Cleopatra III

For other women named Cleopatra, see Cleopatra (disambiguation).

Cleopatra III
Cleopatra III at Kom Ombo
Pharaoh
Royal titulary Horus name Nebtaoui Kanekhet Lady of the Two Lands, Mighty Bull

Cleopatra III
Queen of Egypt
Reign	142—131 BC
Predecessor	Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra II
Successor	Cleopatra II
Co-rulers	Ptolemy VIII Cleopatra II
Reign	127–101 BC
Predecessor	Cleopatra II
Successor	Ptolemy X and Berenice III
Co-rulers	Ptolemy VIII (127–116 BC) Cleopatra II (124–116 BC) Ptolemy IX (116–107 BC) Ptolemy X (107–101 BC)
Born	c. 160 – 155 BC
Died	101 BC
Spouse	Ptolemy VIII of Egypt (uncle and step-father)
Issue	Ptolemy IX Ptolemy X Cleopatra IV Cleopatra Selene Tryphaena
Dynasty	Ptolemaic
Father	Ptolemy VI of Egypt
Mother	Cleopatra II of Egypt

Cleopatra III (Greek: Κλεοπάτρα; c.160–101 BC) was a queen of Egypt. She ruled at first with her mother Cleopatra II and husband Ptolemy VIII from 142 to 131 BC and again from 127 to 116 BC. She then ruled with her sons Ptolemy IX and Ptolemy X from 116 to 101 BC.

Cleopatra III was also known as Cleopatra Euergetis while associated with her husband Ptolemy VIII or her son Ptolemy X. She is attested as Cleopatra Philometor Soteira while associated with her eldest son Ptolemy IX. According to Strabo, she was sometimes known as Kokke when discussed in relation to her son Ptolemy X.

Reign of her father and younger years

Cleopatra III's uncle Ptolemy VIII ruled together with her parents from ca 170 BC to 164 BC, at which point he expelled Cleopatra II and Ptolemy VI. However, he was soon forced to abdicate in 163 BC.

Cleopatra III's parents retook the throne and remained in power for almost 20 years until 145 BC. Cleopatra III was born between 160 and 155 BC. She was a sister to Ptolemy Eupator, Cleopatra Thea, Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator, and possibly Berenice.

Ptolemy VI died in 145 BC from injuries sustained when falling from his horse during the battle of Oinoparas against Alexander Balas. Cleopatra III’s uncle Ptolemy VIII became the King of Egypt again.

Joint rule with her mother and husband

Ptolemy VIII first married Cleopatra III’s mother Cleopatra II in 145 BC, and married Cleopatra III in c. 139 BC.

Cleopatra III and Ptolemy VIII had five children:

• Ptolemy IX, born c. 143 BC
• Tryphaena, born c. 141 BC. Married Antiochus VIII Grypus, king of Syria in 124 BC
• Ptolemy X, born c. 140 or 139 BC. Married his niece Berenice (daughter of Ptolemy IX and Cleopatra Selene)
• Cleopatra IV, born between 138 and 135 BC. Married first her brother Ptolemy IX and then Antiochus IX Cyzicenus, king of Syria
• Cleopatra Selene, born between 135 and 130 BC. Married first to her brother Ptolemy IX, and later to her brother Ptolemy X. Later married to Antiochus VIII Grypus, Antiochus IX Cyzicenus, and Antiochus X Eusebes, kings of Syria

Coronation of Ptolemy IX depicted at Kom Ombo

Cleopatra II rebelled against Ptolemy VIII in c. 132 BC and Cleopatra III fled to Cyprus in 130 BC with her husband, but was able to return to Alexandria in 127 BC. In c. 124 BC Cleopatra III and her husband were joined again by her mother Cleopatra II as a joint ruler.

Joint rule with her sons

After the death of Ptolemy VIII in 116 BC Cleopatra III ruled jointly with her mother Cleopatra II and her son Ptolemy IX. Her mother died late into the same year or early into the next year (115 BC).

Cleopatra III expelled Ptolemy IX from Alexandria in 107 BC and replaced him as co-regent with her second son Ptolemy X. After 6 years of joint rule Ptolemy X had his mother Cleopatra III murdered in 101 BC. Cleopatra III was succeeded by Ptolemy X, possibly in joint rule with his wife Berenice III, who was Cleopatra III's granddaughter.