Father Ptolemy IX Lathyros Mother Cleopatra Selene I | Name Berenice of Died 80 BC, Egypt | |
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Reign with Uncle & Step-father Ptolemy X Alexander I (First Reign)
with Half-brother & Cousin Ptolemy XI Alexander II (Ptolemaic) Consort Ptolemy X (Uncle & Step-father)
Ptolemy XI Alexander II (Cousin & Half-brother) Spouse Ptolemy X Alexander I (m. 101 BC), Ptolemy XI Alexander II (m. 80 BC) Parents Cleopatra Selene I, Ptolemy IX Lathyros Cousins Ptolemy XI Alexander II, Ptolemy XII Auletes Grandparents Cleopatra III of Egypt, Ptolemy VIII Physcon Similar People Berenice IV of Egypt, Cleopatra Selene I, Cleopatra III of Egypt, Cleopatra V of Egypt, Ptolemy VIII Physcon | ||
Berenice III (Greek: Βερενίκη; 120–80 BC), sometimes called Cleopatra Berenice, ruled as queen of Egypt from 81 to 80 BC, and possibly from 101 to 88 BC jointly with her uncle/husband Ptolemy X Alexander I.
Contents
Life
She was born in 120 BC, the daughter of Ptolemy IX Lathyros and Cleopatra Selene I.
She married Ptolemy X Alexander I in 101 BC, after he took the throne from Lathyros and had his mother (and her grandmother) Cleopatra III killed.
When Lathyros reclaimed the throne in 88 BC, Berenice lost her own rule. However, when Lathyros died at the end of 81 BC, Berenice took over the throne and ruled for six months, during which time she gained the love of the people.
She was forced to marry Ptolemy XI Alexander II in 80 BC. He had her killed 19 days later, which moved the people to revolt and kill him a few days later.
Legacy
Berenice is the subject of Berenice, an opera by Handel.