Ptolemy IX Soter

Ptolemy IX Soter, also known as Lathyros (meaning chickpea), was a king of the Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled Egypt from the 4th to the 1st century BC. He was the son of Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra III, and the grandson of Ptolemy V and Cleopatra II. He had a turbulent reign, marked by civil wars, family conflicts, foreign invasions, and changing alliances. He was twice expelled from Egypt by his mother, who preferred his younger brother Ptolemy X. He also had to deal with the challenges posed by the Seleucid empire, the Roman republic, and the Jewish kingdom. He was married to three of his relatives: his sisters Cleopatra IV and Cleopatra Selene, and his daughter Berenice III. He had at least nine children, some of whom became rulers of Egypt or Cyprus. He was a patron of culture and religion, and issued coins and inscriptions that celebrated his achievements. He died in 81 BC, shortly after appointing his daughter as his co-regent. He was succeeded by her, and then by his son Ptolemy XII.