Ptolemy XII Auletes

Ptolemy Neos Dionysos Theos Philopator Theos Philadelphos^{[note 1]} (117–51 BC; Ancient Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Νέος Διόνυσος Θεός Φιλοπάτωρ Θεός Φιλάδελφος, spoken Ptolemaios Néos Diónusos Theós Philopátōr Theós Philádelphos ≈ New Dionysus, God Beloved of his Father, God Beloved of his Brother), more commonly known as "Auletes" (Αὐλητής, Aulētḗs = the Flutist) or "Nothos" (Νόθος, Nóthos = the Bastard), was an Egyptian king of Macedonian descent. Auletes means pipes-player, referring to the king's love of playing the pipes.

Early life

Ptolemy reigned during the Hellenistic period. He is assumed to have been an illegitimate son of Ptolemy IX Soter, perhaps by an Egyptian woman.^[1][2] But he may instead be the son of Ptolemy IX by Cleopatra IV.^[3]

His reign as king was interrupted by a general rebellion that resulted in his exile from 58-55 BC. Thus, Ptolemy XII ruled Egypt from 80 to 58 BC and from 55 BC until his death in 51 BC. Ptolemy XII was generally described as a weak, self-indulgent man, a drunkard, and a music lover.^[4]

Family

Ptolemy may have had two wives. He married Cleopatra Tryphaena (referred to as Cleopatra V^[5] or Cleopatra VI^[1] in the literature), who may have been either a sister or a cousin. Cleopatra Tryphaena is not mentioned after 69 BC and it is not clear who the mother of Ptolemy's three youngest children is.^[1] His children include:

1. Possibly a daughter named Cleopatra Tryphaena. Porphyry mentions a daughter Cleopatra Tryphaena who ruled with her sister Berenice.^[6] Strabo however states that Ptolemy had three daughters of whom only the eldest (Berenice) was legitimate.^[7] Suggesting that the Cleopatra Tryphaena referred to by Porphyry may have been Ptolemy's wife, not his daughter. Many experts now identify Cleopatra VI with Cleopatra V of Egypt, Ptolemy's wife.^[5]
2. Berenice IV
3. Cleopatra VII
4. Arsinoe IV
5. Ptolemy XIII
6. Ptolemy XIV

His first reign (80–58 BC)

In 80 BC, Ptolemy XII's predecessor Ptolemy XI was removed by the Egyptian population from the throne of Egypt after the king had killed his coregent and step mother Berenice III.^[8] When Ptolemy XI died without a male heir, the only available male descendents of the Ptolemy I lineage were the illegitimate sons of Ptolemy IX by an unknown Greek concubine.^[9] The boys were living in exile in Sinope, at the court of Mithridates VI, King of Pontus. As the eldest of the boys Ptolemy XII was proclaimed king as Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos and married his sister, Tryphaena. Ptolemy XII was coregent with his daughter Cleopatra VI Tryphaena and his wife Cleopatra V Tryphaena.

However, Ptolemy XI had left the throne to Rome in his will, therefore Ptolemy XII was not the legitimate successor. Nevertheless, Rome did not challenge Ptolemy XII's succession because the Senate was unwilling to acquire an Egyptian expansion.^[8]

Ptolemy XII's personal cult name (Neos Dionysos) earned him the ridiculing sobriquet Auletes (flute player) — as we learn from Strabo's writing (Strabo XVII, 1, 11):

Now all at kings after the third Ptolemy, being corrupted by luxurious living, have administered the affairs of government badly, but worst of all the fourth, seventh, and the last, Auletes, who, apart from his general licentiousness, practised the accompaniment of choruses with the flute, and upon this he prided himself so much that he would not hesitate to celebrate contests in the royal palace, and at these contests would come forward to vie with the opposing contestants.

Before Ptolemy XII's reign, the geographical distance between Rome and Egypt resulted in an indifferent attitude towards each other. Nevertheless, Egyptians asked the Romans to settle dynastic conflicts^[10] During his reign, Ptolemy XII attempted to secure his own fate and the fate of his dynasty by means of a pro-Roman policy. In 63 BC, it appeared that Pompey would emerge as the leader of a Roman struggle, thus Ptolemy sought to form a patron-client relationship with the Roman by sending him riches and extending an invitation to Alexandria. Pompey accepted the riches but refused the invitation.^[11] Nevertheless, a patron relationship with a leader in Rome did not guarantee his permanence on the throne, thus Ptolemy XII soon afterwards travelled to Rome to negotiate a bribe for an official recognition of his kingship. After paying a bribe of six thousand talents to Julius Caesar and Pompey, a formal alliance was formed (a foedus) and his name was inscribed into the list of friends and allies of the people of Rome (amici et socii populi Romani).^[12]

Exile in Rome (58–55 BC)

In 58 BC, Ptolemy XII failed to comment on the Roman conquest of Cyprus, a territory ruled by his brother, thereby upsetting the Egyptian population to start a rebellion. Egyptians were already aggravated by heavy taxes (to pay for the Roman bribes) and a substantial increase in the cost of living. Ptolemy XII fled to Rome, possibly with his daughter Cleopatra VII, in search of safety.^[13] His daughter Berenice IV became his successor. She ruled as coregent with her sister (or possibly mother) Cleopatra VI Tryphaena. A year after Ptolemy XII's exile, Cleopatra VI Tryphaena died and Berenice ruled alone over Alexandria from 57 to 56BC.^[14]

From Rome, Ptolemy XII prosecuted his restitution but met opposition with certain members of the Senate. Ptolemy XII's old ally Pompey housed the exiled king and his daughter and argued on behalf of Ptolemy's restoration in the Senate. During this time, Roman creditors realized that they would not get the return on their loans to the Egyptian king without his restoration.^[15] Thus in 57 BC, pressure from the Roman public forced the Senate's decision to restore Ptolemy.^[16] However, Rome did not wish to invade Egypt to restore the king since the Sibylline books stated that if an Egyptian king asked for help and Rome proceeded with military intervention, great dangers and difficulties would occur.^[17]

Egyptians heard rumors of Rome's possible intervention and disliked the idea of their exiled king's return. Cassius Dio reported that a group of one hundred men were sent as envoys from Egypt to make their case to the Romans against Ptolemy XII's restoration, but Ptolemy had their leader (a philosopher named Dion) poisoned and most of the other protesters killed before they reached Rome to plead their desires.^[18]

Restoration (55–51 BC)

Ptolemy XII finally recovered his throne by paying Aulus Gabinius 10,000 talents to invade Egypt in 55 BC. After defeating the frontier forces of the Egyptian kingdom, Aulus Gabinius's army proceeded to attack the palace guards but the guards surrendered before a battle commenced.^[19]

The exact date of Ptolemy XII's restoration is unknown; the earliest possible date of restoration is January 4, 55 BC and the latest possible date was June 24 the same year. Nevertheless, upon entering the palace, Ptolemy had Berenice and her supporters executed. From then on, he reigned until he fell ill in 51 BC. Around two thousand Roman soldiers and mercenaries, the so-called Gabiniani, were stationed in Alexandria to ensure Ptolemy XII's authority on the throne. In exchange, Rome was able to exert its power over the restored king.^[20] His daughter Cleopatra VII became his coregent.

At the moment of Ptolemy XII's restoration, Roman creditors demanded the return on their investments but the Alexandrian treasury could not repay the king's debt. Learning from previous mistakes, Ptolemy XII shifted popular resentment of tax increases from the king to a Roman, his main creditor Gaius Rabirius Postumus, whom he appointed Dioiketes (minister of finance). So Rabirius was placed in charge of debt repayment. Perhaps Gabinius had also put pressure on Ptolemy XII to appoint Rabirius, who had now direct access to the financial resources of Egypt but exploited the land too much. The king had to imprison Rabirius to protect his life from the angry people. Then he had him escaped. The Roman immediately left Egypt and went back to Rome at the end of the year 54 BC. There he was accused de repetundis, but defended by Cicero and he was probably acquitted.^[21] Ptolemy, also, permitted a debasing of the coinage as an attempt to repay the loans. Near the end of Ptolemy's reign, the value of Egyptian coins dropped to about fifty percent of its value at the beginning of his reign.^[22]

Before his death, Ptolemy XII chose his daughter Cleopatra VII as his coregent. In his will, he declared that she and her brother Ptolemy XIII should rule the kingdom together. To safeguard his interests, he made the people of Rome executors of his will. Since the Senate was busy with its own affairs, Pompey (as Ptolemy XII's ally) approved the will.^[23]

“Throughout his long-lasting reign the principal aim of Ptolemy was to secure his hold on the Egyptian throne so as to eventually pass it to his heirs. To achieve this goal he was prepared to sacrifice much: the loss of rich Ptolemaic lands, most of his wealth and even, according to Cicero, the very dignity on which the mystique of kingship rested when he appeared before the Roman people as a mere supplicant.” ^[23]

Notes

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dodson, Aidan and Hilton, Dyan. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson. 2004. ISBN 0-500-05128-3
2. ↑ Ernle Bradford, Classic Biography: Cleopatra (Toronto: The Penguin Groups, 2000), 28.
3. ↑ Ptolemy XII by Chris Bennett
4. ↑ Ernle Bradford, Classic Biography: Cleopatra (Toronto: The Penguin Groups, 2000), 34.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tyldesley, Joyce. Chronicle of the Queens of Egypt. Thames & Hudson. 2006. p.200, ISBN 0-500-05145-3
6. ↑ Eusebius: Chronicle p. 167, accessed online
7. ↑ Strabo, Geography, Book XVII, accessed online
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ernle Bradford, Classic Biography: Cleopatra (Toronto: The Penguin Groups, 2000), 33.
9. ↑ A. Clayton Chronicle of the Pharaohs: The Reign by Reign Record of the Rulers and Dynasties of Ancient Egypt. ( London: Thames and Hudson, 1994) ISBN 0-500-05074-0.
10. ↑ Sinai-Davies, Mary. “Ptolemy and the Romans” Historia 46:3 (1997): 307.
11. ↑ Ernle Bradford, Classic Biography: Cleopatra (Toronto: The Penguin Groups, 2000), 35.
12. ↑ Siani-Davies, Mary. “Ptolemy and the Romans” Historia 46:3 (1997): 316.
13. ↑ Ernle Bradford, Classic Biography: Cleopatra ' (Toronto: The Penguin Groups, 2000), 37.
14. ↑ Siani-Davies, Mary. “Ptolemy and the Romans” HIstoria 46:3 (1997): 324.
15. ↑ Siani-Davies, Mary. “Ptolemy and the Romans” Historia 46:3 (1997): 323.
16. ↑ Ernle Bradford, Classic Biography: Cleopatra ' (Toronto: The Penguin Groups, 2000), 39.
17. ↑ Ernle Bradford, Classic Biography: Cleopatra ' (Toronto: The Penguin Groups, 2000), 40.
18. ↑ Siani-Davies, Mary. “Ptolemy and the Romans” Historia 46:3 (1997): 325.
19. ↑ Ernle Bradford, Classic Biography: Cleopatra ' (Toronto: The Penguin Groups, 2000), 43.
20. ↑ Siani-Davies, Mary. “Ptolemy and the Romans” Historia 46:3 (1997): 388.
21. ↑ Compare Cicero, Pro C. Rabirio Postumo; Werner Huß, Ägypten in hellenistischer Zeit 332–30 v. Chr. (Egypt in hellenistic times 332–30 BC), Munich 2001, pp. 696–7
22. ↑ Siani-Davies, Mary. “Ptolemy and the Romans” Historia 46:3 (1997): 332–4.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Siani-Davies, Mary. “Ptolemy and the Romans” Historia 46:3 (1997): 339.

Primary sources

• Strabo 12.3.34 and 17.1.11
• Cassius Dio 39.12 - 39.14, 39.55 - 39.58

External links

• Biography by www.livius.org
• Biography by Christopher Bennett
• Strabo Geographika Books 1‑9, 15‑17 in English translation, ed. H. L. Jones (1924), at LacusCurtius
• Cassius Dio Roman History in English translation by Cary (1914–1927), at LacusCurtius
• The House of Ptolemy, Chapter XII by E. R. Bevan
• Ptolemy XII Auletes entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith

Preceded by: Ptolemy XI	Ptolemaic King of Egypt First Reign with Cleopatra V	Succeeded by: Cleopatra VI and Berenice IV
Berenice IV	Ptolemaic King of Egypt Second Reign with Cleopatra VII	Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra VII

v t e Hellenistic rulers Argeads Alexander III the Great Philip III Arrhidaeus Alexander IV Aegus Antigonids Antigonus I Monophthalmus Demetrius I Poliorcetes Antigonus II Gonatas Demetrius II Aetolicus Antigonus III Doson Philip V Perseus Philip VI (pretender) Ptolemies Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy II Philadelphus Ptolemy Keraunos Meleager Ptolemy III Euergetes Ptolemy IV Philopator Ptolemy V Epiphanes Ptolemy VI Philometor Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Ptolemy VIII Physcon Ptolemy IX Lathyros Ptolemy X Alexander Berenice III Ptolemy XI Alexander Ptolemy XII Auletes Cleopatra V Cleopatra VI Tryphaena Berenice IV Epiphanea Ptolemy XIII Ptolemy XIV Cleopatra VII Philopator Ptolemy XV Caesarion Seleucids Seleucus I Nicator Antiochus I Soter Antiochus II Theos Seleucus II Callinicus Seleucus III Ceraunus Antiochus III the Great Seleucus IV Philopator Antiochus IV Epiphanes Antiochus V Eupator Demetrius I Soter Alexander I Balas Demetrius II Nicator Antiochus VI Dionysus Diodotus Tryphon Antiochus VII Sidetes Alexander II Zabinas Antiochus VIII Grypus Antiochus IX Cyzicenus Seleucus VI Epiphanes Antiochus X Eusebes Antiochus XI Epiphanes Demetrius III Eucaerus Philip I Philadelphus Antiochus XII Dionysus Seleucus VII Philometor Antiochus XIII Asiaticus Philip II Philoromaeus Lysimachids Lysimachus Antipatrids Cassander Philip IV Alexander V Antipater II Antipater Etesias Sosthenes Attalids Philetaerus Eumenes I Attalus I Eumenes II Attalus II Attalus III Eumenes III Greco-Bactrians Diodotus I Diodotus II Euthydemus I Demetrius I Euthydemus II Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Demetrius II Eucratides I Plato Eucratides II Heliocles I Indo-Greeks Demetrius I Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Apollodotus I Demetrius II Antimachus II Menander I Zoilos I Agathokleia Lysias Strato I Antialcidas Heliokles II Polyxenios Demetrius III Philoxenus Diomedes Amyntas Epander Theophilos Peukolaos Thraso Nicias Menander II Artemidoros Hermaeus Archebios Telephos Apollodotus II Hippostratos Dionysios Zoilos II Apollophanes Strato II Kings of Bithynia Boteiras Bas Zipoetes I Nicomedes I Zipoetes II Etazeta (regent) Ziaelas Prusias I Prusias II Nicomedes II Nicomedes III Nicomedes IV Socrates Chrestus Kings of Pontus Mithridates I Ctistes Ariobarzanes Mithridates II Mithridates III Pharnaces I Mithridates IV Philopator Philadephos Mithridates V Euergetes Mithridates VI Eupator Pharnaces II Darius Arsaces Polemon I Pythodorida Polemon II Kings of Commagene Ptolemaeus Sames II Mithridates I Antiochus I Mithridates II Antiochus II Mithridates III Antiochus III Antiochus IV Kings of Cappadocia Ariarathes I Ariarathes II Ariamnes II Ariarathes III Ariarathes IV Ariarathes V Orophernes Ariarathes VI Ariarathes VII Ariarathes VIII Ariarathes IX Ariobarzanes I Ariobarzanes II Ariobarzanes III Ariarathes X Archelaus Kings of the Cimmerian Bosporus Mithridates I Pharnaces Asander with Dynamis Mithridates II Asander with Dynamis Scribonius’ attempted rule with Dynamis Dynamis with Polemon Polemon with Pythodorida Aspurgus Mithridates III with Gepaepyris Mithridates III Cotys I incorporated as part of the Roman province of Moesia Inferior Rhescuporis I briefly with Eunice Sauromates I Cotys II Rhoemetalces Eupator Sauromates II Rhescuporis II Rhescuporis III Cotys III Sauromates III Rhescuporis IV Ininthimeus Rhescuporis V Pharsanzes Synges Teiranes Sauromates IV Theothorses Rhescuporis VI Rhadamsades

v t e Pharaohs (list) Dynastic genealogies: 4th 12th 18th 19th 20th 21st 25th 26th 27th 31st Ptolemaic Protodynastic Period (prior to 3150 BC) Lower Egypt Hsekiu Khayu Tiu Thesh Neheb Wazner Mekh Double Falcon Upper Egypt Scorpion I Iry-Hor Ka Scorpion II Narmer Early Dynastic Period (3150–2686 BC) Dynasty I Narmer Hor-Aha Djer Djet Merneith♀ Den Anedjib Semerkhet Qa'a Sneferka Horus Bird Dynasty II Hotepsekhemwy Raneb Nynetjer Ba Nubnefer Horus Sa Weneg-Nebty Wadjenes Senedj Seth-Peribsen Sekhemib Neferkara I Neferkasokar Hudjefa I Khasekhemwy Old Kingdom (2686–2181 BC) Dynasty III Nebka Djoser Sekhemkhet Sanakht Khaba Qahedjet Huni Dynasty IV Snefru Khufu Djedefre Khafre Bikheris Menkaure Shepseskaf Thamphthis Dynasty V Userkaf Sahure Neferirkare Kakai Shepseskare Neferefre Niuserre Menkauhor Djedkare Unas Dynasty VI Teti Userkare Pepi I Merenre Pepi II 1st Intermediate Period (2181–2040 BC) Dynasties VII & VIII Wadjkare Qakare Iby Dynasties IX & X Wakhare Khety I Meryibre Khety Merykare Kaneferre Nebkaure Akhtoy Middle Kingdom (2040–1802 BC) Dynasty XI Mentuhotep I Intef I Intef II Intef III Mentuhotep II Mentuhotep III Mentuhotep IV Dynasty XII Amenemhet I Senusret I Amenemhet II Senusret II Senusret III Amenemhet III Amenemhet IV Sobeknefru♀ 2nd Intermediate Period (1802–1550 BC) Dynasty XIII Sekhemre Khutawy Sobekhotep Sonbef Nerikare Sekhemkare Amenemhat V Ameny Qemau Hotepibre Iufni Ameny Antef Amenemhet VI Semenkare Nebnuni Sehetepibre Sewadjkare Nedjemibre Khaankhre Sobekhotep Renseneb Hor Sekhemrekhutawy Khabaw Sebkay Sedjefakare Wegaf Khendjer Imyremeshaw Sehetepkare Intef Seth Meribre Sobekhotep III Neferhotep I Sihathor Sobekhotep IV Merhotepre Sobekhotep Khahotepre Sobekhotep Wahibre Ibiau Merneferre Ay Merhotepre Ini Sankhenre Sewadjtu Mersekhemre Ined Sewadjkare Hori Merkawre Sobekhotep Mershepsesre Ini II Sewahenre Senebmiu Sewadjare Mentuhotep Seheqenre Sankhptahi Dynasty XIV Qareh Khawoserre 'Ammu Ahotepre Maaibre Sheshi Nehesy Wazad Merdjefare Yaqub-Har Dynasty XV Sakir-Har Khyan Apepi I Khamudi Dynasty XVI Djehuti Sobekhotep VIII Neferhotep III Mentuhotepi Nebiryraw I Nebiriau II Semenre Bebiankh Sekhemre Shedwast Dedumose I Dedumose II Montuemsaf Merankhre Mentuhotep Senusret IV Pepi III Abydos Dynasty Senebkay Wepwawetemsaf Pantjeny Snaaib Dynasty XVII Rahotep Nebmaatre Sobekemsaf I Sobekemsaf II Intef V Intef VII Senakhtenre Tao Kamose New Kingdom (1550–1070 BC) Dynasty XVIII Ahmose I Amenhotep I Tuthmosis I Tuthmosis II Tuthmosis III Hatshepsut♀ Amenhotep II Tuthmosis IV Amenhotep III Akhenaten Smenkhkare Neferneferuaten♀ Tutankhamun Ay Horemheb Dynasty XIX Ramesses I Seti I Ramesses II Merneptah Amenmesses Seti II Siptah Twosret♀ Dynasty XX Setnakhte Ramesses III Ramesses IV Ramesses V Ramesses VI Ramesses VII Ramesses VIII Ramesses IX Ramesses X Ramesses XI 3rd Intermediate Period (1069–664 BC) Dynasty XXI Smendes I Amenemnisu Psusennes I Amenemope Osorkon the Elder Siamun Psusennes II Dynasty XXII Sheshonq I Osorkon I Sheshonq II Takelot I Osorkon II Sheshonq III Pami Sheshonq V Osorkon IV Dynasty XXIII Harsiese A Takelot II Pedibastet Sheshonq IV Osorkon III Takelot III Rudamon Menkheperre Ini Dynasty XXIV Tefnakht Bakenrenef Dynasty XXV Piankhi Shabaka Shebitku Taharqa Tanutamun Late Period (664–332 BC) Dynasty XXVI Psamtik I Nekau Psamtik II Wahibre Ahmose II Psamtik III Dynasty XXVII Cambyses II Darius I Xerxes Artaxerxes I Darius II Dynasty XXVIII Amyrtaeus Dynasty XXIX Nefaarud I Hakor Dynasty XXX Nectanebo I Teos Nectanebo II Dynasty XXXI Artaxerxes III Arses Darius III Hellenistic Period (332–30 BC) Argead Dynasty (XXXII) Alexander the Great Philip III Arrhidaeus Alexander IV Ptolemaic Dynasty Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy II Philadelphus Ptolemy III Euergetes Ptolemy IV Philopator Ptolemy V Epiphanes Ptolemy VI Philometor Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Ptolemy VIII Euergetes Ptolemy IX Soter Ptolemy X Alexander I Ptolemy XI Alexander II Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos Berenice IV♀ Cleopatra♀ Ptolemy XV Caesarion ♀ indicates female pharaoh

Persondata
Name	Ptolemy XII
Alternative names
Short description	Egyptian pharaoh
Date of birth	117 BC
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death