Ptolemy XI.

Ptolemy XI. Alexander II (* around 105 BC; † 80 BC in Alexandria ) was a member of the Ptolemaic family . He ruled Egypt in 80 BC. Only a few days.

Origin and youth

Ptolemy XI. was the son of Ptolemy X. († 88 BC) and was nicknamed Alexander like his father. His mother is unknown. The wife of Ptolemy X, Cleopatra Berenike III. , according to the testimony of Porphyry, was the stepmother of Ptolemy XI.

When the queen widow Cleopatra III. 103 BC Immediately before a military confrontation with her expelled son Ptolemaios IX. stood, she let her grandson Ptolemy XI. and two other grandchildren ( Ptolemy XII and Ptolemy of Cyprus ) bring their treasures and wills to safety in the Asklepios sanctuary on the island of Kos .

After the death of Cleopatra III. (October 101 BC) Ptolemy X took over the sole rule in Egypt. From papyrus dating from 101/100 BC In which Ptolemy XI, who was then on Kos. as coregent of his father and his wife Cleopatra Berenike III. is called, seems to emerge that Cleopatra Berenike III. - probably at the request of her husband - her stepson Ptolemy XI. adopted. Its promotion to co-gentleman was supposed to express that he was the designated successor of his father.

88 BC Ptolemy XI fell. the anti-Rome king Mithridates VI. in the occupation of Kos. He had to follow the Pontic ruler in his empire, but could enjoy a royal upbringing. As Mithridates VI. after his defeat by Sulla in 84 BC. In the west of Minor Asiatic city Dardanos began peace talks with the successful Roman general, Ptolemy XI used. the opportunity to escape and went to Sulla. This took him with him to Rome .

Domination

As Ptolemy IX. Late 81 or early 80 BC Died, his daughter Cleopatra Berenike III ruled. alone for about half a year. Allegedly, however, the Alexandrians disliked a purely female rule. So they sent a delegation to Rome to Ptolemy XI. as husband for Cleopatra Berenike III. to ask. Sulla approved the marriage project because he probably intended to influence the Egyptian government through his protégé; maybe he had (co-) launched this connection.

Cleopatra Berenike III, who was significantly older than her stepson, apparently did not want to share her power with him enough. Ptolemy XI. must have been reluctant to accept their will to rule. Probably relying on Sulla's backing, he let his wife around in June 80 BC. Murder after 18 or 19 days of marriage. Since the slain queen had enjoyed great popularity among the people, Ptolemy XI. shortly afterwards lynched by members of a protection force with the consent of the angry Alexandrians in the high school in Alexandria. A damnatio memoriae was imposed on him .

Rumors later surfaced that Rome relied on either Ptolemy X or Ptolemy XI. Could support the will that the world power established as heirs of Egypt. The existence of this testament is controversial in modern research. The Roman orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero spoke in 63 BC. In his speech De lege agraria only hinted at it. At that time, some influential politicians apparently tried to pull in the Nile land on the basis of the alleged legacy as a Roman province. Cicero opposed this plan vigorously and successfully, fearing that a Roman governor of Egypt could become too powerful.

Ptolemy XII followed Ptolemy XI. on the Egyptian throne.

literature

• Marco Frenschkowski :  Ptolemy XI. Alexandros II. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 7, Bautz, Herzberg 1994, ISBN 3-88309-048-4 , Sp. 1042.
• Peter Green: Alexander to Actium. The historical evolution of the hellenistic age . University of California Press, Berkeley; Thames and Hudson, London 1990, pp. 553f., ISBN 0-520-05611-6 .
• Günther Hölbl : History of the Ptolemaic Empire . Scientific Book Society, Darmstadt 1994, ISBN 3-534-10422-6 , pp. 188, 193 f .
• Werner Huss : Egypt in the Hellenistic Period 332–30 BC Chr . Beck, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-406-47154-4 , p. 648 f., 653, 659-661, 669 f .
• Thomas Schneider : Lexicon of the Pharaohs . Albatros, Düsseldorf 2002, ISBN 3-491-96053-3 , p. 223-224 .
• Hans Volkmann : Ptolemaios 32). In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XXIII, 2, Stuttgart 1959, Sp. 1747 f.

Web links

• Christopher Bennett biography

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Appian : Mithridatius. 23, 93; Civil Wars 1, 102, 476.
2. ↑ Porphyrios In: FGrH . No. 260 F 2, 11.
3. ^ Josephus : Jewish antiquities. 13, 349 and 14, 112; Appian: Mithridatius. 23, 93; 115, 564; 117, 577; on this W. Huss, 2001, p. 648f.
4. ^ W. Huss: Egypt in Hellenistic times. P. 653.
5. ^ Appian: Civil Wars. 1, 102, 476.
6. ^ So the Papyrus Oxyrhynchos XIX 2222, line 9.
7. ↑ So the ancient authors Porphyrios In: FGrH Nr. 260 F 2, 10-11. and Appian: Civil Wars. 1, 102, 477.
8. ^ Cicero : de rege Alexandrino. Fragment 9; Appian: Civil Wars. 1, 102, 476f .; Porphyrios In: FGrH No. 260, F 2, 10-11; Pompey Trogus : prologue. 39; G. Hölbl: History of the Ptolemaic Empire. P. 193f. and W. Huss: Egypt in the Hellenistic Period. P. 669f.
9. ↑ G. Hölbl: History of the Ptolemaic Empire. P. 198; W. Huss: Egypt in the Hellenistic Period. P. 659ff. (who doubts the existence of the will).

predecessor	Office	successor
Berenike III.	King of Egypt 80 BC Chr.	Ptolemy XII