Ptolemaic Kings > Ptolemy XIV

Ptolemy XIV

Background

Ptolemy XIV (60/59–44 BCE), known in Greek as Πτολεμαῖος, Ptolemaĩos was the son of Ptolemy XII and one of the last rulers of the Ptolemaic Kingdom before its collapse and integration into the Roman Empire. Upon the death of Ptolemy XIII Physcon on 13 January, 47 BCE, Ptolemy XIV assumed the role of king of the Ptolemaic Kingdom alongside his wife and sister Cleopatra VII.

Despite being a proclaimed ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, many believe he held no real power and reigned in name only. Cleopatra VII is believed to have held all the power within the kingdom and also took Julius Caesar as a lover and had a son named Ptolemy XV with him. On 15 March of 44 BCE, Caesar was murdered in the Roman senate by a group of senators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Ptolemy XIV died soon after and it is believed that Cleopatra may have poisened him with aconite in order to allow her son with Ceaser to ascend to the throne.

The last inscription that states Ptolemy XIV was alive dates to 26 July, 44 BCE and by 2 September of the same year Ptolemy XV Caesarion was appointed her co-ruler so most scholars accept his death as some point during the summer of 44 BCE.

Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt

King	Title	Meaning	Reign	Wife/Co-Ruler	Reign
Ptolemy I	Soter	Savior	305-285 BCE	Berenice I	Reign
Ptolemy II	Philadelphus	Sister-loving	285-246 BCE	Arsinoe I	Reign
Ptolemy III	Euergetes I	The Benefactor	246-221 BCE	Berenice II	Reign
Ptolemy IV	Philopater	Father-loving	221-204 BCE	Arsinoe III	Reign
Ptolemy V	Epiphanes	The Illustrious	204-180 BCE		Reign
Ptolemy VI	Philometor	Mother-loving	180-145 BCE	Cleopatra I Cleopatra II & Ptolemy VIII Ptolemy Eupator	180–176 BCE 170–163 BCE 153–150 BCE
Ptolemy VII	Neos Philopator	Father-loving	145 BCE	Cleopatra II	Reign
Ptolemy VIII	Euergetes II	The Benefactor	170–116 BCE	Cleopatra II	145–131/130 BCE
Cleopatra II			124–116 BCE
Ptolemy VIII	Euergetes II	The Benefactor	170–116 BCE	Cleopatra II	124–116 BCE
Ptolemy IX	Soter II	The Savior	116-107 BCE	Cleopatra III	107–101 BCE
Ptolemy X	Alexander I		107-88 BCE	Cleopatra III	107–101 BCE
Ptolemy IX	Soter II	The Savior	88-80 BCE
Ptolemy XI	Alexander II		80 BCE	Berenice III	80 BCE
Ptolemy XIII	Neos Dionysos/Auletes	New Dionysus/Flute Player	80–51 BCE	Berenice IV	58–55 BCE
Cleopatra VII			51-30 BCE		Reign
Ptolemy XIII Physcon	Dionysos		51-47 BCE		Reign
Ptolemy XIV	Philopator	Father-loving	47-44 BCE		Reign
Ptolemy XV	Caesarion	Little Caesar	44-30 BCE		Reign

Sources

Ptolemy XIV Theos Philopator II entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. SmithPtolemy XIV of EgyptPtolemaic dynastyBorn: ca. 60 BC Died: 44 BCPreceded byCleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIIIPharaoh of Egypt47–44 BCwith Cleopatra VIISucceeded byCleopatra VII and Ptolemy XV Caesarion

Primary Sources

Secondary Sources