# Cleopatra III of Egypt

> queen of Egypt from 142 to 131 BC and again from 127 to 116 BC

**Wikidata**: [Q40003](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40003)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra_III)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cleopatra-iii-of-egypt

## Summary

Cleopatra III of Egypt was a queen regnant of the Ptolemaic Kingdom who ruled Egypt in two separate periods: first from 142 to 131 BC, and again from 127 to 116 BC. She was one of the most powerful and influential female monarchs in ancient Egyptian history, co-ruling with her father Ptolemy VIII Physcon and later her son Ptolemy X Alexander I. Cleopatra III is known by several regnal names including Cleopatra Euergetis, Cleopatra Philometor Soteira, and Cleopatra Kokke.

## Biography

- **Born:** 161 BC (exact place not specified in source material)
- **Died:** 101 BC (September)
- **Nationality:** Egyptian (Ptolemaic Kingdom)
- **Occupation:** Queen Regnant, Monarch
- **Field(s):** Royalty, Government, Ptolemaic Dynasty
- **Aliases:** Cleopatra III, Cleopatra Euergetis, Cleopatra Philometor Soteira, Cleopatra Kokke

## Contributions

As a reigning monarch of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, Cleopatra III's contributions centered on political governance and royal succession during a turbulent period in Egyptian history. She ruled as queen regnant during two distinct periods, demonstrating remarkable political longevity in the volatile Ptolemaic dynasty. Her reign overlapped with significant political transitions in the eastern Mediterranean region. Cleopatra III's dual reign periods (142-131 BC and 127-116 BC) represent a substantial portion of the late Ptolemaic era, a period marked by dynastic struggles and shifting power dynamics between Egypt and Rome.

## FAQs

**When did Cleopatra III rule Egypt?**
Cleopatra III ruled Egypt during two periods: first from 142 to 131 BC, and again from 127 to 116 BC, making her one of the longest-reigning female monarchs of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

**What were Cleopatra III's other names?**
Beyond Cleopatra III, she was known by several regnal titles including Cleopatra Euergetis, Cleopatra Philometor Soteira, and Cleopatra Kokke.

**Who did Cleopatra III rule with?**
Cleopatra III co-ruled with her father Ptolemy VIII Physcon and later her son Ptolemy X Alexander I, typical of the Ptolemaic practice of shared rule among family members.

**What was the Ptolemaic Kingdom?**
The Ptolemaic Kingdom was the Hellenistic state ruled by the Ptolemaic dynasty, founded by Ptolemy I Soter after the death of Alexander the Great, governing Egypt from 305 BC until the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC.

**How did Cleopatra III's reign end?**
According to the source material, Cleopatra III died in 101 BC, ending her second reign period which had begun in 127 BC.

## Why They Matter

Cleopatra III matters in ancient history as one of the few female monarchs to rule in her own right during the Ptolemaic period, a dynasty known for its complex gender dynamics and political intrigue. Her ability to maintain power through two separate reign periods demonstrates significant political acumen in an era when Ptolemaic rulers frequently faced succession crises, civil wars, and external pressure from Rome. The Ptolemaic dynasty, to which Cleopatra III belonged, represented the last native dynasty to rule Egypt before the Roman annexation, making her reign a crucial part of Egypt's transition from independent kingdom to Roman province. Her multiple regnal names suggest a deliberate construction of royal identity, possibly to legitimize her rule through association with successful predecessors.

## Notable For

- Ruling Egypt as queen regnant during two distinct periods (142-131 BC and 127-116 BC)
- Being one of the most prominent female rulers in Ptolemaic Egyptian history
- Co-ruling with both her father Ptolemy VIII Physcon and her son Ptolemy X Alexander I
- Holding multiple regnal names indicating political and religious associations
- Living during the late Ptolemaic period, a critical era in Egyptian history
- Being documented in multiple academic databases and historical references (Wikidata ID 53183, VIAF 816680, GND 119208237)

## Body

### Early Life and Rise to Power

Cleopatra III was born in 161 BC into the Ptolemaic dynasty, the Macedonian Greek royal house that had ruled Egypt since the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. As a member of this dynasty, she was part of a royal family that practiced sibling marriage and complex succession arrangements typical of Hellenistic monarchies. The Ptolemaic dynasty was characterized by frequent power struggles among family members, and Cleopatra III would navigate these challenges throughout her life.

### First Reign (142-131 BC)

Cleopatra III's first reign began in 142 BC when she became queen regnant, likely co-ruling with her father Ptolemy VIII Physcon. This period represented a time of relative stability in Ptolemaic Egypt, though the kingdom faced ongoing challenges including economic difficulties, political intrigue, and increasing pressure from the expanding Roman Republic. The practice of co-regency was common in the Ptolemaic dynasty, allowing rulers to share power and ensure succession stability. Cleopatra III's position as queen regnant rather than merely queen consort indicates her significant political authority during this period.

### Interregnum and Second Reign (127-116 BC)

Following a period of political upheaval, Cleopatra III returned to power in 127 BC, initiating her second reign that would last until 116 BC. This second reign period was significant because it demonstrated Cleopatra III's ability to reclaim power after losing it—a rare achievement in the volatile Ptolemaic political environment. During this period, she likely co-ruled with her son Ptolemy X Alexander I, continuing the Ptolemaic tradition of shared rule between generations. The transition between her first and second reigns reflects the instability of Ptolemaic politics, where rulers frequently faced deposition and exile only to return to power when political circumstances shifted.

### Political Context and Legacy

Cleopatra III ruled during a critical period in Mediterranean history, as the Roman Republic was expanding its influence across the eastern Mediterranean. The Ptolemaic Kingdom, while still nominally independent, was increasingly forced to navigate Roman political interests and military power. Cleopatra III's reign overlapped with significant events in Roman history, though direct Roman-Ptolemaic relations during her reign were less dramatic than during the later reign of Cleopatra VII. The political structures and dynastic traditions that Cleopatra III helped maintain would continue for several decades after her death in 101 BC, until the final end of the Ptolemaic dynasty with the death of Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XV Caesarion in 30 BC.

### Historical Documentation

Cleopatra III's existence and reign are documented across multiple academic and bibliographic databases, reflecting her significance in ancient historical records. Her Wikidata identifier is 53183, and she is referenced in major library and authority databases including VIAF (816680), the German National Library (GND 119208237), and the Library of Congress Control Number 000227546. She has a Wikipedia article titled "Cleopatra III" and is catalogued in various digital humanities projects documenting ancient figures. The multiple identifiers across different systems indicate substantial scholarly attention to this historical figure and the availability of primary source material documenting her reign.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20020508100505/http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/Egypt/ptolemies/ptolemies.htm)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. CERL Thesaurus