Cleopatra VI facts for kids
Cleopatra VI Tryphaena (also called Cleopatra Tryphaena II) was a queen of ancient Egypt. She ruled around 57 BC. She shared the throne with Berenice IV, who was either her sister or her daughter. Some historians call her Cleopatra VI Tryphaena. She might be the same person as Cleopatra V, who was the mother of Berenice IV and wife of Pharaoh Ptolemy XII Auletes. Cleopatra VI might also have been an older sister to the famous Cleopatra VII, Ptolemy XIII, and Ptolemy XIV. After ruling Egypt for about a year, Cleopatra VI died in 57 BC. The reason for her death is not known. Later, Ptolemy XII Auletes returned to Egypt with help from the Roman army. He took back his throne from Berenice IV in 55 BC.
Ptolemy XII's Exile and Return
In 59 BC, Julius Caesar was a powerful leader in Rome. Some people thought he wanted to take over Egypt. They said that Egypt's king, Ptolemy XII Auletes, was not the rightful ruler. But Ptolemy paid a huge amount of money to Caesar for his support. The Romans then passed a law saying Ptolemy Auletes was the true king of Egypt. However, this agreement did not include Cyprus, where Ptolemy Auletes' brother was king.
In 58 BC, the Romans took control of Cyprus. Losing Cyprus and the money spent on Caesar caused problems in Egypt. The people in Alexandria, Egypt's capital, were very unhappy. Ptolemy Auletes could not stop the unrest. So, in 58 BC, he went to Rome to ask for military help. He left his family in Egypt.
While he was away, the people in Alexandria decided he was no longer king. They chose his daughter Berenice IV Epiphaneia to rule. They also chose Cleopatra VI Tryphaena, who was called "Auletes' eldest daughter" by an ancient writer. She ruled alongside Berenice.
Ptolemy Auletes could not get help from the Romans right away. He spent time in Rome, trying to get support from senators. He also tried to stop messages from Alexandria reaching Rome. Then he left Rome and went to Ephesus. During this time, Cleopatra Tryphaena is believed to have died in 57 BC. This left young Berenice as the only queen for two more years. In the spring of 55 BC, Ptolemy and a Roman army invaded Egypt. Berenice was defeated. Ptolemy Auletes became king again in Alexandria. One of the first things he did was punish his daughter Berenice for taking his throne.
The name Tryphaena means "dainty" or "delicate."
Who Was Cleopatra VI Tryphaena?
It is not entirely clear who Cleopatra VI Tryphaena was. Her exact family connection to Ptolemy XII Auletes and Berenice IV is hard to know. The family tree for the later Ptolemaic rulers is not certain. Records from this time are often incomplete or confusing. There are very few records that mention Cleopatra VI Tryphaena.
Only one ancient writer, Porphyry, clearly states that Berenice IV ruled with a queen named Cleopatra Tryphaena. This writer also says that Ptolemy XII Auletes had a daughter named Cleopatra Tryphaena.
If Porphyry is correct, Cleopatra VI Tryphaena was likely the daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes. Her mother would have been Cleopatra V Tryphaena. This would mean Cleopatra VI Tryphaena was an older sister to the famous Cleopatra VII. She might have been born around 75 BC. However, another ancient writer, Strabo, said that Ptolemy XII Auletes had only three daughters. These were Berenice IV, Cleopatra VII, and Arsinoe IV. This list does not include a Cleopatra VI.
Other historians think that Cleopatra VI Tryphaena might be the same person as Cleopatra V Tryphaena. Cleopatra V was the only known wife of Ptolemy XII Auletes. She was queen from 79 BC until she seemed to disappear from records in 69 BC. Some historians thought she died then. But an inscription from 57 BC mentions "Ptolemy, Young Osiris, with his Sister, queen Cleopatra, surnamed Tryphaena." This king is Ptolemy XII. The "Cleopatra Tryphaena" mentioned would be the king's wife, not his daughter. It is unlikely her name would appear if she had died twelve years earlier.
If Cleopatra V was still alive in 57 BC, and considering Strabo's account of only three daughters, some historians believe that Berenice IV's co-queen was her mother, Cleopatra V Tryphaena. This would mean she was not an otherwise unknown sister.
See also
In Spanish: Cleopatra VI para niños
