Editing Cleopatra (section)

==== Accession to the throne ====
{{Multiple image
|total_width=300
|image1=Cleopatra Isis Louvre E27113.jpg
|image2=Limestone stela of a high priest of god Ptah. It bears the cartouches of Cleopatra and Caesarion. From Egypt. Ptolemaic Period. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.jpg
|footer=Left: A limestone [[stele]] dedicated by a [[Greeks|Greek]] man named Onnophris depicting a male [[pharaoh]], but honouring a queen Cleopatra (probably Cleopatra VII), located in the [[Louvre]], Paris<ref group="note">It is disputed whether Cleopatra was deliberately depicted as a male or whether a stele made under her father with his portrait was later inscribed with an inscription for Cleopatra. On this and other uncertainties regarding this stele, see {{harvtxt|Pfeiffer|2015|pages=177–181}}.</ref>{{pb}}Right: The [[cartouche]]s of Cleopatra and [[Caesarion]] on a limestone stele of the [[High Priest of Ptah]] [[Pasherienptah III]] in Egypt, dated to the [[Ptolemaic period]], and located in the [[Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology]], London
}}
Ptolemy XII died sometime before 22 March 51 BC, when Cleopatra, in her first act as queen, began her voyage to [[Hermonthis]], near [[Thebes, Egypt|Thebes]], to install a new sacred [[Buchis]] bull, worshiped as an intermediary for the god [[Montu]] in the [[Ancient Egyptian religion]].{{sfnp|Hölbl|2001|p=231}}{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=53, 56}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xx, 15–16}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|pp=88–92}} and {{harvtxt|Jones|2006|pp=31, 34–35}}.{{pb}}{{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|pp=85–86}} states that the partial [[solar eclipse]] of 7{{nbsp}}March 51 BC marked the death of Ptolemy XII and accession of Cleopatra to the throne, although she apparently suppressed the news of his death, alerting the Roman Senate to this fact months later in a message they received on 30 June 51 BC.{{pb}}However, {{harvtxt|Grant|1972|p=30}} claims that the Senate was informed of his death on 1{{nbsp}}August 51 BC. [[Michael Grant (classicist)|Michael Grant]] indicates that Ptolemy XII could have been alive as late as May, while an ancient Egyptian source affirms he was still ruling with Cleopatra by 15 July 51 BC, although by this point Cleopatra most likely "hushed up her father's death" so that she could consolidate her control of Egypt.</ref> Cleopatra faced several pressing issues and emergencies shortly after taking the throne. These included famine caused by drought and a low level of the annual [[flooding of the Nile]], and lawless behavior instigated by the [[Gabiniani]], the now unemployed and assimilated Roman soldiers left by [[Gabinius]] to garrison Egypt.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=53–54}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=16–17}} Inheriting her father's debts, Cleopatra also owed the [[Roman Republic]] 17.5&nbsp;million [[Ancient drachma|drachma]]s.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=53}}

In 50 BC [[Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus]], [[proconsul]] of Syria, sent his two eldest sons to Egypt, most likely to negotiate with the Gabiniani and recruit them as soldiers in the desperate defense of Syria [[Roman-Parthian Wars|against the Parthians]].{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=54–56}} The Gabiniani tortured and murdered these two, perhaps with secret encouragement by rogue senior administrators in Cleopatra's court.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=54–56}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=16}} Cleopatra sent the Gabiniani culprits to Bibulus as prisoners awaiting his judgment, but he sent them back to Cleopatra and chastised her for interfering in their adjudication, which was the prerogative of the Roman Senate.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=56}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=16}} Bibulus, siding with Pompey in [[Caesar's Civil War]], failed to prevent Caesar from landing a naval fleet in Greece, which ultimately allowed Caesar to reach Egypt in pursuit of Pompey.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=56}}

By 29 August 51 BC, official documents started listing Cleopatra as the sole ruler, evidence that she had rejected her brother Ptolemy XIII as a co-ruler.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=53}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=16}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=91–92}} She had probably married him,{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=xx}} but there is no record of this.{{sfnp|Hölbl|2001|p=231}} The Ptolemaic practice of [[sibling marriage]] was introduced by [[Ptolemy II]] and his sister [[Arsinoe II]].{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=36–37}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=5}}{{sfnp|Grant|1972|pp=26–27}} A [[Osiris myth|long-held royal Egyptian practice]], it was loathed by contemporary [[Greeks]].{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=36–37}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=5}}{{sfnp|Grant|1972|pp=26–27}}<ref group="note">{{harvtxt|Pfrommer|Towne-Markus|2001|p=34}} writes the following about the sibling marriage of Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II: "[[Ptolemy Keraunos]], who wanted to become king of [[Macedon]]{{nbsp}}... killed Arsinoë's small children in front of her. Now queen without a kingdom, Arsinoë fled to Egypt, where she was welcomed by her full brother Ptolemy II. Not content, however, to spend the rest of her life as a guest at the Ptolemaic court, she had Ptolemy II's wife exiled to Upper Egypt and married him herself around 275 B.C. Though such an incestuous marriage was considered scandalous by the Greeks, it was allowed by Egyptian custom. For that reason, the marriage split public opinion into two factions. The loyal side celebrated the couple as a return of the divine marriage of [[Zeus]] and [[Hera]], whereas the other side did not refrain from profuse and obscene criticism. One of the most sarcastic commentators, a poet with a very sharp pen, had to flee Alexandria. The unfortunate poet was caught off the shore of Crete by the Ptolemaic navy, put in an iron basket, and drowned. This and similar actions seemingly slowed down vicious criticism."</ref> By the reign of Cleopatra, however, it was considered a normal arrangement for Ptolemaic rulers.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=36–37}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|p=5}}{{sfnp|Grant|1972|pp=26–27}}

Despite Cleopatra's rejection of him, Ptolemy XIII still retained powerful allies, notably the eunuch [[Potheinos]], his childhood tutor, regent, and administrator of his properties.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=56–57}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=16–17}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=73, 92–93}} Others involved in the cabal against Cleopatra included [[Achillas]], a prominent military commander, and [[Theodotus of Chios]], another tutor of Ptolemy XIII.{{sfnp|Roller|2010|pp=56–57}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2008|pp=92–93}} Cleopatra seems to have attempted a short-lived alliance with her brother Ptolemy XIV, but by the autumn of 50 BC Ptolemy XIII had the upper hand in their conflict and began signing documents with his name before that of his sister, followed by the establishment of his first [[regnal date]] in 49 BC.{{sfnp|Hölbl|2001|p=231}}{{sfnp|Roller|2010|p=57}}{{sfnp|Burstein|2004|pp=xx, 17}}<ref group="note">For further information, see {{harvtxt|Fletcher|2008|pp=92–93}}.</ref>