BERENICE IV OF EGYPT

:''This article is about Berenice IV of Egypt. For other uses, please see Berenice.''
'Berenice IV' (Greek: 'Βερενίκη'), born in Alexandria, Egypt in 77 BC, was the daughter of Ptolemy XII of Egypt and probably Cleopatra V of Egypt Tryphaena, sister of Cleopatra VI of Egypt Tryphaena, and the famous Cleopatra VII (loved by Julius Caesar and Mark Antony). Berenice loved fashions, parties, and jewels. She was quite lazy and fearful. Berenice had always feared the peasants, slaves and any form of social class. She only spoke her native tongue, was poorly educated due to her lack of work ethic, and ignored the peasants which didn't make her a strong leader. Despite her flaws, she was a kind and loving person towards her friends and family, she was also very beautiful. Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra VII fled to Rome, Italy in search of policitical and military help. For Berenice's elder sister Tryphaena was far to powerful, in 58 BC. After Trypaena's death in 57 BC Bernice became the sole ruler of Egypt due to her father's absence, and with Cleopatra gone she had no worry about becoming overthrown or overpowered and executed.
As a lone woman ruling Egypt, she was expected to marry and have a man as a co-regent. When she did not, her consuls forced her to marry Seleucus Kybiosaktes, but she had him strangled and remained as sole ruler. The public feared the Ptolemic reign would fail to continue due to Berenice's foolishness. It is also believed she cared far too much for fashion, and her rising expenses and luxuries She later married Archelaus, but he was not co-regent. This Archelaus had been appointed to the priesthood at Comana at Cappadocia by Pompey, and claimed to be a son of Mithridates VI. Strabo instead says his father was Archelaus, a general of Mithridates VI in the First Mithridatic War who defected to the Romans.
The reign of Berenice ended in 55 BC when her father retook the throne with the aid of the Romans led by Aulus Gabinius, and had Berenice executed, by decapitation and had Bernice's head brought to him on a tray while Cleopatra secretly watched. Archelaus, who according to Strabo had previously had a friendly relationship with Gabinius, died in battle against the forces of Gabinius.

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References

References

★ Strabo 12.3.34 and 17.1.11

★ Appian Mithrid. 114

★ Plutarch Antony 3.2 - 3.6

★ Dio Cassius 39.12 - 39.14, 39.55 - 39.58

Preceded by: 'Ptolemy XII'

'Ptolemaic Queen of Egypt' ''with Cleopatra V''

Succeeded by: 'Ptolemy XII'