Berenice IV facts for kids

Berenice IV Epiphaneia (Greek: Βερενίκη) was a Greek princess and a queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. She was born and died in Alexandria, Egypt, living from 77 BC to 55 BC.

Berenice IV ruled Egypt from 58 BC to 55 BC. This was a time when her father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, was away in Rome. It is not fully clear if she ruled with her mother, Cleopatra V, or a possible sister, Cleopatra VI, from 58 BC to 57 BC. However, she became the only ruler in 57 BC. When her father, Ptolemy XII, returned to Egypt with help from the Roman army, Berenice IV was removed from power. Her father had her killed. He later passed his throne to her younger siblings, Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII.

Who Was Berenice IV?

Ptolemy XII, Berenice IV's father

Berenice was the daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes. Her mother was likely Cleopatra V Tryphaena. She had several famous siblings. These included Cleopatra VII, Arsinoe IV, Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, and Ptolemy XIV.

Why Did Berenice Become Queen?

In 59 BC, Julius Caesar was a powerful leader in Rome. Some people thought he wanted to take over Egypt. They said that the king of Egypt, Ptolemy XII Auletes, did not have a proper right to rule.

Ptolemy Auletes spent a lot of money to get Caesar's support. The Romans then passed a law that said Ptolemy Auletes was the rightful king of Egypt. But this agreement did not mention Cyprus. Cyprus was an island ruled by another Ptolemy, who was Ptolemy Auletes' brother.

In 58 BC, the Romans took over Cyprus. This loss, along with the money Ptolemy Auletes spent on Caesar, caused problems in Egypt. The people in Alexandria, the capital, were very unhappy. Ptolemy Auletes could not control the unrest. So, in 58 BC, he went to Rome to ask for military help. He left his family behind in Egypt.

While he was away, the people of Alexandria decided he was no longer king. They chose his daughter, Berenice IV, to rule instead. Some ancient writers also say that Berenice ruled with "Auletes' eldest daughter," Cleopatra VI Tryphaena. However, some modern historians think Cleopatra VI Tryphaena might have actually been Ptolemy XII Auletes' wife, Cleopatra V Tryphaena.

Berenice's Rule as Queen

Ptolemy Auletes could not get help from the Romans right away. So, he could not take his kingdom back from the two queens. From 58 BC until late 57 BC, he stayed in Rome. He tried to get Roman senators to support him by offering them money. He also arranged for people sent from Alexandria to Rome to be killed. After this, he left Rome and went to a temple in Ephesus.

Meanwhile, Cleopatra Tryphaena is thought to have died in 57 BC. The reason for her death is not known. This left young Berenice as the only queen in Alexandria.

As a woman ruling Egypt alone, Berenice was expected to marry. Her husband would then rule alongside her.

Finding a Husband for the Queen

Berenice's advisors first tried to arrange a marriage with two princes from the Seleucid family. These princes were related to the Ptolemy family. The first prince died while the marriage talks were happening. The second prince was named Philip. He was not allowed to accept the invitation by the Roman governor of Syria, Aulus Gabinius.

Next, the people of Alexandria arranged a marriage with a man named Seleucus. He was also connected to the Seleucid royal family. When he arrived in Alexandria, people were surprised by his rough looks and manners. They called him Kybiosaktes, which meant "Salt-fish-monger." After only a few days of marriage, Berenice found she could not stand his rudeness. She felt he could not earn the respect of the people. So, she had him killed.

The court then arranged a marriage with a Greek man named Archelaus. Archelaus was a high priest in a temple in Pontus. He claimed to be the son of King Mithridates VI of Pontus. This would mean he was distantly related to the Ptolemies. Other historians say his father was also named Archelaus, a general who worked for Mithridates VI.

Archelaus was a friend of Aulus Gabinius. He had hoped to join Gabinius on a military trip. But Gabinius became suspicious of Archelaus's connections with the Egyptians. He had Archelaus arrested. However, Gabinius later believed Archelaus was not a threat and released him. In the winter of 56–55 BC, Archelaus came to Egypt. He married Berenice and was made king.

The End of Berenice's Reign

In the spring of 55 BC, Ptolemy Auletes and a Roman army invaded Egypt. Berenice and Archelaus were defeated in battle. Archelaus died during the fight.

Ptolemy Auletes was made king in Alexandria once more by the Romans. One of the first things Ptolemy Auletes did after getting his throne back was to have his daughter Berenice killed. This was because she had taken his throne. He later left his kingdom to two of Berenice IV's siblings: Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII.

See also

In Spanish: Berenice IV de Egipto para niños