Berenice III (Greek: Βερενίκη; 120–80 BC), also known as Cleopatra, ruled between 101 and 80 BC. She was co-ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt from 101 to 88 BC and again in 81 BC before reigning as sole monarch of Egypt from 81 to 80 BC. Modern scholars studying Berenice III refer to her sometimes as Cleopatra Berenice.
She had previously been queen consort of Egypt, or possibly queen regnant with her uncle/husband Ptolemy X Alexander I, from 101 to 88 BC.
Background of Berenice III
The Ptolemy and Berenice of the era were both Greek and Egyptian. Their heritage became a prominent symbol in their reign, taking from their parent cultures and intertwining them into their rule. Berenice’s father was Ptolemy IX Soter, who became king of Egypt in 116 BC, with his mother, Cleopatra III, as his co-regent and the dominant force in government. He was initially married to his sister Cleopatra IV, but his mother forced him to divorce her and marry another sister, Cleopatra Selene, probably in early 115 BC. It is not sure which of these wives was Berenice’s mother. Some modern scholars have favoured Cleopatra IV.
However, the historian Christopher Bennett notes that Berenice III’s legitimacy was never questioned by ancient historians (unlike her brothers, Ptolemy XII and Ptolemy of Cyprus) and that Ptolemy IX‘s marriage to Cleopatra IV seems to have been considered illegitimate – making it more probable that Berenice III was the result of the legitimate marriage to Cleopatra Selene. In this case, she was probably born in late 115 or early 114 BC. Ptolemy IX and Cleopatra III eventually came into conflict with one another.
In 107 BC, Cleopatra whipped up the Alexandrian mob against Ptolemy IX, causing him to flee to Cyprus, abandoning Berenice and her brothers in Alexandria. Cleopatra then installed Ptolemy IX’s younger brother, Ptolemy X Alexander, on the throne as a more pliant co-regent. Ptolemy X married Berenice’s probable mother, Cleopatra Selene and thus became stepfather to the seven-year-old Berenice. They probably had a son together, the future Ptolemy XI. Still, around 103 BC, Cleopatra III forced them to divorce so Cleopatra Selene could marry the Seleucid king Antiochus VIII.
Co-regency with Ptolemy X (101-88 BC)
In 101 BC, Ptolemy X murdered Cleopatra III. Shortly after, he married the thirteen-year-old Berenice and elevated her to co-regent. The pair joined the dynastic cult as the Theoi Philadelphoi (Sibling-loving Gods).
In 91 BC, a rebellion broke out in Upper Egypt. This rebellion was the latest in a series of native Egyptian uprisings in the region, following Hugronaphor (205-185 BC) and Harsiesi (131-130 BC). It is unknown what the name of the rebellion’s leader was or whether he claimed the title of Pharaoh, as earlier rebel leaders had. The rebels gained control of Thebes and were supported by the Theban priests. Their forces are also attested in Latopolis and Pathyris. The rebellion also meant that the Ptolemies lost contact with the Triacontaschoenus region (Lower Nubia). Meroe took control of the area and retained it until the Roman period.
Around May 88 BC, the Alexandrians and the army turned against Ptolemy X and expelled him. The Alexandrians invited Ptolemy IX to return to Alexandria and retake the throne, which he did. Berenice accompanied her husband into exile. The pair gathered a naval force to recapture the kingdom but were defeated in battle. Ptolemy X recruited a second force at Myra, invaded Cyprus, and was killed.
Berenice returned to Egypt at some point after Ptolemy X’s death and before 81 BC, but the exact date is unknown.
Reign (81-80 BC)
On 5 August 81 BC, Ptolemy IX promoted his daughter Berenice III, who had previously been the wife and co-regent of Ptolemy X, to co-regent status. Some sources claim that Ptolemy IX had made Berenice III his co-regent at the start of his second reign in 88 BC, but all documentary evidence shows that he reigned alone until this point. Ptolemy died shortly after that, probably in December of the same year, leaving Berenice alone on the throne. At this point, she was reincorporated into the dynastic cult as the Thea Philopator (Father-loving God), an apparent reference to her inheritance of power from her father.
After months of sole rule, Berenice summoned her younger half-brother and former stepson, Ptolemy XI, from Rome to co-regent. According to Appian, this co-regency was established at the behest of the Roman dictator Sulla, who hoped that Ptolemy XI would serve as a pliant client king. Ptolemy XI was crowned king on 3 April 80 BC and murdered Berenice a few days later. Berenice’s death angered the Alexandrians, and in response to her murder, the people rioted on 22 April 80 BC. He was cornered in the gymnasium and killed. The throne then passed to Ptolemy XII Auletes, an illegitimate son of Ptolemy IX and the half-brother of Berenice.
