Cleopatra II

Cleopatra II was a prominent monarch of Ptolemaic Egypt, born in the year one hundred eighty-seven BC. She began her royal journey as Queen consort from one hundred seventy to one hundred seventy BC, married to her brother, Ptolemy VI Philometor. Following this period, she ascended to the role of Queen regnant, co-ruling with her two successive brother-husbands, her daughter, and her grandson.

Her reign was marked by significant co-regencies. From one hundred seventy to one hundred sixty-four BC, she ruled alongside Ptolemy VI Philometor, her first husband and elder brother, and Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, her younger brother. After a brief interlude, she resumed co-rule with Ptolemy VI from one hundred sixty-three BC until his death in one hundred forty-five BC.

In the latter part of her reign, Cleopatra II married Ptolemy VIII and ruled alongside him and her daughter, Cleopatra III. Notably, she became the sole ruler of Egypt from one hundred thirty-one BC to one hundred twenty-seven BC. Her final reign, from one hundred twenty-four BC to one hundred sixteen or fifteen BC, was again shared with Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra III.

Cleopatra II holds the distinction of being the first Ptolemaic queen confirmed to rule in her own right, marking her as the first verified female Pharaoh of Egypt since the reign of Tausret during the New Kingdom period.