Cleopatra III

Cleopatra III (Greek: Κλεοπάτρα; c.160–101 BC) was a queen of Egypt. She ruled at first with her mother Cleopatra II and husband Ptolemy VIII from 142 to 131 BC and again from 127 to 116 BC. She then ruled with her sons Ptolemy IX and Ptolemy X from 116 to 101 BC.

For other women named Cleopatra, see Cleopatra (disambiguation).
Cleopatra III
Cleopatra III at Kom Ombo
Pharaoh
Reign142—131 BC
PredecessorPtolemy VIII and Cleopatra II
SuccessorCleopatra II
Co-rulersPtolemy VIII
Cleopatra II
Reign127–101 BC
PredecessorCleopatra II
SuccessorPtolemy X and Berenice III
Co-rulersPtolemy VIII (127–116 BC)
Cleopatra II (124–116 BC)
Ptolemy IX (116–107 BC)
Ptolemy X (107–101 BC)
Bornc. 160 – 155 BC
Died101 BC
SpousePtolemy VIII of Egypt (uncle and step-father)
Issue
DynastyPtolemaic dynasty
FatherPtolemy VI of Egypt
MotherCleopatra II of Egypt
Cleopatra III in hieroglyphs
G5
 ​
N6
t H8		 E1
D36		 V30
N16
N16
Horus name:Nebtaoui Kanekhet
Lady of the Two Lands, Mighty Bull

Cleopatra III was also known as Cleopatra Euergetis while associated with her husband Ptolemy VIII or her son Ptolemy X. She is attested as Cleopatra Philometor Soteira while associated with her eldest son Ptolemy IX. According to Strabo, she was sometimes known as Kokke when discussed in relation to her son Ptolemy X.[1]

Life

Cleopatra III's uncle Ptolemy VIII ruled together with her parents from ca 170 BC to 164 BC, at which point he expelled Cleopatra II and Ptolemy VI. However, he was soon forced to abdicate in 163 BC.[2]

Cleopatra III's parents retook the throne and remained in power for almost 20 years until 145 BC. Cleopatra III was born between 160 and 155 BC. She was a sister to Ptolemy Eupator, Cleopatra Thea, Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator, and possibly Berenice.[3][4]

Ptolemy VI died in 145 BC from injuries sustained when falling from his horse during the battle of Oinoparas against Alexander Balas. Cleopatra III's uncle Ptolemy VIII became the King of Egypt again.[3]

Joint rule with her mother and husband

Ptolemy VIII first married Cleopatra III's mother Cleopatra II in 145 BC, and married Cleopatra III in c. 139 BC.[2]

Cleopatra II rebelled against Ptolemy VIII in c. 132 BC and Cleopatra III fled to Cyprus in 130 BC with her husband, but was able to return to Alexandria in 127 BC. In c. 124 BC Cleopatra III and her husband were joined again by her mother Cleopatra II as a joint ruler.[2]

Joint rule with her sons

After the death of Ptolemy VIII in 116 BC Cleopatra III ruled jointly with her mother Cleopatra II and her son Ptolemy IX. Her mother died late into the same year or early into the next year (115 BC).[2]

Cleopatra III expelled Ptolemy IX from Alexandria in 107 BC and replaced him as co-regent with her second son Ptolemy X. After 6 years of joint rule Ptolemy X had his mother Cleopatra III murdered in 101 BC. Cleopatra III was succeeded by Ptolemy X, possibly in joint rule with his wife Berenice III, who was Cleopatra III's granddaughter.[1]

Issue

Cleopatra III and Ptolemy VIII married in 142 or 141 BC and had five children:[1][4]

NameImageBirthDeathNotes
Ptolemy IX Soter142 BCDecember 81 BCCo-ruler of Egypt alongside his mother and grandmother from 116 to 107 BC, when he was exiled to Cyprus, then co-ruler with his mother once more from 88 to 81 BC.
Ptolemy X Alexander140 BC?88–87 BCKing of Cyprus from 114 to 107 BC, when he became co-ruler of Egypt alongside his mother, until expelled in 88 BC.
Tryphaenac. 140 BC110/09 BCMarried the Seleucid king Antiochus VIII Grypus in 124 BC.
Cleopatra IV138–135 BC?112 BCMarried to Ptolemy IX and co-ruler with him from 116 to 115 BC, when she was divorced from him and remarried to the Seleucid king Antiochus IX Cyzicenus.
Cleopatra Selene135–130 BC?69 BCMarried to Ptolemy IX from 115 BC until probably 107 BC, when she was possibly remarried to Ptolemy X. Then married in succession to the Seleucid kings Antiochus VIII, Antiochus IX, and Antiochus X.

References
  1. Cleopatra III by Chris Bennett
  2. Ptolemy VIII by Chris Bennett
  3. Ptolemy VI by Chris Bennett
  4. Aidan Dodson, Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004
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