Ptolemy of Mauretania

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Bust of Ptolemy of Mauretania, c. 30–40, Louvre

Ptolemy of Mauretania or Ptolemy of Morocco (Ptolemy or Ptolemaios, Greek: ο Πτολεμαίος, Latin: PTOLEMAEVS, 1 BC–40) was a prince and the last Roman client king of Mauretania.

Ptolemy was the only son to queen Cleopatra Selene II and king Juba II of Mauretania. Cleopatra of Mauretania could have been his possible elder sister and his younger sister was Drusilla of Mauretania. His father Juba II of Numidia, was a son to king Juba I of Numidia (a king of Numidia of Berber descent from North Africa, who was an ally to Roman General Pompey). His mother Cleopatra Selene II was a daughter to Ptolemaic Greek queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt by Roman Triumvir Mark Antony. Ptolemy was of Berber, Greek and Roman ancestry.

Ptolemy with his sisters, were the only grandchildren to African king Juba I of Numidia, Ptolemaic Greek queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and were among the younger grandchildren to Roman Triumvir Mark Antony. Through his maternal grandfather, he was a distant relative to Julius Caesar and the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Ptolemy was a first cousin to Roman General Germanicus and his brother Roman Emperor Claudius and a second cousin to Roman Emperor Caligula, Roman Empress Agrippina the Younger, Roman Empress Valeria Messalina and Roman Emperor Nero.

Ptolemy was most probably born in Caesaria, the capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania (modern Cherchell, Algeria) in the Roman Empire. He was named Ptolemy, in honor of his mother’s Greek, Ptolemaic and Egyptian heritage.

His parents sent him to Rome to be educated. In Rome, Ptolemy received a Roman education and became Romanized. His mother died in 6. In 21, Ptolemy returned to Mauretania from Rome and his aging father made him co-ruler and in 23 his father died. After his father’s death, he became the sole ruler of Mauretania.

Local Berber tribes, Numidian Tacfarinas and Garamantes in 17 started to revolt against the kingdom of Mauretania and Rome. This war had ravaged Africa and Berbers, including former slaves of Ptolemy’s household had joined in the revolt. Ptolemy and his army tried unsuccessfully to end the revolt against the Berbers. The war in Africa, had reached the point that Ptolemy summoned the Roman Governor of Africa, Publius Cornelius Dolabella and his army to help Ptolemy in ending the revolt. The war ended in 24 and although, Ptolemy’s army and the Romans won, both sides lost much infantry and cavalry.

The Roman Senate, impressed by Ptolemy’s loyal conduct, had sent a Roman Senator to visit Ptolemy. The Roman Senator, recognised his loyal conduct by awarding Ptolemy an ivory sceptre, an embroidered triumphal robe and the senator greeted Ptolemy as king, ally and friend. This recognition was a tradition which was revived, which recognises and awards the allies to Rome.

Ptolemy was well educated; was a popular king with the Berbers and had proven his capability and loyalty as an ally and client king to Rome. He would often visit Alexandria, Egypt.

Ptolemy married a woman called Julia Urania, who probably was a member of the Royal Family of Emesa, (modern Homs, Syria). They married at an unknown date in the first century AD and their only child, a daughter called Drusilla, (known as Drusilla of Mauretania) was born about 38.

In 40 Caligula, invited him to Rome. Caligula welcomed him with appropriate honors. As Ptolemy entered an amphitheatre during a gladiatorial show, he wore a purple cloak that attracted admiration. Out of Caligula's jealousy, Caligula ordered Ptolemy's execution. Caligula once mistreated Ptolemy, by sending him a message reading: "Do nothing at all, either good or bad, to the bearer".

After the murder of Ptolemy in Rome, the Berbers from their outrage, started to revolt against Rome. Former slave from Ptolemy’s household, Aedemon started the revolt. The rebels were such skilled fighters that Roman Generals Gaius Suetonius Paulinus and Gnaeus Hosidius Geta were needed to end the revolt. The revolt ended in 44, when the Roman army won a fierce battle against the Berbers. Claudius assessed the kingdom and its future. He decided to divide the kingdom into two Roman provinces which were Mauretania Tingitana and Mauretania Caesariensis. Claudius tried Gaius Rabirius Postumus (a man from a senatorial family) for treason, who before tried unsuccessfully to recover money from Ptolemy.

Ptolemy is mentioned in the novels by Robert Graves, I, Claudius and Claudius the God. On Friday 10 December 2004, the US Auction Group, Sotheby in New York, auctioned a seven inche fine bronze Roman imperial bust of Ptolemy of Mauretania about age 15. The bust c. 5–20, was estimated between US$300,000 - US$500,000, but was sold for US$960,000.