Berenice III of Egypt

Berenice III
Ptolemaic Queen of Egypt
Reign	with Uncle & Step-father Ptolemy X Alexander I (First Reign) with Half-brother & Cousin Ptolemy XI Alexander II
Born	Late 115 or early 114 BC
Died	80 BC Egypt
Spouse	Ptolemy X (Uncle & Step-father) Ptolemy XI Alexander II (Cousin & Half-brother)
Issue	Cleopatra V of Egypt
Dynasty	Ptolemaic
Father	Ptolemy IX Lathyros
Mother	Cleopatra Selene I

Berenice III (Greek: Βερενίκη; 120–80 BC), sometimes called Cleopatra Berenice, ruled as queen of Egypt from 81 to 80 BC, and possibly from 101 to 88 BC jointly with her uncle/husband Ptolemy X Alexander I. She was born in 120 BC, the daughter of Ptolemy IX Lathyros and Cleopatra Selene I. She married Ptolemy X Alexander I in 101 BC, after he took the throne from Lathyros and had his mother (and her grandmother) Cleopatra III killed. When Lathyros reclaimed the throne, Berenice lost her own rule. However, when Lathyros died at the end of 81 BC, Berenice took over the throne and ruled for six months, during which time she gained the love of the people.

She was forced to marry Ptolemy XI Alexander II in 80 BC. He had her killed 19 days later, which moved the people to revolt and kill him a few days later.

Berenice is the subject of Berenice, an opera by Handel.

References

Berenice III of Egypt Ptolemaic dynasty Born: ca. 115 – 114 BC Died: 80 BC
Regnal titles
Preceded by Ptolemy X and Cleopatra III	Queen of Egypt 101 BC-88 BC with Ptolemy X	Succeeded by Ptolemy IX
Preceded by Ptolemy IX	Queen of Egypt 81 BC-80 BC with Ptolemy XI	Succeeded by Ptolemy XI