The Coregents
Paternity
The paternities of the coregents who never became sole or senior ruler are generally less well established than those of the kings.
For Ptolemy "the Son", coregent of Ptolemy II, we have no direct evidence at all, and his paternity is one of the most debated points in Ptolemaic genealogy. All solutions are argued circumstantially. The choice is between Lysimachus of Thrace and Ptolemy II.
For Ptolemy Eupator, coregent of Ptolemy VI, we have only contemporary evidence, but his paternity is undoubted.
In the case of Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator there is serious doubt as to how he fits in to the series. Until recently he was usually identified as Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy VI. In 1990, Chauveau suggested he is to be identified with Ptolemy Memphites, son of Ptolemy VIII, in which case it is uncertain as to whether he was actually made a coregent. This solution is prefered here.
For Cleopatra "VI" Tryphaena, coregent with Berenice IV in her first year, our classical source calls her the daughter of Ptolemy XII. For circumstantial reasons, she is usually, as here, identified with Cleopatra V Tryphaena.
For Ptolemy XIV, and for Arsinoe IV, briefly coregent with Ptolemy XIII in opposition to Cleopatra VII, we only have classical evidence, but their paternity is undoubted.
In the case of Ptolemy XV Caesarion, said to be the son of Julius Caesar, doubts of his paternity existed in ancient times and were clearly connected with political motivations. He is generally, although not universally, accepted today as the son of Caesar.
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Father |
Literary Source |
Documentary Source |
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Lysimachus? |
None |
None |
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None |
OGIS 125 |
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Edfou IV 92 |
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None |
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None |
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None |
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Caesar? |
None |
Maternity
The maternity of the coregents is, with two exceptions, recoverable only through circumstantial argument. In the case of Eupator, his maternity is given by inscription. Caesarion's maternity is known both from Plutarch and probably from a fragmentary inscription. The maternity of Memphites is certain, what is doubtful is whether he was a coregent.
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Mother |
Literary Source |
Documentary Source |
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None |
None |
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None |
OGIS 125 |
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Edfou IV 92 |
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None |
None |
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None |
None |
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None |
None |
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CIL III.7232? |
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