Ptolemy XI Alexander II (Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Ἀλέξανδρος, Ptolemaĩos Aléxandros) was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty who ruled Egypt for a few days in 80 BC. He was the son of Ptolemy X Alexander I and Cleopatra Selene.
Biography of Ptolemy XI Alexander II
Ptolemy XI was born to Ptolemy X Alexander I and supposedly Cleopatra Selene. His uncle Ptolemy IX Lathryos died in 81 BC or 80 BC, leaving only his sole legitimate daughter as his heir, and so Cleopatra Berenice (= Berenice III) ruled alone for a time. However, Rome’s Sulla wanted a pro-Roman ruler on the throne. They sent the young son of Ptolemy X to Egypt, displaying Ptolemy Alexander’s will in Rome as a supposed justification for this apparent interference.
The will also apparently required Ptolemy XI to marry Berenice III, his stepmother, cousin, and possible half-sister. However, nineteen days after the marriage, Ptolemy murdered his bride for unknown reasons, an unwise move since Berenice was very popular; the citizens of Alexandria soon lynched Ptolemy.
He was succeeded by his cousin Ptolemy XII, an illegitimate son of Ptolemy IX.
