Ptolemy VI Philometor

Ptolemy VI Philometor
Ring of Ptolemy VI wearing an Egyptian pschent
Pharaoh
King of the Ptolemaic Kingdom
Reign	180 – 164 BC 163 – 145 BC
Predecessor	Ptolemy V Cleopatra I
Successor	Ptolemy VIII Cleopatra II
Royal titulary Horus name ṯnj-m-ẖt ḥtr-ḥpw-Ꜥnḫ-ḥr-msḫnt.sn Tjeniemkhet Heterhapuankhhermeskhen(e)tsen Distinguished in the sanctuary, the twin brother of the living Apis bull upon their birth stone Nebty name m-mꜢꜤt sḫꜤj-n-sw-jt.f Emmaat sekhaensuitef Truly, whose father enthroned him Golden Horus wr-pḥtj nb-ḥbw-sd-mj-ptḥ tꜢ-ṯnn-jt-nṯrw ity-mj-rꜤ Werpehty Nebhabused Miptahtatjenenitnetjeru Itymire The one great of strength, a possessor of Sed festivals like Ptah Ta-Tjenen, the father of the gods, and a sovereign like Ra Prenomen  (Praenomen) wr-pḥtj nb-ḥbw-sd-mi-ptḥ tꜢ-ṯnn-jt-nṯrw jty-mj-rꜤ Iwaennetjerwyperu Setepenptahkheperi Irymaatamunre Heir of the two gods who has emerged, chosen by Ptah-Khepri, who carried out Maat (for) Amun-Ra Nomen ptwlmjs Ꜥnḫ-ḏtmrj-ptḥ Ptolemys Ankhdjetmeryptah Ptolemaios, living forever, beloved of Ptah
Consort	Cleopatra II (m. 175 BC)
Children	Ptolemy Eupator Cleopatra Thea, Queen of Syria Cleopatra III, Queen of Egypt Ptolemy
Father	Ptolemy V
Mother	Cleopatra I
Born	May/June 186 BC[note 1]
Died	145 BC (aged 41)
Burial	Alexandria
Dynasty	Ptolemaic dynasty

Ptolemy VI Philometor (Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Φιλομήτωρ, Ptolemaĩos Philomḗtōr;^{[note 2]} 186–145 BC) was a Greek king of Ptolemaic Egypt who reigned from 180 to 164 BC and from 163 to 145 BC.^[1] He is often considered the last ruler of ancient Egypt when that state was still a major power.

Ptolemy VI, the eldest son of King Ptolemy V and Queen Cleopatra I, came to the throne aged six when his father died in 180 BC. The kingdom was governed by regents: his mother until her death in 178 or 177 BC and then two of her associates, Eulaeus and Lenaeus, until 169 BC. From 170 BC, his sister-wife Cleopatra II and his younger brother Ptolemy VIII were co-rulers alongside him. Ptolemy VI's reign was characterised by external conflict with the Seleucid Empire over Syria and by internal conflict with his younger brother for control of the Ptolemaic monarchy. In the Sixth Syrian War (170–168 BC), the Ptolemaic forces were utterly defeated and Egypt was twice invaded by Seleucid armies. A few years after the Seleucid conflict ended, Ptolemy VIII succeeded in expelling Ptolemy VI from Egypt in 164 BC.

The people of Alexandria turned against Ptolemy VIII and invited Ptolemy VI back to the throne in 163 BC. In this second reign Ptolemy VI was much more successful in his conflicts against the Seleucids and his brother. He banished his brother to Cyrenaica and repeatedly prevented him from using that as a springboard to taking Cyprus, despite substantial Roman intervention in Ptolemy VIII's favour. By supporting a series of rival claimants for the Seleucid throne, Ptolemy VI helped instigate a civil war which would continue for generations and eventually consume the Seleucid dynasty. In 145 BC, Ptolemy VI invaded Seleucid Syria and won a total victory at the Battle of the Oenoparus, which left him in charge of both the Seleucid and Ptolemaic realms. However, injuries that he sustained in the battle led to his death three days later. The gains from the war were almost immediately lost and Ptolemy VIII returned to power.

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