of Egypt from the Ptolemaic dynasty . In her youth she experienced the incursion of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV into Egypt, which only ended after Roman intervention . From 163 to 145 BC She ruled together with her brother Ptolemy VI. until his death. She then married her second brother Ptolemy VIII , who lived in 141 BC. Also her daughter Cleopatra III. as his wife and raised to be the second queen next to her. 132 BC BC she instigated a revolt against her brother, but was defeated and had to about 128 BC. Flee to Syria . After a reconciliation, it ruled from 124 BC. BC again with her brother and daughter over Egypt. After the death of Ptolemy VIII (116 BC) she took over with Cleopatra III. and their son Ptolemy IX. the government but died soon after.

Sibling marriage with Ptolemy VI. and role in the Sixth Syrian War

Cleopatra II was the daughter of Ptolemy V and his wife Cleopatra I. After the death of Ptolemy V (180 BC), the widow queen Cleopatra I took over the guardianship of her eldest son Ptolemy VI. When they probably started in 176 BC Died, two courtiers, the former Syrian slave Lenaios and the eunuch Eulaios , led the reign for the underage Ptolemy VI. Cleopatra II was soon referred to as basilissa ("queen") and probably before April 15, 175 BC. With Ptolemy VI. married in sibling marriage, as for this date her inclusion in the dynastic cult of her brother is attested for the first time. Their common cult title was theoí Philométores ("mother-loving gods").

Without sufficient military preparation, Lenaios and Eulaios drafted the plan to recapture Koile Syria , so that from the end of the 170s BC The outbreak of the Sixth Syrian War between Egypt and the Seleucid Empire began. Perhaps in order to support their plans for propaganda or as a concession to a rival power bloc at court, the two imperial administrators Ptolemy VIII. 170 BC. At the government of his siblings. Now Cleopatra II and her two brothers were nominally equal rulers and all three were included in the cult of theoí Philométores . The first year of their new velvet rule was - as can be seen from the dating of papyri - in October or November 170 BC. With the 12th year of reign of Ptolemy VI. equated. But already around the beginning of 169 BC In BC, Ptolemy VI was declared of legal age, who from now on, in contrast to his siblings, could at least formally govern independently.

169 BC The Seleucid king Antiochus IV invaded Egypt victoriously. This military failure for the Ptolemies led to the overthrow of Lenaios and Eulaios. New leaders were Comanos and Kineas , who were now Ptolemy VI. advised significantly. After brokering peace, the latter traveled to his uncle Antiochus IV and negotiated a contract with hitherto unknown content. The Alexandrians did not accept this agreement and raised Ptolemy VIII to the (counter) king in a coup d'état, with Cleopatra II remaining in Alexandria retaining her position as queen. After an unsuccessful attack on Alexandria, the Seleucid ruler returned in the autumn of 169 BC. Back to Syria, whereupon Ptolemy VI. With the support of his sister wife Cleopatra II, he reconciled with his younger brother (or with the faction behind Ptolemy VIII). The triple government began again. The next year Antiochus IV advanced again against Alexandria when the rising world power Rome , which had just won the Third Macedonian-Roman War , intervened in the conflict. The Seleucid king had to respond to the ultimatum of Gaius Popillius Laenas in July 168 BC. To withdraw from Egypt.

Reign with Ptolemy VI.

The triple rule of Cleopatra II and her two brothers lasted until the autumn of 164 BC. When there were disputes between Ptolemy VI. and his younger brother came. After all, Ptolemy VI. fled and went to Rome, where he hoped for support, and then to Cyprus . Cleopatra II perhaps also went to this island, since Cyprus is still under the control of Ptolemy VI. stood and Ptolemy VIII. 164/163 BC According to the papyri, he led a sole government in Alexandria without his sister. After Ptolemy VI. in July or August 163 BC Chr. Was able to take over the rule over Egypt again, he left Cyrene to his younger brother and ruled from now until his death (145 BC) together with Cleopatra II over the rest of the empire. This was the first official communal government of a Ptolemaic royal couple. To celebrate the New Year, Cleopatra II apparently accompanied her brother husband in October 163 BC. To Memphis .

Together with her husband, Cleopatra II favored the end of the 160s BC. The settlement of the expelled Jewish high priest son Onias IV and his numerous followers in Leontopolis, where they were also allowed to build a Yahweh temple. Meanwhile, tensions remained between Ptolemy VI. and his younger brother, but Ptolemy VIII was unable to conquer Cyprus even after several attempts.

Cleopatra II gave birth to her brother Ptolemy VI. at least four children:

• Ptolemy Eupator (* around 166 BC, † 152 BC), brief co-regent of his father Ptolemy VI.
• Cleopatra Thea (* around 165, † 121 BC), first married Alexander I. Balas , then the Seleucid Demetrios II. Nikator and finally his brother Antiochus VII. Sidetes
• Cleopatra III. (* around 160/155 BC, † 101 BC), wife of her uncle Ptolemy VIII.
• Ptolemy VII (before 152 BC; † probably 143/142 or 130 BC), was eliminated by his uncle Ptolemy VIII.

Seizure of power by Ptolemy VIII.

The theory that was often held in the 20th century that Cleopatra II acted briefly as regent for her son Ptolemy VII after the death of her husband (around the beginning of July 145 BC) until her brother Ptolemy VIII came to power is supported by research since the beginning of the 1990s has been largely considered wrong. It is true that after the publication of a new papyrus (1997) and its interpretation by M. Chauveau (2000) it is more or less certain that Ptolemy VI. at his death - as reported by several ancient authors - left a living younger son, but his classification as Ptolemy VII among the pharaohs was due to the short co-reign attributed to him in 145/144 BC. BC probably incorrect.

According to the historian Justinus , after the death of Ptolemy VI, Alexandrian ambassadors called. his younger brother from Cyrene and offered him the crown of Egypt and the hand of his sister. Apparently Cleopatra II, who was apparently supported by influential courtiers, was not happy about this. The Jewish historian Flavius ​​Josephus reports that the Alexandrines waged war against Cleopatra II, which was settled through the mediation of the Jewish generals Onias and Dositheos; also that Ptolemy VIII came from Cyrene after the death of his older brother and wanted to drive out Cleopatra II and her sons, which is why he was at war with Onias, who stood up for Cleopatra II, and his troops. At that time, the Roman envoy Lucius Minucius Thermus was in Alexandria. Justine's report contradicts the assertion that major fighting broke out in the course of the change of power in Egypt; and according to papyrological evidence, Ptolemy VIII took over rule in Alexandria very quickly, only a few weeks after the death of his brother. Josephus may have had events that occurred during Ptolemy VIII's rise to power in 145 BC. Played, with such during the conquest of Alexandria by Ptolemy VIII. 127/126 BC. Mixed.

In any case, soon after the change of power between the conflicting parties, an agreement was reached that Ptolemy VIII married his sister Cleopatra II and made her official co-ruler (145/144 BC). He probably included her at the time he married her, also in his cult of theoí Euergétai ("benevolent gods"). In temple reliefs she was depicted as equal ruler alongside the king.

According to Justinus, Ptolemy VIII killed his nephew Ptolemy VII on the wedding day with Cleopatra II in the arms of his mother, just as he had previously acted mercilessly against his supporters. The above-mentioned newly published papyrus seems to prove, however, that Ptolemy VIII initially recognized his nephew as heir to the throne and that it was not until 143/142 BC Was murdered.

First government with Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra III.

144 or 143 BC At the time of his coronation in Memphis , Cleopatra II gave birth to a son who was named Ptolemy Memphites after his birthplace . In the second half of 142 BC The royal couple probably traveled together through Upper Egypt and attended the founding of the Hathor temple in Dendera and the inauguration of the Horus temple in Edfu .

Between May 141 and January 140 BC Ptolemy VIII took the younger daughter of his sister from her first marriage, Cleopatra III, as another wife and made her the second queen next to her mother. Perhaps love played a role in this step - which was sure to hurt his sister - but perhaps also the consideration that Cleopatra II was soon beyond childbearing age and could therefore no longer provide for further offspring in order to better secure the line of succession. A double marriage between Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra II and her daughter is often assumed, but some researchers (such as Christopher Bennett) believe that the king married Cleopatra III before his marriage. divorced his sister. In the current triple government, in which tensions between mother and daughter were foreseeable, Cleopatra II received the nickname adelphé ("sister"), Cleopatra III in papyrus documents . the nickname gyné ("wife").

Probably around 140 BC BC Galaistes , the son of the Athaman king Amynandros , probably in agreement with Cleopatra II . Gave a boy as the alleged son of Ptolemy VI. and Cleopatra II and claimed the crown of Egypt for this. Galaistes had under Ptolemy VI. held high military commands, but soon after Ptolemy VIII came to power he fell out of favor and had to flee to Greece. Now he wanted to overthrow the Egyptian king in revenge and could apparently count on the support of Cleopatra II. On behalf of his protégé, the alleged son Ptolemy VI, he wanted to invade Egypt and first made contact with the Ptolemaic mercenaries, whom he knew well from before. He promised these warriors, who had not been paid enough for a long time, high wages for a change to his side. Since the strategist Hierax , an important favorite of Ptolemy VIII, paid the mercenaries in time from his own resources, Galaistes' plan failed.

Civil war

The in the 130s BC Tensions between the three Egyptian rulers, which, however, cannot be proven due to lack of sources, finally escalated at the end of 132 BC. And Cleopatra II now openly rebelled against her brother. This led to a civil war between the Ptolemaic siblings . The king was initially able to maintain control in Alexandria. Cleopatra II, who was presumably outside the capital at the time, began a new count of her reigning years, in 132/131 BC. As "year 1", and from then on bore the cultic surname theá Philométor Sóteira ("mother-loving savior and goddess"). With this title she reminded of the time with her brother Ptolemy VI. Philometor and also linked to Ptolemy I , who established the Ptolemy government over Egypt and carried the cult name Soter (“Savior”). Papyrological evidence shows that Ptolemy VIII was still at least in the first half of 131 BC. BC retained power not only over Alexandria, but also over other important cities such as Memphis or Thebes . However, the king soon had to deal not only with the revolt of his sister, but also with another rebel, Harsiese ("Horus, son of Isis "). This appeared as an opposing king and was able to defend himself briefly in the summer and autumn of 131 BC. In Thebes, but lost in November 131 BC. Control of this city. In January / February 130 BC The Egyptian Paos , an important strategist of Ptolemy VIII, was supposed to fight insurgents in Hermonthis , but neither the outcome of the enterprise is known nor whether the rebels were sympathizers of Cleopatra II or Harsieses.

Not much later Ptolemy VIII was driven out by a revolt of the Alexandrines, who now sided with Cleopatra II. The king fled with Cleopatra III. to Cyprus. With the soldiers there, on whose loyalty he could build, and with new armed forces, he wanted to regain possession of his empire by force. He had also taken his son Ptolemy Memphites with him so that he could not be raised to co-regent Cleopatra II. Such a measure would have significantly improved Cleopatra II's position, which, however, was appointed sole ruler by the Alexandrians in this situation. In addition, the capital city destroyed the busts of Ptolemy VIII. The king took revenge by killing Memphites and sending his remains to his mother. By exhibiting the dismembered body of her son, she aroused the anger of the people against the cruel king.

Probably around the middle of 130 BC. Ptolemy VIII began the reconquest of the Nile country with the help of his army raised in Cyprus. He found support in particular from the local Egyptian population, whom he had treated very favorably. On the other hand, many Greeks and Jews who lived in Alexandria and the Chora thought of his sister. Because the capital was controlled by Cleopatra II and the priest of Alexander was located there, Ptolemy VIII appointed counter priests to support his propaganda. He still succeeded in 130 BC. The almost complete submission of Upper Egypt, although there he had to fight not only against supporters of his sister, but also against troops of Harsiese. In any case, Ptolemy VIII was able to end the rule of this last known native pharaoh of Egypt quickly. After he was no later than 129/128 BC When Fajjum had also brought back under his rule, Cleopatra II's sphere of influence was limited to the area around Alexandria.

Cleopatra II, who was on the defensive, asked her son-in-law Demetrios II for assistance in the civil war and promised him the throne of Egypt as a reward, although he was only to become her co-regent. The Seleucid king did not miss the offer, but was accepted by Ptolemy VIII. 129/128 BC. Defeated on the Egyptian border near Pelusion . In her militarily hopeless situation, Cleopatra II escaped soon afterwards, around 128 BC. BC, with the Egyptian treasury to Demetrios II. To Syria. Ptolemy VIII, however, raised Alexander II Zabinas to the pretender to the Seleucid throne and provided him with sufficient military support. Demetrios II lost in 126 BC Against Zabinas a battle near Damascus and was killed shortly afterwards on the orders of his wife Cleopatra Thea. With this clever tactic, the Egyptian king had eliminated his Seleucid rival as well as his sister and also around 127/126 BC. BC the disobedient capital Alexandria can be recaptured.

Renewed rule with Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra III.

As can be seen from the dating formulas of papyri, Cleopatra II was reconciled in 124 BC. Surprisingly, for reasons that are not known exactly, with her brother. According to Justinus, this step could be connected with a change in Ptolemy VIII's policy towards the Seleucid Empire. Alexander Zabinas acted increasingly independently of his previous patron and tried, not without success, to assert himself as ruler against Cleopatra Thea and her son Antiochus VIII . Therefore Ptolemy VIII no longer supported his Syrian crown pretender. Instead, he now sided with his stepdaughter Cleopatra Thea and Antiochus VIII. Perhaps because Cleopatra II as the mother of Cleopatra Theas belonged to their party, Ptolemy VIII tried to come to an agreement with her. Other reasons, such as the return of the Ptolemaic state treasure to Egypt, may have contributed to the decision of the Egyptian king to reconcile with his sister. In any case, Cleopatra II returned to Alexandria and reigned together with her brother and daughter Cleopatra III. All three rulers were now revered as theoí Euergétai .

In order to overcome the still very uncertain conditions in Egypt and to achieve lasting pacification, the king and his two co-regents issued a decree in 118 BC. A comprehensive amnesty. For further reconciliation within the ruling dynasty, the admission of one of the murdered crown princes , probably Ptolemy Memphites, under the title theós Néos Philopátor (“new father-loving God”) into the imperial cult was decided in the same year . The triple rule of Cleopatra II, her brother and her daughter lasted until the death of Ptolemy VIII (June 28, 116 BC).

Co-regent after Ptolemy VIII's death and death

According to Ptolemy VIII's will, Cleopatra III. to choose which of her two sons she wanted to rule together with. Cleopatra III. preferred her younger son Ptolemy X. But now the contrast to her mother came to light again. Cleopatra II wanted her older grandson Ptolemy IX to succeed the throne . , Cleopatra III. finally had to accept not only under pressure from her mother, but also at the request of the Alexandrians as co-regent. Cleopatra II was also able to achieve that she was also involved in the government of her daughter and her grandson. The ruling trio now bore the cult title theoí Philométores Sotéres . Cleopatra II had used this name (in the singular) when she rebelled against her brother. The two women of the "triumvirate" took on Ptolemy IX. the leading role as they are mentioned in papyrus documents before him. Cleopatra II died a short time later (probably before March 115 BC). Perhaps she had been killed at her daughter's instigation.

literature

General

• Günther Hölbl : History of the Ptolemaic Empire . Scientific Book Society, Darmstadt 1994, ISBN 3-534-10422-6 .
• Werner Huss : Egypt in the Hellenistic Period 332–30 BC Chr . Beck, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-406-47154-4 .
• Felix Stähelin : Cleopatra 15). In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XI, 1, Stuttgart 1921, Col. 740-744.

About the name

• Jürgen von Beckerath : Handbook of the Egyptian king names . 2nd edition, von Zabern, Mainz 1999, pp. 240–241, ISBN 3-8053-2591-6 .

Questions of detail

• Aidan Dodson, Dyan Hilton: The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt . The American University in Cairo Press, London 2004, ISBN 977-424-878-3 , pp. 264-281.

Web link

• Christopher Bennett biography

Remarks

1. ↑ Huss (2001), pp. 540f .; Hölbl (1994), p. 128f.
2. ↑ Huss (2001), pp. 545f .; Hölbl (1994), p. 130.
3. ↑ Huss (2001), pp. 547-559; Hölbl (1994), pp. 130-134.
4. ↑ Huss (2001), p. 567ff .; Hölbl (1994), pp. 159f.
5. ↑ Flavius ​​Josephus : Jewish antiquities. 12, 387f .; 13, 63f .; 13, 69f .; 20, 236.
6. ↑ B. Kramer et al. (Ed.): Kölner Papyri. VIII 350.
7. ↑ Diodorus : 33, 20; Josephus: Contra Apionem. 2, 5, 51; Iustinus : Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV. 38, 8, 3f .; Orosius : Historiae adversum Paganos. 5, 10, 7.
8. ↑ Hölbl (1994), p. 169.
9. ↑ Christopher Bennett: Ptolemy Memphites. Note 9. ( Memento of the original from June 13, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
10. ^ Iustinus: Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV. 38, 8, 2.
11. ↑ Josephus: Contra Apionem. 2, 5, 49-53 ( English translation )
12. ^ Iustinus: Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV. 38, 8, 3.
13. ↑ Christopher Bennett: Cleopatra II. Note 26. ( Memento of the original from June 14, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
14. ↑ Huss (2001), p. 600 with note 22 .; Hölbl (1994), p. 172.
15. ↑ Christopher Bennett: Cleopatra II. Notes 14 and 33. ( Memento of the original from June 14, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
16. ^ Iustinus: Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV. 38, 8, 3f .; see. Orosius : Historiae adversum Paganos. 5, 10, 6f. and Josephus : Contra Apionem. 2, 5, 51.
17. ↑ Christopher Bennett: Ptolemy. Note 5. ( Memento of the original from June 13, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
18. ↑ Diodor : Bibliothéke historiké. 33, 13.
19. ↑ Huss (2001), p. 605.
20. ^ Iustinus: Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV. 38, 8, 5; Valerius Maximus : Factorum et dictorum memorabilium libri IX. 9, 1, ext. 5; Livy , periochae 59; Orosius . Historiae adversum Paganos. 5, 10, 6.
21. ↑ Huss (2001), p. 606.
22. ^ For example, Huss (2001), p. 606; Hölbl (1994), p. 173.
23. ↑ Christopher Bennett: Cleopatra II. Note 36 ( Memento of the original from June 14, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
24. ↑ Diodor: Bibliothéke historiké. 33, 20 and 33, 22; on this Huss (2001), p. 606f .; Hölbl (1994), pp. 173f.
25. ↑ Huss (2001), pp. 608ff .; Hölbl (1994), p. 174ff.
26. ↑ Christopher Bennett: Cleopatra II. Note 15. ( Memento of the original from June 14, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
27. ↑ Diodor: Bibliothéke historiké. 33, 12 and 34/35, 14; Iustinus: Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV. 38, 8, 11-15; Livy: periochae. 59; Valerius Maximus : 9, 2, ext. 5; Orosius : Historiae adversum Paganos. 5, 10, 6f .; on this Huss (2001), p. 610f .; Hölbl (1994), p. 175.
28. ↑ Huss (2001), pp. 612f .; Hölbl (1994), p. 176ff.
29. ^ Iustinus: Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV. 38, 9, 1 and 39, 1, 1-9; Diodor: 34/35, 22; Josephus: Jewish antiquities. 13, 267f .; Porphyrios In: FGrH 260 F 32, 21; Eusebius of Caesarea : Chronicle 1, Sp. 258 ed. Schoene; on this Huss (2001), p. 613f .; Hölbl (1994), p. 178f.
30. ^ Iustinus: Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV. 39, 2, 1ff .; on this Huss (2001), p. 615; Hölbl (1994), p. 179.
31. ↑ Huss (2001), pp. 624f .; Hölbl (1994), p. 181.
32. ↑ Huss (2001), pp. 627-631; Hölbl (1994), p. 183f.