Ptolemy XII Auletes
Ptolemaic king who played the flute and relied on Rome.
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysus, known as Auletes ("the Flautist") for his habit of playing the flute at Dionysian festivals, ruled Egypt from 80 to 58 BC and again from 55 BC until his death in 51 BC. Born around 117 BC, he was the eldest son of Ptolemy IX, but his mother's identity is uncertain. Ancient sources like Cicero and Pompeius Trogus called him illegitimate, and Pausanias claimed Ptolemy IX had no legitimate sons. Some scholars think his mother was a concubine, likely an Alexandrian Greek, while others, including historian Adrian Goldsworthy, argue she was Cleopatra IV, making him legitimate but considered a bastard because she was never co-regent.
Ptolemy XII spent much of his early life in exile. When his father fled Alexandria in 107 BC, Ptolemy XII and his brother (the future king of Cyprus) were left behind. Their grandmother Cleopatra III sent them to Kos in 103 BC for safety, but they were captured by Mithridates VI of Pontus around 88 BC and held as hostages until 80 BC. During this time, they were probably betrothed to two of Mithridates' daughters. After Ptolemy IX died in 81 BC and his cousin Ptolemy XI was killed by a mob in 80 BC, the Alexandrians recalled Ptolemy XII to become pharaoh. His brother was made king of Cyprus.
Ptolemy XII married a relative, Cleopatra V—likely a sister or cousin—who probably bore his eldest daughter, Berenice IV, and also Cleopatra VII. His three youngest children—Arsinoe IV, Ptolemy XIII, and Ptolemy XIV—came from an unknown mother. His uncle Ptolemy X had bequeathed Egypt to Rome if he died without heirs, so to prevent Roman annexation, Ptolemy XII cultivated a close alliance with Rome during his first reign. This backfired when Rome annexed Cyprus in 58 BC, causing his brother to commit suicide. Soon after, the Egyptian people deposed Ptolemy XII, and his daughter Berenice IV took the throne. He fled to Rome, secured Roman funding and military support, and recaptured Egypt in 55 BC, executing Berenice IV. In his final year, he appointed Cleopatra VII as his regent. When he died in 51 BC, Cleopatra VII and her brother Ptolemy XIII succeeded him as joint rulers.
- born
- c. 117 BC
- died
- 51 BC
- known_for
- Playing the flute in Dionysian festivals; being deposed and restored with Roman
Lore & Background
Ptolemy XII was the oldest son of Ptolemy IX, but his mother's identity is uncertain. Ancient sources like Cicero and Pompeius Trogus called him a bastard, and Pausanias wrote that Ptolemy IX had no legitimate sons. Some scholars propose his mother was a concubine, possibly an Alexandrian Greek; Chris Bennett argues she was Cleopatra IV, making him born around 117 BC. In 103 BC, Cleopatra III sent her grandsons to the island of Kos along with her treasure. There, Ptolemy XII and his brother were captured by Mithridates VI of Pontus probably in 88 BC at the outbreak of the First Mithridatic War. They were held as hostages until 80 BC, and during that period, probably in 81 or 80 BC, they were engaged to two of Mithridates' daughters, Mithridatis and Nyssa. After the killing of his cousin Ptolemy XI by an angry Alexandrian mob, Ptolemy XII was recalled from Pontus and proclaimed pharaoh in April 80 BC, while his brother became king of Cyprus. He married his relative Cleopatra V, likely a sister or cousin; they had at least one child, Berenice IV, and Cleopatra V was likely also the mother of Cleopatra VII. His three youngest children—Arsinoe IV, Ptolemy XIII, and Ptolemy XIV—were born to an unknown mother.
Reader's Guide
Ptolemy XII's significance lies in his efforts to preserve Ptolemaic rule against the threat of Roman annexation. His uncle Ptolemy X had left Egypt to Rome in the event of no surviving heirs, making Roman annexation a possibility. To prevent this, Ptolemy XII established an alliance with Rome late in his first reign. In 60 BC, he traveled to Rome and paid Pompey and Caesar six thousand talents—an enormous sum, equivalent to the total annual revenue of Egypt—in return for a formal alliance (foedus) and recognition by the Roman Senate. However, Rome annexed Cyprus in 58 BC, causing his brother Ptolemy of Cyprus to commit suicide. Shortly after, Ptolemy XII was deposed by the Egyptian people and fled to Rome; his daughter Berenice IV took the throne. With Roman funding and military assistance, he recaptured Egypt and had Berenice IV killed in 55 BC. In his last year, his daughter Cleopatra VII was appointed as his regent. Upon his death in 51 BC, he was succeeded by Cleopatra VII and her brother Ptolemy XIII as joint rulers. His pro-Roman policies, including massive bribes and loans from Roman bankers like Gaius Rabirius Postumus, gave Rome increasing leverage over his regime.
Did You Know?
- Ptolemy XII was commonly known as Auletes ("the Flautist") because of his love of playing the flute in Dionysian festivals.
- He and his brother were held as hostages by Mithridates VI of Pontus from about 88 BC until 80 BC, and were engaged to two of Mithridates' daughters.
- In 60 BC, Ptolemy XII paid Pompey and Caesar six thousand talents—equivalent to the total annual revenue of Egypt—to secure a formal alliance with Rome.
- His daughter Cleopatra VII was appointed as his regent in the last year of his reign, and she succeeded him as joint ruler with Ptolemy XIII.
- Rome annexed Cyprus in 58 BC, causing Ptolemy XII's brother, the king of Cyprus, to commit suicide.
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