Egyptian royal family tree

Ptolemaic family tree

305–30 BCE

This family tree follows the Ptolemaic dynasty from Ptolemy I Soter to Cleopatra VII and her son Caesarion. Ptolemaic kings often married their sisters, and joint rule by kings and queens was common, so the tree shows both blood relationships and marriages.

The later generations, from Ptolemy VI onward, are tangled by wars between brothers and sisters, so the notes flag where the sources or modern historians disagree.

Read the full history on the Ptolemaic Dynasty page. Children are shown under their father, or under their mother where she was the ruler or the father is unknown.

Descent at a glance

Ptolemy I Soter 305–282 BCE m. Eurydice, Berenice I
- Ptolemy II Philadelphus 285–246 BCE m. Arsinoe I, Arsinoe II
  - Ptolemy III Euergetes I 246–221 BCE m. Berenice II
    - Ptolemy IV Philopator 221–204 BCE m. Arsinoe III
      - Ptolemy V Epiphanes 204–180 BCE m. Cleopatra I
        Ptolemy VI Philometor 180–145 BCE m. Cleopatra II
        Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator 145 BCE
        Cleopatra III 131–107 BCE m. Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
        Cleopatra II 131–107 BCE m. Ptolemy VI Philometor, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
        Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II 170–116 BCE m. Cleopatra II, Cleopatra III
        Ptolemy IX Soter II 116–107 BCE
        Berenice III Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty m. Ptolemy XI Alexander II
        Ptolemy XII Auletes 80–51 BCE m. Cleopatra V Tryphaena
        Berenice IV 58–55 BCE
        Cleopatra VII Philopator 51–30 BCE m. Ptolemy XIII, Ptolemy XIV
        Ptolemy XV Caesarion 44–30 BCE
        Alexander Helios Prince, Ptolemaic Dynasty
        Cleopatra Selene II Princess, Ptolemaic Dynasty
        Ptolemy Philadelphus Prince, Ptolemaic Dynasty
        Ptolemy XIII 51–47 BCE m. Cleopatra VII Philopator
        Ptolemy XIV 47–44 BCE m. Cleopatra VII Philopator
        Arsinoe IV Princess, Ptolemaic Dynasty
        Ptolemy X Alexander I 107–88 BCE
        Ptolemy XI Alexander II 80 BCE m. Berenice III
    - Arsinoe III Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty m. Ptolemy IV Philopator
- Arsinoe II Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty m. Ptolemy II Philadelphus

Family members

Ptolemy I Soter

King, founder of the dynasty · 305–282 BCE

Spouses: Eurydice; Berenice I
Children: Ptolemy II Philadelphus; Arsinoe II
Possible successor: Ptolemy II Philadelphus

A Macedonian general of Alexander the Great, who became king in 305 BCE.

Eurydice

Wife of Ptolemy I · Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Spouse: Ptolemy I Soter

Berenice I

Wife of Ptolemy I · Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Spouse: Ptolemy I Soter
Children: Ptolemy II Philadelphus; Arsinoe II

Mother of Ptolemy II.

Ptolemy II Philadelphus

King · 285–246 BCE

Father: Ptolemy I Soter
Mother: Berenice I
Spouses: Arsinoe I; Arsinoe II
Children: Ptolemy III Euergetes I
Predecessor: Ptolemy I Soter
Successor: Ptolemy III Euergetes I

Married his full sister Arsinoe II, the first sibling marriage of the dynasty.

Arsinoe I

First wife of Ptolemy II · Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Spouse: Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Children: Ptolemy III Euergetes I

Mother of Ptolemy III.

Arsinoe II

Sister and wife of Ptolemy II · Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Father: Ptolemy I Soter
Mother: Berenice I
Spouse: Ptolemy II Philadelphus

Ptolemy III Euergetes I

King · 246–221 BCE

Father: Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Mother: Arsinoe I
Spouse: Berenice II
Children: Ptolemy IV Philopator; Arsinoe III
Predecessor: Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Successor: Ptolemy IV Philopator

Berenice II

Wife of Ptolemy III · Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Spouse: Ptolemy III Euergetes I
Children: Ptolemy IV Philopator; Arsinoe III

A princess of Cyrene.

Ptolemy IV Philopator

King · 221–204 BCE

Father: Ptolemy III Euergetes I
Mother: Berenice II
Spouse: Arsinoe III
Children: Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Predecessor: Ptolemy III Euergetes I
Successor: Ptolemy V Epiphanes

Arsinoe III

Sister and wife of Ptolemy IV · Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Father: Ptolemy III Euergetes I
Mother: Berenice II
Spouse: Ptolemy IV Philopator
Children: Ptolemy V Epiphanes

Ptolemy V Epiphanes

King · 204–180 BCE

Father: Ptolemy IV Philopator
Mother: Arsinoe III
Spouse: Cleopatra I
Children: Ptolemy VI Philometor; Cleopatra II; Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
Predecessor: Ptolemy IV Philopator
Successor: Ptolemy VI Philometor

The Memphis decree on the Rosetta Stone dates from his reign.

Cleopatra I

Wife of Ptolemy V · Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Spouse: Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Children: Ptolemy VI Philometor; Cleopatra II; Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II

A Seleucid princess. She was regent for her son Ptolemy VI.

Ptolemy VI Philometor

King · 180–145 BCE

Father: Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Mother: Cleopatra I
Spouse: Cleopatra II
Children: Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator; Cleopatra III
Predecessor: Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Successor: Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator

Cleopatra II

Queen · 131–107 BCE

Father: Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Mother: Cleopatra I
Spouses: Ptolemy VI Philometor; Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
Children: Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator; Cleopatra III

Sister of Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII, and wife of both in turn. Her rule and conflicts are covered together with Cleopatra III.

Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator

King · 145 BCE

Father: Ptolemy VI Philometor
Mother: Cleopatra II
Predecessor: Ptolemy VI Philometor
Successor: Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II

A very short reign; he was killed by his uncle Ptolemy VIII.

Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II

King · 170–116 BCE

Father: Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Mother: Cleopatra I
Spouses: Cleopatra II; Cleopatra III
Children: Ptolemy IX Soter II; Ptolemy X Alexander I
Predecessor: Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator
Successor: Ptolemy IX Soter II; Ptolemy X Alexander I

Married his sister Cleopatra II and then her daughter Cleopatra III, who was his niece.

Cleopatra III

Queen · 131–107 BCE

Father: Ptolemy VI Philometor
Mother: Cleopatra II
Spouse: Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
Children: Ptolemy IX Soter II; Ptolemy X Alexander I

Daughter of Ptolemy VI and Cleopatra II, and wife of her uncle Ptolemy VIII. She ruled with her sons.

Ptolemy IX Soter II

King · 116–107 BCE

Father: Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
Mother: Cleopatra III
Children: Berenice III; Ptolemy XII Auletes
Possible predecessor: Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
Possible successor: Ptolemy X Alexander I; Berenice III

Alternated on the throne with his brother Ptolemy X and their mother.

Ptolemy X Alexander I

King · 107–88 BCE

Father: Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
Mother: Cleopatra III
Children: Ptolemy XI Alexander II
Possible predecessor: Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II; Ptolemy IX Soter II
Possible successor: Berenice III

Berenice III

Queen · Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Father: Ptolemy IX Soter II
Spouse: Ptolemy XI Alexander II
Predecessor: Ptolemy IX Soter II; Ptolemy X Alexander I
Successor: Ptolemy XI Alexander II

Ruled after her father Ptolemy IX, and was killed by her husband Ptolemy XI.

Ptolemy XI Alexander II

King · 80 BCE

Father: Ptolemy X Alexander I
Spouse: Berenice III
Predecessor: Berenice III
Successor: Ptolemy XII Auletes

Killed by the people of Alexandria soon after he had his wife Berenice III murdered.

Ptolemy XII Auletes

King · 80–51 BCE

Father: Ptolemy IX Soter II
Spouse: Cleopatra V Tryphaena
Children: Berenice IV; Cleopatra VII Philopator; Ptolemy XIII; Ptolemy XIV; Arsinoe IV
Predecessor: Ptolemy XI Alexander II; Berenice IV
Successor: Berenice IV; Cleopatra VII Philopator; Ptolemy XIII

Probably an illegitimate son of Ptolemy IX. He was restored to the throne with Roman help.

Cleopatra V Tryphaena

Wife of Ptolemy XII · Queen, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Spouse: Ptolemy XII Auletes
Children: Berenice IV; Cleopatra VII Philopator

Possibly the mother of Cleopatra VII and Berenice IV. This is debated.

Berenice IV

Queen · 58–55 BCE

Father: Ptolemy XII Auletes
Mother: Cleopatra V Tryphaena
Predecessor: Ptolemy XII Auletes
Successor: Ptolemy XII Auletes

Ruled while her father was in exile in Rome, until he was restored.

Cleopatra VII Philopator

Queen · 51–30 BCE

Father: Ptolemy XII Auletes
Mother: Cleopatra V Tryphaena
Spouses: Ptolemy XIII; Ptolemy XIV
Partners: Julius Caesar; Mark Antony
Children: Ptolemy XV Caesarion; Alexander Helios; Cleopatra Selene II; Ptolemy Philadelphus
Predecessor: Ptolemy XII Auletes
Successor: Ptolemy XV Caesarion

Ruled jointly with her brothers Ptolemy XIII and XIV, whom she formally married under the customs of the dynasty.

Ptolemy XIII

King · 51–47 BCE

Father: Ptolemy XII Auletes
Spouse: Cleopatra VII Philopator
Possible predecessor: Ptolemy XII Auletes
Possible successor: Ptolemy XIV

Brother and co-ruler of Cleopatra VII. He died fighting Caesar in 47 BCE.

Ptolemy XIV

King · 47–44 BCE

Father: Ptolemy XII Auletes
Spouse: Cleopatra VII Philopator
Possible predecessor: Ptolemy XIII

Younger brother and co-ruler of Cleopatra VII.

Arsinoe IV

Sister of Cleopatra VII · Princess, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Father: Ptolemy XII Auletes

Claimed the throne against Cleopatra VII and was later executed.

Julius Caesar

Roman general and dictator · Roman dictator

Partners: Cleopatra VII Philopator
Children: Ptolemy XV Caesarion

The father of Caesarion.

Mark Antony

Roman general · Roman general

Partners: Cleopatra VII Philopator
Children: Alexander Helios; Cleopatra Selene II; Ptolemy Philadelphus

Partner of Cleopatra VII and father of her three younger children.

Ptolemy XV Caesarion

King · 44–30 BCE

Father: Julius Caesar
Mother: Cleopatra VII Philopator
Predecessor: Cleopatra VII Philopator

Named co-ruler by his mother. He was killed after the Roman conquest in 30 BCE.

Alexander Helios

Son of Cleopatra VII · Prince, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Father: Mark Antony
Mother: Cleopatra VII Philopator

Cleopatra Selene II

Daughter of Cleopatra VII · Princess, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Father: Mark Antony
Mother: Cleopatra VII Philopator

Ptolemy Philadelphus

Son of Cleopatra VII · Prince, Ptolemaic Dynasty

Father: Mark Antony
Mother: Cleopatra VII Philopator