Cleopatra IV of Egypt

Cleopatra IV (c. 138-135 BC; † 112 BC in Antioch ) was a daughter of the Egyptian king Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, and his niece Cleopatra III. of the dynasty of the Ptolemies, who had married in the year 141 or 140 BC.

Life

Cleopatra IV was the older of her two brothers, Ptolemy IX. Soter II, given to 119/118 BC, before his accession to the throne, to wife. They probably went with him to Cyprus, where he served as strategos. Around the beginning of 115 BC, shortly after Ptolemy IX. the rule over Egypt as co-regent with his mother Cleopatra III. had begun, he had divorced IV and take his younger sister Cleopatra Selene and lenkbarere the new wife to the pressure of the apparently makes us aware operating Cleopatra. Cleopatra IV was not officially recognized as the Egyptian queen; inscriptions it is called in the Temple of Philae with the titles "Daughter of Re" and " Mistress of the Two Lands ".

It is not certain whether Cleopatra IV Cleopatra Selene or the Ptolemy IX. the daughter Cleopatra Berenice III. gave birth, but the first option as loud Felix Stähelin likely because Cleopatra Berenice III. Beginning 101 BC entered into a marriage. Chris Bennett in contrast, contends that Cleopatra Berenice III. rather a daughter Cleopatra Selene was. Furthermore represents Chris Bennett (as opposed to Werner Huss ) the opinion that Ptolemy XII. and Ptolemy of Cyprus - as their father Ptolemy IX. is sure handed - Cleopatra IV had had a mother.

Cleopatra IV operational after their separation by Ptolemy IX. the wedding with the Seleucid Antiochus IX. Cyzicenus, which turned out to be a pretender to his older half-brother Antiochus VIII Grypus. In order to promote their desire marriage, Cleopatra IV brought as dowry in Cyprus by Ptolemy X Alexander I abgeworbenes army to Syria. The recruitment of these troops she succeeded well therefore easily because they presumably with her ​​then- husband Ptolemy IX. during its function as governor of Cyprus had been and had since maintained good contacts with the officers of the island troops. To 115 BC found the marriage of Cleopatra IV and Antiochus IX. instead, she probably gave birth to Antiochus X..

However, the marriage with the Seleucids was not a success. Antiochus IX. Although could make war on his half-brother from 114/113 BC due to the reinforcements provided by his wife available, but then lost a battle against this. The victorious Antiochus VIII besieged then Cleopatra IV in Antioch. After the conquest of the city ( 112 BC) in the Temple of Apollo at Daphne fled Cleopatra IV was required by their (probably older ) Sister Tryphaena, the wife of her opponent, killed.