Editing Cleopatra II (section)

===Sole reign (132/1–127 BC)===
Cleopatra II led a rebellion against Ptolemy VIII in 132/1 BC, and drove him and Cleopatra III out of Alexandria at the end of 131 BC.<ref name="CB-CleopatraII"/> At this time Ptolemy VIII is said to have had Ptolemy Memphites, his son by his older sister, Cleopatra II, dismembered and his head, hands and feet sent to Cleopatra II in Alexandria as a birthday present.<ref>[http://www.tyndalehouse.com/Egypt/ptolemies/memphites_fr.htm Ptolemy Memphites] by Chris Bennett</ref><ref>Green 1990: 540; Hölbl 2001: 197-199; Errington 2008: 297-298.</ref>

Cleopatra II ruled in Alexandria as sole ruler until 127 BC. Ptolemy VIII had retained the allegiance of parts of Egypt and gradually expanded his control from there. In 127 BC, he took over Alexandria, Cleopatra II being forced to flee to Syria, where she joined her daughter Cleopatra Thea and her son-in-law Demetrius II Nicator. The latter was unable to offer effective support to his mother-in-law, as Ptolemy VIII pitted against him a rival for the Seleucid throne.<ref>Green 1990: 540; Hölbl 2001: 200; Errington 2008: 298.</ref>