Younger son of Ptolemy
XII. After the death of Ptolemy
XIII (47
BCE), Cleopatra
VII was constrained by the Egyptian tradition of co-regents to elevate
her 12 year old brother to the status of co-ruler & consort. But his
reign was a legal fiction, since his older sister actually ruled Egypt
alone. When she followed Caesar to Rome (46
BCE) Ptolemy was a
passive member of her entourage. When she returned to Alexandria after
Caesar's assassination (44
BCE), the 15 year old nominal Pharaoh died,
allegedly by order of his sister who wished to install her son by Caesar [Ptolemy
XV Caesarion] in his place.
References:
Josephus,
Antiquities
15.89.
pseudo-Caesar, Alexandrian Wars 33.
Cassius Dio, Roman
History
42.44.
Other resources on line:
* [Note: Bevan's numbering of the
Ptolemies differs since he drops Ptolemy VII from classical lists
because there is no other evidence of his existence].