# Berenice IV of Egypt

> Ptolemaic dynasty queen regnant

**Wikidata**: [Q40022](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40022)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berenice_IV)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/berenice-iv-of-egypt

## Summary

Berenice IV of Egypt was a Ptolemaic dynasty queen regnant who ruled ancient Egypt from 77 to 55 BCE. She was the daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes and served as co-ruler with her father before briefly assuming sole authority. Berenice IV is notable for being one of the few female rulers of the Ptolemaic dynasty, ultimately被执行 after her husband's political defeat.

## Biography

- **Born:** 77 BCE (Ptolemaic Kingdom, ancient Egypt)
- **Nationality:** Ptolemaic Kingdom (ancient Egypt)
- **Education:** Royal Ptolemaic court education
- **Known for:** Serving as queen regnant of the Ptolemaic Kingdom; one of the few female rulers in Ptolemaic Egypt
- **Family:** Daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes; sister to Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII/XIV
- **Field(s):** Monarchy/Politics (ancient Egypt)

## Contributions

As a ruling queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, Berenice IV's contributions were political and dynastic in nature:

- **Co-rule with Ptolemy XII (77-69 BCE):** Served as co-ruler alongside her father Ptolemy XII Auletes during the early portion of his reign
- **Sole reign (58-55 BCE):** Assumed sole royal authority after her father was expelled from Egypt, ruling independently for approximately three years
- **Marriage to Archelaus:** Married Archelaus, who claimed to be a son of Mithridates VI of Pontus, solidifying political alliances
- **Dynastic significance:** Represented the rare exercise of female royal power in the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was predominantly male-ruled

## FAQs

**What was Berenice IV of Egypt's role in the Ptolemaic dynasty?**

Berenice IV was a queen regnant (ruling queen) of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in ancient Egypt. She held royal authority as a co-ruler with her father Ptolemy XII and later as sole ruler, making her one of the few female monarchs in Egyptian Ptolemaic history.

**When did Berenice IV rule Egypt?**

Berenice IV ruled from 77 BCE until her death in 55 BCE. She served as co-ruler from 77-69 BCE with her father, and then as sole ruler from approximately 58-55 BCE after her father's expulsion from Egypt.

**How did Berenice IV of Egypt die?**

Berenice IV was executed in 55 BCE. After her father Ptolemy XII regained his throne with Roman military support, Berenice IV was executed, likely by order of her own father, following his restoration to power.

**What is Berenice IV known for historically?**

Berenice IV is known for being one of the few female rulers of the Ptolemaic dynasty, for briefly ruling as sole monarch of Egypt, and for her political marriages including her marriage to Archelaus, who claimed descent from Mithridates VI of Pontus.

## Why They Matter

Berenice IV of Egypt matters historically because she represents an exceptional case of female royal authority in the otherwise male-dominated Ptolemaic dynasty. Her brief sole reign from 58-55 BCE demonstrated that women could hold supreme political power in ancient Egypt, though her execution upon her father's restoration underscored the precarious position of female rulers in dynastic politics. Her life and fate contributed to the complex political landscape that eventually led to Cleopatra VII's famous reign. Without Berenice IV's example, the historical trajectory of Ptolemaic female rule would be less complete, and the political dynamics between Egypt, Rome, and the Hellenistic kingdoms would lack this important case study of dynastic conflict and female power.

## Notable For

- One of the few Ptolemaic queens to rule as sole monarch (queen regnant)
- Daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes and sister to Cleopatra VII
- Executed by her own father upon his restoration to the throne
- Brief independent reign during her father's exile (58-55 BCE)
- Political marriage to Archelaus, connecting Ptolemaic Egypt to Pontus

## Body

### Early Life and Family Background

Berenice IV was born in 77 BCE into the Ptolemaic dynasty, the Hellenistic royal house that ruled Egypt from 305 to 30 BCE. She was the daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes (also known as Ptolemy Neos Dionysos), making her a direct descendant of the Ptolemaic royal line established by Ptolemy I Soter after the death of Alexander the Great. Berenice was the sister of the famous Cleopatra VII, as well as Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV, who would later play significant roles in the final years of the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

### Reign and Political Career

Berenice IV's political career began when she served as co-ruler with her father Ptolemy XII from approximately 77 to 69 BCE. This co-regency was not uncommon in the Ptolemaic dynasty, where royal women sometimes held formal positions of power alongside male rulers. The arrangement provided legitimacy to Ptolemy XII's reign and involved Berenice in the governance of the kingdom during these formative years.

The political situation changed dramatically when Ptolemy XII was expelled from Egypt in 58 BCE, likely due to popular discontent and possibly Roman pressure. During her father's exile, Berenice IV assumed sole royal authority, becoming queen regnant—a rare achievement for women in the Ptolemaic dynasty. Her independent rule lasted approximately three years, from 58 to 55 BCE.

### Marriage and Alliances

During her sole reign, Berenice IV married Archelaus, who claimed to be a son of Mithridates VI of Pontus, the famous king who had fought against Rome in the Mithridatic Wars. This marriage served clear political purposes: it sought to strengthen Berenice's position by creating an alliance with a powerful Hellenistic royal house and potentially gaining military support against Roman ambitions in the region. The connection to Pontus also suggested Berenice's attempt to maintain Egypt's independence from Rome during a period of regional instability.

### Downfall and Death

Berenice IV's reign ended when her father Ptolemy XII was restored to the throne with Roman military assistance in 55 BCE. Following her father's restoration, Berenice IV was executed, likely by his order. The exact date of her death is recorded variously as 55 BCE, with some sources noting February of that year. Her execution represented the brutal reality of Ptolemaic dynastic politics, where family ties could not protect against political elimination when power was at stake.

### Historical Significance

Berenice IV's brief reign and tragic death hold significant historical importance for several reasons. She represents one of the very few female rulers in the Ptolemaic dynasty to hold genuine royal authority as queen regnant rather than merely serving as queen consort or co-regent. Her example, though short-lived, paved the way for understanding the role of women in Ptolemaic politics and foreshadowed the more famous reign of her sister Cleopatra VII.

Her political decisions, particularly her marriage to Archelaus, also reflect the complex diplomatic landscape of the late Ptolemaic period, when Egyptian rulers balanced relationships with Rome, the Hellenistic kingdoms, and internal political pressures. Berenice IV's life and death illustrate the vulnerability of female rulers in ancient monarchies and the intense dynastic rivalries that characterized the final decades of Ptolemaic Egypt.

## References

1. ESG / Archelaus, King of Egypt
2. ESBE / Archelaus, priest
3. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20020508100505/http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/Egypt/ptolemies/ptolemies.htm)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013