People > Berenice IV
Berenice IV
Background
Berenice IV Epiphaneia (77–55 BCE), known in Greek as Βερενίκη was a princess and queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom which ruled over the satrapy of Egypt during the Hellenistic Period. She was born as the daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes and most likely Cleopatra V Tryphaena. She was the sister of the famous Cleopatra VII, as well as Arsinoe IV, Ptolemy XIII Physcon and Ptolemy XIV. In 58 BCE both Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra VII would be forced to flee to Rome where they sought military assistance against Cleopatra VI,/.
Following her death in 57 BCE possibly due to poisoning by Berenice IV she would become the sole ruler of Egypt due to the absence of her father. With him and Cleopatra absent she was free to assume the throne at twenty years old without the worry of being overthrown or killed.
As the lone woman who ruled over Egypt she was expected to marry and have a man who acted as co-regent. When she did not her own the consuls forced her to marry Seleucus VII Kybiosaktes. However, she would eventually have him strangled and rule as the sole leader of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. Many people during this time believed the Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt would soon collapse due to her refusal to marry as well as for her love of fashion and luxuries which led to huge costs for the kingdom.
She would later soon marry Archelaus but he would not be named as her co-regent. Archelaus had previously been appointed to the priesthood at Comana at Cappadocia by Pompey and claimed to be a son of Mithridates VI of Pontus. According to Strabo his father was Archelaus who was actually a general of Mithridates VI during the First Mithridatic War who switched sides to the Romans.
The reign of Berenice VI would end in 55 BCE when her father Ptolemy XII retook the throne of the Ptolemaic kingdom which the military assistance of the Romans. They would be led by Aulus Gabinus and after the recapture Berenice VI would be killed by beheading. Archelaus would die in battle against the Roman forces.
Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt
King | Title | Meaning | Reign | Wife/Co-Ruler | Reign |
Ptolemy I | Soter | Savior | 305-285 BCE | Berenice I | Reign |
Ptolemy II | Philadelphus | Sister-loving | 285-246 BCE | Arsinoe I | Reign |
Ptolemy III | Euergetes I | The Benefactor | 246-221 BCE | Berenice II | Reign |
Ptolemy IV | Philopater | Father-loving | 221-204 BCE | Arsinoe III | Reign |
Ptolemy V | Epiphanes | The Illustrious | 204-180 BCE | Reign | |
Ptolemy VI | Philometor | Mother-loving | 180-145 BCE | Cleopatra I Cleopatra II & Ptolemy VIII Ptolemy Eupator | 180–176 BCE 170–163 BCE 153–150 BCE |
Ptolemy VII | Neos Philopator | Father-loving | 145 BCE | Cleopatra II | Reign |
Ptolemy VIII | Euergetes II | The Benefactor | 170–116 BCE | Cleopatra II | 145–131/130 BCE |
Cleopatra II | 124–116 BCE | ||||
Ptolemy VIII | Euergetes II | The Benefactor | 170–116 BCE | Cleopatra II | 124–116 BCE |
Ptolemy IX | Soter II | The Savior | 116-107 BCE | Cleopatra III | 107–101 BCE |
Ptolemy X | Alexander I | 107-88 BCE | Cleopatra III | 107–101 BCE | |
Ptolemy IX | Soter II | The Savior | 88-80 BCE | ||
Ptolemy XI | Alexander II | 80 BCE | Berenice III | 80 BCE | |
Ptolemy XIII | Neos Dionysos/Auletes | New Dionysus/Flute Player | 80–51 BCE | Berenice IV | 58–55 BCE |
Cleopatra VII | 51-30 BCE | Reign | |||
Ptolemy XIII Physcon | Dionysos | 51-47 BCE | Reign | ||
Ptolemy XIV | Philopator | Father-loving | 47-44 BCE | Reign | |
Ptolemy XV | Caesarion | Little Caesar | 44-30 BCE | Reign |