Ptolemy IX Soter

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Ptolemy IX Soter II[note 1] or Lathyros ("grass pea") (Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Σωτήρ Λάθυρος, Ptolemaĩos Sōtḗr Láthuros) was king of Egypt three times, from 116 BC to 110 BC, 109 BC to 107 BC and 88 BC to 81 BC, with intervening periods ruled by his brother, Ptolemy X Alexander. At first he was chosen by his mother Cleopatra III to be her co-regent (his father Ptolemy VIII wished that she would rule with one of her sons), though she was more forced to choose him by the Alexandrians. He married his sister Cleopatra IV, but his mother pushed her out and replaced her with his younger sister Cleopatra Selene. Later, she claimed that he tried to kill her, and successfully deposed him, putting her favorite son Alexander on the throne as co-regent with her. However, she later grew tired of the now Ptolemy X and deposed him, putting Ptolemy IX back on the throne. She was soon murdered by Ptolemy X, who took the throne again. He was then killed in battle, and Ptolemy IX reigned until his own death.

Silver tetradrachma of Egyptian pharaoh Ptolemy IX. Soter II., 109 BC
Fragment of a stella of Ptolemy IX, 115 BC, from Aswan

His daughter Berenice III took the throne after his death, and reigned for about a year. She was forced to marry her stepson Alexander, who reigned under the name Ptolemy XI Alexander II and had her killed nineteen days later.

Ptolemy IX's name recalls that of his great Macedonian ancestor, Ptolemy I Soter; in older references and in younger ones by the German historian Huss, he may be numbered VIII.

Ancestry

Family of Ptolemy IX Soter
16. Ptolemy III Euergetes
8. Ptolemy IV Philopator
17. Berenice II of Egypt
4. Ptolemy V Epiphanes
18. =16. Ptolemy III Euergetes
9. Arsinoe III of Egypt
19. =17. Berenice II of Egypt
2. Ptolemy VIII Physcon
20. Seleucus II Callinicus
10. Antiochus III the Great
21. Laodice II
5. Cleopatra I of Egypt
22. Mithridates II of Pontus
11. Laodice III
23. Laodice (wife of Mithridates II of Pontus) (Sister of No. 20)
1. Ptolemy IX Lathyros
24. =8. Ptolemy IV Philopator
12. =4. Ptolemy V Epiphanes
25. =9. Arsinoe III of Egypt
6. Ptolemy VI Philometor
26. =10. Antiochus III the Great
13. =5. Cleopatra I of Egypt
27. =11. Laodice III
3. Cleopatra III of Egypt
28. =8/24. Ptolemy IV Philopator
14. =4/12. Ptolemy V Epiphanes
29. =9/25. Arsinoe III of Egypt
7. Cleopatra II of Egypt
30. =8/24/28. Ptolemy IV Philopator
15. =5/13. Cleopatra I of Egypt
31. =9/25/29. Arsinoe III of Egypt

Notes

  1. ^ Numbering the Ptolemies is a modern convention. Older sources may give a number one higher or lower. The most reliable way of determining which Ptolemy is being referred to in any given case is by epithet (e.g. "Philopator").

External links

Ptolemy IX Soter
Born: ca. 143 – 142 BC Died: 81 BC
Regnal titles
Preceded by Pharaoh of Egypt
116 BC-110 BC
with Cleopatra III and Cleopatra IV
Succeeded by
Preceded by Pharaoh of Egypt
110 BC-109 BC
with Cleopatra III
Succeeded by
Preceded by Pharaoh of Egypt
88 BC-81 BC
Succeeded by