Ptolemy IX Soter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ptolemy IX Soter |
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Probable bust of Ptolemy IX
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| King of the Ptolemaic Kingdom | |
| Reign | 116–107 BC with Cleopatra III 88–81 BC (Ptolemaic dynasty) |
| Predecessor | Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra III (116 BC) Ptolemy X Alexander I (88 BC) |
| Successor | Ptolemy X Alexander I (107 BC) Berenice III (81 BC) |
| Consorts | Cleopatra IV of Egypt (m. 119 BC; divorced 115 BC) Cleopatra Selene (m. 115 BC; divorced 107 BC) |
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| Father | Ptolemy VIII of Egypt |
| Mother | Cleopatra III of Egypt |
| Born | 143/2 BC or 140/39 BC |
| Died | December 81 BC |
Ptolemy IX Soter II (Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Σωτήρ, Ptolemaĩos Sōtḗr meaning "Ptolemy the Saviour"), also called Lathyros (Λάθυρος, Láthuros meaning "chickpea"), was a king of Ptolemaic Egypt. He was the son of Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra III.
Ptolemy IX ruled twice. First, he was co-ruler with his grandmother Cleopatra II and his mother Cleopatra III from 116 to 107 BC. He then ruled alone as Ptolemy Soter from 88 to 81 BC. He had a difficult relationship with his mother, Cleopatra III, who tried to control his rule.
Contents
A Young Prince's Life
Ptolemy IX was born to King Ptolemy VIII and Queen Cleopatra III. The exact year of his birth is not fully clear. Some ancient records suggest he was born around 143/2 BC.
He was not originally expected to become king. His older half-brother, Ptolemy Memphites, was first in line for the throne. However, during a civil war, Ptolemy Memphites was killed. This made Ptolemy IX the next in line.
Around 117 BC, Ptolemy IX was sent to Cyprus. He became the governor of the island. While there, he married his sister Cleopatra IV. They likely had two sons: Ptolemy XII (who would later become king) and Ptolemy of Cyprus.
First Time as King (116–107 BC)
When his father, Ptolemy VIII, died in 116 BC, Ptolemy IX became co-ruler of Egypt. He shared power with his grandmother Cleopatra II and his mother Cleopatra III. He was given the title Philometor Soter, which means "Mother-loving Saviour."
His younger brother, Ptolemy X, was sent to Cyprus to be governor. This was probably to keep him away from the throne.
Family Changes and Conflicts
After his grandmother Cleopatra II died, his mother Cleopatra III gained more power. She forced Ptolemy IX to divorce his wife, Cleopatra IV. Cleopatra IV then married a king from Syria, Antiochus IX.
Ptolemy IX then married his younger sister, Cleopatra Selene. They had a daughter, Berenice III. However, Cleopatra Selene was not made a co-ruler. Instead, Cleopatra III and Ptolemy IX were officially the ruling pair.
Ptolemy IX supported his former wife's new husband, Antiochus IX, in a war against his half-brother. This showed how complicated royal family ties could be!
Losing the Throne
In 107 BC, Ptolemy IX and his mother Cleopatra III had a big fight. Stories say Cleopatra III hurt some of her own servants. She then showed them to the people of Alexandria, claiming Ptolemy IX had tried to kill her. This made the people angry, and they forced Ptolemy IX to leave the city.
Ptolemy X, his younger brother, was then brought back from Cyprus. Cleopatra III made him the new co-ruler of Egypt. Ptolemy IX had to leave his sons and his wife, Cleopatra Selene, behind. Cleopatra Selene then married Ptolemy X.
King of Cyprus (107–88 BC)
After being kicked out of Egypt, Ptolemy IX went to Cyprus. He managed to take control of the island in 106 BC. He also briefly controlled Cyrene, but it later went to his half-brother, Ptolemy Apion.
Battles and Return Attempts
In 103 BC, Ptolemy IX tried to help the city of Ptolemais Akko against a Jewish king, Alexander Jannaeus. He defeated Jannaeus in a battle. However, his mother Cleopatra III and brother Ptolemy X worried he might try to invade Egypt from there.
They invaded the area themselves to stop him. Ptolemy IX tried to sneak into Egypt, but Ptolemy X rushed back and blocked him. Ptolemy IX eventually returned to Cyprus in 102 BC. He stayed there for several years.
Second Time as King (88–81 BC)
In 88 BC, the people of Alexandria turned against Ptolemy X. They forced him out of Egypt. They then called Ptolemy IX back to be their king again. He was officially crowned in Memphis.
This time, he dropped the "Philometor" (Mother-loving) part of his title. This was because he no longer wanted to be associated with his mother. The official records of Cleopatra III and Ptolemy X were also removed.
When Ptolemy IX returned, parts of southern Egypt were controlled by rebels. He sent his army south, and they quickly took back the city of Thebes. Ptolemaic rule was restored in much of the south.
Dealing with Rome
After being expelled, Ptolemy X tried to take back Cyprus but was killed. Before he died, he had borrowed a lot of money from the Roman Republic. He promised Rome his kingdom if he died without heirs. This made Ptolemy IX very careful in his dealings with Rome. He knew they might try to claim Egypt.
In 86 BC, a Roman general named Lucullus visited Egypt. He was looking for help in a war against Mithridates VI of Pontus. Ptolemy IX welcomed Lucullus but did not offer military support. This was partly because his own sons were being held by Mithridates VI.
End of His Reign
On August 5, 81 BC, Ptolemy IX made his daughter, Berenice III, his co-ruler. She had previously been married to Ptolemy X. Ptolemy IX died shortly after, likely in December of that year. Berenice III then ruled alone for a few months.
Life as Pharaoh
Ptolemy IX took his role as pharaoh seriously. In 115 BC, he traveled to Elephantine to celebrate a festival for the Nile River. This was an important traditional duty for a pharaoh. It showed his respect for Egyptian customs.
He also supported building projects. Work on temples like the Dendera Temple complex and the temple in Edfu may have happened during his first reign.
Egypt and Rome
In 112 BC, a group of Roman senators visited Egypt. Ptolemy IX made sure they were treated with great respect. This showed how much the Ptolemaic kings wanted to stay on good terms with the powerful Roman Republic. This visit was also an early example of Romans visiting Egypt as tourists.
Family Life
Ptolemy IX was married twice. First, to Cleopatra IV from about 119 BC to 115 BC. Then, to Cleopatra Selene from 115 BC until 107 BC.
He had at least three children:
- Ptolemy XII: He later became King of Egypt.
- Ptolemy of Cyprus: He became King of Cyprus.
- Berenice III: She became Queen of Egypt.
The exact mothers of his sons are sometimes debated by historians. However, Berenice III is generally accepted as the daughter of Ptolemy IX and Cleopatra Selene.
Images for kids
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Ptolemy XII, son of Ptolemy IX
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Rare coins of Ptolemy XII
