Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, son of the pharaoh Ptolemy XII, born in 62 BC. AD, reigned over Egypt from 51 to 47 BC. He was one of the last members of the Lagide dynasty. Ptolemy XIII had an older sister, Cleopatra VII, with whom he shared power as co-regent.
When his father died in 51 BC. BC, Ptolemy XIII ascended the throne at the age of 11. The will of Ptolemy XII stipulated that Ptolemy XIII would marry his older sister Cleopatra, and that the couple would reign jointly. Ptolemy XIII was promoted to senior co-regent with Cleopatra in October 50 BC. AD, although the eunuch Pothinos acted as regent on his behalf.
Tensions and attempted deposition of Cleopatra
In the spring of 48 BC. AD, Ptolemy XIII and Pothinos attempted to depose Cleopatra due to her increasing status as queen. It appeared for example on minted coins, while the name of Ptolemy XIII was omitted on official documents. Ptolemy XIII aspired to become the main holder of power, with Pothinos as the driving force behind the throne. They succeeded in forcing Cleopatra to flee to Syria, but she quickly organized her own army and civil war broke out in Egypt.
The Arrival of Pompey and Julius Caesar
The entry of Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar, two Roman generals, into the Egyptian conflict complicated the situation. Pompey, defeated by Caesar, sought refuge in Egypt. Ptolemy XIII pretended to accept his request, but on September 29, 48 BC. J.-C., he ordered the assassination of Pompée, hoping thus to gain the favors of César.
However, when Caesar arrived in Egypt and was presented as head of Pompey, he reacted with disgust and not with satisfaction at seeing his former adversary thus. Cleopatra VII, taking advantage of this situation, managed to win Caesar's favor and became his mistress. Caesar would orchestrate the execution of Pothinos and the official return of Cleopatra VII to the throne, although she never officially abdicated her marriage to Ptolemy XIII.
The Last Battle and the Death of Ptolemy XIII
Ptolemy XIII, still determined to replace Cleopatra, joined forces with Arsinoe IV, another of his sisters. Together they organized the factions of the army loyal to them against those loyal to Cleopatra and the small part of her army that had accompanied Caesar to Egypt. A battle broke out inside Alexandria itself in December 48 BC. BC, causing serious damage to the city.
After Roman reinforcements arrived, the Battle of the Nile ensued, ending in victory for Caesar and Cleopatra. Ptolemy XIII was forced to flee the city and is said to have drowned on January 13, 47 BC. J.-C. while trying to cross the Nile. Cleopatra remained the undisputed ruler of Egypt.
In Popular Culture
Ptolemy XIII is a character in Georg Friedrich Handel's opera, “Giulio Cesare in Egitto” and George Bernard Shaw's play, “Caesar and Cleopatra”. His conflict with Caesar and Cleopatra for control of Egypt is also depicted in the "Caesarion" episode of the HBO television series Rome.
In the 2017 video game Assassin's Creed Origins, Ptolemy XIII is depicted as a puppet ruler manipulated by the Order of the Ancients to depose his sister. After Ptolemy's death, Cleopatra allies herself with the Order, and the game's characters organize a brotherhood that evolves into the Hidden Ones, to counter the Order's influence.
📋 LIST OF EGYPTIAN SOVEREIGNS 📋
Hotepsekhemwey / Sneferka / Nebra / ninetjer / Senedj / Noubnefer / Horus Ba / Peribsen / Sekhemib / Khasekhemwy / Neferkasokar / | |||
Djoser / Sanakht / Sekhemkhet / Spoon / Huni | |||
Sekhemre-Khutaouy Amenemhat-/Sobekhotep I/Sekhemkare Amenemhat-Senbef/Sekhemkare Amenemhat V/Ameny-Qemaou/Hotepibre Qémaou-Sa-Hornejhéritef/Ioufeni/Séânkhibrê Amény-Antef-Amenemhat (or Amenemhat VI)/Semenkarê Nebnoun/Sehotepibrê Sousekhtaouy | |||
Sekhaenre Yakbim/Nebuuserre Yaammou/Khauserre Qareh | |||
Semqen/Aper-Anat/Sakir-Har/Khyan/Apophis I/Apophis II?/Khamoudy | |||
/Sekhemre-Sementaouy Djehouty/Sekhemre-Sousertaouy Sobekhotep VIII | |||
Twenty-first dynasty | |||
Twenty-second dynasty | |||
Twenty-third dynasty | |||
Twenty-fourth dynasty | |||
1st Persian Dynasty | |||
Thirty-first dynasty (Achaemenid) | 2nd Persian Dynasty | ||