Editing Cleopatra (section)

===Reign and exile of Ptolemy XII===
{{main|Early life of Cleopatra}}
{{further|First Triumvirate}}
[[File:Retrato femenino (26771127162).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|left|Most likely a posthumously painted portrait of Cleopatra with red hair and her distinct facial features, wearing a royal [[diadem]] and pearl-studded hairpins, from Roman [[Herculaneum]], Italy, 1st century AD{{sfnp|Walker|Higgs|2001|pp=314–315}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|loc=p. 87, image plates and captions between pp. 246–247}}<ref group="note">{{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|p=87}} describes the painting from [[Herculaneum]] further: "Cleopatra's hair was maintained by her highly skilled hairdresser Eiras. Although rather artificial looking wigs set in the traditional tripartite style of long straight hair would have been required for her appearances before her Egyptian subjects, a more practical option for general day-to-day wear was the no-nonsense '[[Greco-Roman hairstyle|melon hairdo]]' in which her natural hair was drawn back in sections resembling the lines on a melon and then pinned up in a bun at the back of the head. A trademark style of [[Arsinoe II]] and [[Berenice II]], the style had fallen from fashion for almost two centuries until revived by Cleopatra; yet as both traditionalist and innovator, she wore her version without her predecessor's fine head veil. And whereas they had both been blonde like [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]], Cleopatra may well have been a redhead, judging from the portrait of a flame-haired woman wearing the royal diadem surrounded by [[Art of ancient Egypt|Egyptian motifs]] which has been identified as Cleopatra."</ref>]]

In 65 BC the [[Roman censor]] [[Marcus Licinius Crassus]] argued before the [[Senate of the Roman Republic|Roman Senate]] that Rome should annex Ptolemaic Egypt, but his [[Bill (law)|proposed bill]] and the similar bill of [[tribune]] [[Servilius Rullus]] in 63 BC were rejected.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=20}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xix, 12–13}} Ptolemy XII responded to the threat of possible annexation by offering [[remuneration]] and lavish gifts to powerful Roman statesmen, such as [[Pompey]] during [[Third Mithridatic War|his campaign]] against [[Mithridates VI of Pontus]], and eventually [[Julius Caesar]] after he became [[Roman consul]] in 59 BC.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=20–21}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xx, 12–13}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=74–76}}<ref group="note">For further information and validation, see {{harvtxt|Grant|1972|pp=12–13}}. In 1972, [[Michael Grant (classicist)|Michael Grant]] calculated that 6,000 [[Talent (measurement)|talents]], the price of Ptolemy XII's fee for receiving the title "friend and ally of the Roman people" from the [[First Triumvirate|triumvirs]] Pompey and Julius Caesar, would be worth roughly £7 million or US$17 million, roughly the entire annual tax revenue for Ptolemaic Egypt.</ref> However, Ptolemy XII's profligate behavior bankrupted him, and he was forced to acquire loans from the [[Roman banking|Roman banker]] [[Gaius Rabirius Postumus]].{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=21}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=13}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|p=76}}

In 58 BC the Romans [[Roman Cyprus|annexed Cyprus]] and on accusations of piracy drove Ptolemy of Cyprus, Ptolemy XII's brother, to commit suicide instead of enduring exile to [[Paphos]].{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=22}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xx, 13, 75}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|p=76}}<ref group="note">For political background information on the Roman annexation of Cyprus, a move pushed for in the [[Roman Senate]] by [[Publius Clodius Pulcher]], see {{harvtxt|Grant|1972|pp=13–14}}.</ref> Ptolemy XII remained publicly silent on the death of his brother, a decision which, along with ceding traditional Ptolemaic territory to the Romans, damaged his credibility among subjects already enraged by his economic policies.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=22}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=13, 75}}{{sfnp|Grant|1972|pp=14–15}} Ptolemy XII was then exiled from Egypt by force, traveling first to [[Rhodes]], then [[Ancient Athens|Athens]], and finally the [[Roman villa|villa]] of [[First Triumvirate|triumvir]] Pompey in the [[Alban Hills]], near [[Praeneste]], Italy.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=22}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xx, 13, 75}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=76–77}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Grant|1972|pp=15–16}}.</ref>

Ptolemy XII spent roughly up to a year there on the outskirts of Rome, ostensibly accompanied by his daughter Cleopatra, then about 11.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=22}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=76–77}}<ref group="note">{{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|pp=76–77}} expresses little doubt about this: "deposed in late summer 58 BC and fearing for his life, [[Ptolemy XII Auletes|Auletes]] had fled both his palace and his kingdom, although he was not completely alone. For one Greek source reveals he had been accompanied 'by one of his daughters', and since his eldest [[Berenice IV]], was monarch, and the youngest, [[Arsinoe IV|Arsinoe]], little more than a toddler, it is generally assumed that this must have been his middle daughter and favourite child, eleven-year-old Cleopatra."</ref> Berenice IV sent an embassy to Rome to advocate for her rule and oppose the reinstatement of her father. Ptolemy had assassins kill the leaders of the embassy, an incident that was covered up by his powerful Roman supporters.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=23}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=13}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=77–78}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Grant|1972|p=16}}.</ref> When the Roman Senate denied Ptolemy XII the offer of an armed escort and provisions for a return to Egypt, he decided to leave Rome in late 57 BC and reside at the [[Temple of Artemis]] in [[Ephesus]].{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=23–24}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|p=78}}{{sfnp|Grant|1972|p=16}}

The Roman financiers of Ptolemy XII remained determined to restore him to power.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=24}} Pompey persuaded [[Aulus Gabinius]], the [[Roman Syria|Roman governor of Syria]], to invade Egypt and restore Ptolemy XII, offering him 10,000 [[Talent (measurement)|talents]] for the proposed mission.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=24}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xx, 13}}{{sfnp|Grant|1972|pp=16–17}} Although it put him at odds with [[Roman law]], Gabinius invaded Egypt in the spring of 55 BC by way of [[Hasmonean Judea]], where [[Hyrcanus II]] had [[Antipater the Idumaean]], father of [[Herod the Great]], furnish the Roman-led army with supplies.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=24}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=13, 76}} As a young cavalry officer, [[Mark Antony]] was under Gabinius's command.{{sfnp|Carey|n.d.}} He distinguished himself by preventing Ptolemy XII from massacring the inhabitants of [[Pelousion]], and for rescuing the body of [[Archelaus (high priest of Comana Cappadocia)|Archelaos]], the husband of Berenice IV, after he was killed in battle, ensuring him a proper royal burial.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=24–25}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=76}} Cleopatra, then 14 years of age, would have traveled with the Roman expedition into Egypt; years later, Antony would profess that he had fallen in love with her at this time.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=24–25}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=23, 73}}

[[File:Roman Republic in 40bC.svg|thumb|240px|The [[Roman Republic]] (green) and [[Ptolemaic Egypt]] (yellow) in 40 BC]]
Gabinius was put on trial in Rome for abusing his authority, for which he was acquitted, but his second trial for accepting bribes led to his exile, from which he was recalled seven years later in 48 BC by Caesar.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=25}}{{sfnp|Grant|1972|p=18}} Crassus replaced him as governor of Syria and extended his provincial command to Egypt, but Crassus was killed by the [[Parthian Empire|Parthians]] at the [[Battle of Carrhae]] in 53 BC.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=25}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=xx}} Ptolemy XII had Berenice IV and her wealthy supporters executed, seizing their properties.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=25–26}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=13–14, 76}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=11–12}} He allowed Gabinius's largely [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] and [[Gaul|Gallic]] Roman garrison, the [[Gabiniani]], to harass people in the streets of Alexandria and installed his longtime Roman financier Rabirius as his chief financial officer.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=25–26}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=13–14}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=11–12, 80}}<ref group="note">For further information on Roman financier Rabirius, as well as the Gabiniani left in Egypt by Gabinius, see {{harvtxt|Grant|1972|pp=18–19}}.</ref>

Within a year Rabirius was placed under protective custody and sent back to Rome after his life was endangered for draining Egypt of its resources.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=26}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=14}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=11–12}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Grant|1972|p=18}}.</ref> Despite these problems, Ptolemy XII created a will designating Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII as his joint heirs, oversaw major construction projects such as the [[Temple of Edfu]] and a temple at [[Dendera]], and stabilized the economy.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=26–27}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=14}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=80, 85}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Grant|1972|pp=19–20, 27–29}}.</ref> On 31 May 52 BC, Cleopatra was made a co-ruler of Ptolemy XII, as indicated by an inscription in the [[Dendera Temple complex|Temple of Hathor]] at Dendera.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=27}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xx, 14}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=84–85}}<ref group="note">Papyri of 51 BC were dated as the "thirtieth year of Auletes which is the first year of Cleopatra". See {{harvtxt|Grant|1972|pp=28–30}}.</ref> Rabirius was unable to collect the entirety of Ptolemy XII's debt by the time of the latter's death, and so it was passed on to his successors Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=26}}{{sfnp|Grant|1972|p=18}}