Editing Cleopatra II (section)

===Consort and first co-regency (175–131 BC)===
Following the death of their mother, Cleopatra I, in 177/6 BC, Cleopatra II was married to her brother Ptolemy VI Philometor in c. 175 BC, thus becoming Queen consort of Egypt, but she was declared formal co-regent with Ptolemy VI and their younger brother, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes Physcon, in 170 BC;<ref name="tara"/> trio continued to reign together until 164 BC.<ref name="CB-CleopatraII"/><ref>Green 1990: 425, 429-430; Hölbl 2001: 143-146; Errington 2008: 258.</ref> The year Cleopatra II's reign began is considered by Sally-Ann Ashton to be 175 BC, the year of her marriage, but by Tara Sewell-Lasater to be 170 BC, when Ptolemy VIII also became co-ruler.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ashton |first=Sally-Ann |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FO_fBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA62 |page=62 |title=The Last Queens of Egypt: Cleopatra's Royal House |date=2014-09-19 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-86873-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="tara">{{Cite journal |last=Sewell-Lasater |first=Tara |year=2020 |title=Becoming Kleopatra: Ptolemaic Royal Marriage, Incest, and the Path to Female Rule |url=https://www.academia.edu/43290689/Becoming_Kleopatra_Ptolemaic_Royal_Marriage_Incest_and_the_Path_to_Female_Rule |pages=269, 440 |journal=University of Houston }}</ref> Based on the former, Cleopatra II is said to have reigned for 57 years.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lightman |first1=Marjorie |url=https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=2esYJJUETiYC&pg=PA77 |page=77 |title=A to Z of Ancient Greek and Roman Women |last2=Lightman |first2=Benjamin |date=2008 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-1-4381-0794-3 |language=en}}</ref>

By becoming nominal co-ruler, Cleopatra II became first known Queen regnant of Ptolemaic dynasty.<ref>Sewell-Lasater, Tara, ''Becoming Kleopatra: Ptolemaic Royal Marriage, Incest, and the Path to the Female Rule'', University of Houston, 2020, p. 274-275, see also Appendix A.</ref>  

In 169–168 BC, the siblings' maternal uncle [[Antiochus IV]] of [[Syria]] invaded Egypt. Ptolemy VI Philometor briefly joined Antiochus IV outside Alexandria in 169 BC, then turned against him in alliance with his siblings. Antiochus IV was finally induced to give up his attempt to take over Egypt by Roman intervention.<ref>Green 1990: 430-431; Hölbl 146-148, 181-183; Errington 2008: 258-259.</ref> In 164 BC Cleopatra II and her husband were temporarily deposed by Ptolemy VIII, but were restored to power in 163 BC. After this, Ptolemy VIII was removed from the co-regency in Egypt and made king of [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]].<ref name="CB-PtolemyVI">[http://www.tyndalehouse.com/Egypt/ptolemies/ptolemy_vi_fr.htm Ptolemy VI] by Chris Bennett</ref><ref>Green 1990: 442-447; Hölbl 2001: 183-194; Errington 2008: 292-295.</ref>

Ptolemy VI died on campaign in Syria in 145 BC. Cleopatra II agreed to marry her younger brother, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II Physcon, who ascended the throne.<ref name="CB-CleopatraII"/><ref name="Livius-CleopatraII"/> According to [[Justin (historian)|Justin]], Ptolemy VIII murdered [[Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator|Ptolemy]], the surviving son of Ptolemy VI and Cleopatra II,<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ptolemy-VII-Neos-Philopator Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator] by Encyclopaedia Britannica</ref> on his marriage to Cleopatra II, but new evidence shows he survived as a potential heir and served as eponymous priest of [[Alexander the Great]] in c. 143 BC; he was eliminated by his uncle sometime later.<ref>Chauveau 2000: 257-258; Bielman 2017: 86. 95-98; Justin's story was still accepted by Green 1990: 537 and Hölbl 2001: 194.</ref> Cleopatra II bore Ptolemy VIII a new heir, [[Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator|Ptolemy Memphites]], in c. 143 BC.<ref name="CB-Memphites">[https://www.instonebrewer.com/TyndaleSites/Egypt/ptolemies/memphites_fr.htm Ptolemy Memphites] by Chris Bennett</ref><ref>Chauveau 2000: 259-261; Hölbl 2001: 195; Errington 2008: 295-296.</ref>

Between 142 BC and 139 BC Ptolemy VIII married Cleopatra's younger daughter, his niece Cleopatra III.<ref name="Livius-CleopatraII"/><ref name="CB-PtolemyVIII">[https://www.instonebrewer.com/TyndaleSites/Egypt/ptolemies/ptolemy_viii_fr.htm Ptolemy VIII] by Chris Bennett</ref> She quickly produced two sons, the future kings [[Ptolemy IX, King of Egypt|Ptolemy IX Soter]] and [[Ptolemy X, King of Egypt|Ptolemy XI Alexander]], and three daughters.<ref>Hölbl 2001: 203.</ref> These developments are assumed to have increased the pre-existing rivalry between Cleopatra II and Ptolemy VIII.<ref>Green 1990: 538; Hölbl 2001: 195; Errington 2008: 296-297.</ref>