In the previous article, we tackled the beginning of the Ptolemaic era: from Ptolemy I to Ptolemy IV. Today, we shall resume tackling the tenure of Ptolemy IV in which weakness and deterioration prevailed.
k. Ptolemy IV
Ptolemy IV was Ptolemy III’s eldest son. Historians assert that he made the country sink in an abyss. Upon the end of his tenure, she already deteriorated awfully: for made the debut of a series of despots. In fact, it was his minister Susipos who ruled the country. He gave the king money to spend on pleasures that he might neglect the country’s affairs, which he did. Rarely did the king meet officials. So, he knew nothing about the country’s affairs, officials, and army.
Likewise, the minister separated the king from his honest counselors: that he might not discover his corruption and despotism. Even more, he made the king doubt everybody. So much so that whenever he suspected anyone, he would have him put to death. His victims were numerous, among whom was his uncle, Lizimacos, his brother Magas, his mother Bernice, and his uncle Cleomenes, the king of Sparta who had resorted to his father, Ptolemy III, and finally his wife Arsinoe III who was killed by the minister after his death. During his tenure, seditions and bloodshed occurred.
Cleomenes, the king of Sparta, had resorted to Ptolemy III in order to restore his father’s inheritance which the king of Macedon had usurped. Yet, Ptolemy died with delivering on his promise. So, he asked Ptolemy IV to help him, but the latter refused lest he harm Egypt. The king of Sparta got upset. Susipos used this matter and reviled the king of Sparta, accusing him of ignited seditions in the country and threatening to entice the army to rebel through mercenaries if they do not help him restore his kingdom. So, the king arrested and imprisoned him under sentries watch and ward. The king got furious and seized the chance to escape, gathering his associates and calling for mutiny and rebellion in the streets of Alexandria. But, nobody cared. So, he headed toward the fortress of Alexandria to entice its sentries to support him. Yet, he was overcome and killed by them. When Ptolemy was informed, he ordered that he be crucified dead and his wife be slaughtered.
Likewise, the king of Syria got ready to fight him in order to retrieve her. So, he marched to Antioch and seized her, then headed toward the Levant. After trials and treasons to Ptolemy, Phoenicia and Coele-Syria were given up to the king of Syria. When Ptolemy got to know, he mobilized an army to fight him, but he was defeated. So, Ptolemy and his minister deceived the king of Syria by making a treaty for four months in which they trained their troops on fighting. It was the first time that the Ptolemaics decided to conscript Egyptians, which is why they emerged victorious in Rafah. This is how Egyptian patriotism demonstrated itself before the Greeks. Then, riot and rebellions broke out in Egypt, not only during Ptolemy’s tenure, but also afterwards: from Lower Egypt to Upper Egypt.
Ptolemy IV led the army during the battle of Rafah. He was accompanied by his sister and wife Arsinoe III who insisted to support him in tribulation.
When the Egyptian army prevailed, the king of Syria had to make a treaty with Egypt. During that war, Ptolemy reached Jaffa, then Jerusalem, and wanted to see the Jewish temple and enter the holy of holies. So, the city rebelled against him. it is said that the king got upset with the Jews. So much so that he ordered that all the Jews of Alexandria be exterminated, which was fulfilled, except for a few who succeeded in hiding. Having returned to Egypt, Ptolemy resumed his careless life until he got weak and died.
l. Ptolemy V
Sensing the mysteriousness of the king’s and queen’s death, the people of Alexandria rebelled, especially for the queen’s death; yet, they did not care much about the king’s death. Moreover, they hated Agathocles family more due to the queen’s murder.
Now, the Agathocles family ruled the country solely, represented by little Ptolemy V. Agathocles tried to appease the internal affairs through two thing: first, winning the soldiers over by giving them a lot of money; second, by detaining Philemon who took part in killing the queen by appointing him abroad and rearing the putting the young king under his mother’s and sister’s custody. Likewise, he detained all the influential court men in fear lest they scandalize him. Moreover, he hired spies to discover the conspiracies against him and whatever was said of him. He killed a Dinon who took part in killing the queen due to disclosing terrible things about this crime to the people.
Thus, Agathocles ruled Egypt despotically. The people tried to find somebody to lead them in rebellion. Then appeared commander Teplolimus who tried to win the soldiers over. When Agathocles got to know, he spread news that this commander betrayed the country and would give her up to the king of Syria. But, the people did not believe him. Moreover, the king tried to win over the people and the army, but failed. When Teplolimus got to know, he speeded the rebellion up. It got fiercer when food was denied the people of Alexandria. Moreover, Agathocles had arrested people who he thought were the commander’s associates, among whom was the ruler of Bubastes. He tortured him that he might admit conspiring against him; so, the people rebelled. There was also commander Moragene who fled naked before to a neighboring camp he was put to the torture instruments, which made the soldiers rebel, enticing the population to do the same, and besiege the king’s palace.
When the soldiers tried to reach Agathocles, he felt he was endangered. So, he declared he was ready to abdicate for his life, which the people refused. When the people saw the young king, they rejoiced and seated him on the thrown, asking to take revenge from the criminals. At that time, one of Agathocles’s associates appeared and rebuked the people, but they killed him. A fierce massacre started, never to end up in Agathocles’s death by spears, commander Nikon, his sister, her brethren and the entirety of the family ending with his cruel mother.
Having got rid of Agathocles and his family, the people appointed Teplolimus prince regent. Yet, he was unworthy of the people’s confidence: for he was a vainglorious and incapable politician. He usurped money from the State’s treasury to spend on himself, friends, and pleasures, totally neglectful of the country’s affairs. So, Egypt loss her provinces. During that weak state, the kings of Syria and Macedon conspired to usurp Egypt’s provinces and divide her between them. So, Egypt lost all her provinces in Asia Minor, except Ephesus as well as Coele-Syria.
Amidst these incidents, Egyptians feared ashamed because of losing Egypt’s provinces, realizing that they had confided in an unworthy man when they appointed Teplolimus prince regent. They rebelled against him, deposed him, appointing a trusteeship council made up of two people, namely, Aristomene and Scopos.
Scopos got ready to restore Coele-Syria. Though he emerged victorious at first (not due to his efficiency), he was defeated, and returned to Egypt furious. Then, he tried, supported by his associate, to rebel against Aristomene who was to discover it. So, he observed him and presented him to a fair trial, together with his accomplices, thus restoring peace to Alexandria.
Ptolemy V Pharaoh
Ptolemy V was enthroned Pharaoh in the ancient Egyptian style. This was the first time in the Ptolemaic era a Pharaoh was enthroned. The reason was his attempt to win the people and men of religion over that they might stop rebelling. In fact, matters were unstable during Ptolemy V’s reign due to Egypt losing her provinces as well as the rise of seditions after Raphia battle: for the Egyptians felt they lost their pride and identity. Two Egyptian heroes appeared in Thebes where they established a kingdom; but the king sent an army to besiege them. After a while, they had to surrender: for the king promised them security. So, their leaders went to the king; but he retracted his convention with them and treated them harshly.
Ptolemy V loved Aristomene very much for he ruled the country wisely and never did anything save with his counsel. However, this relationship did not last as some bad persons reviled Aristomene, which made Ptolemy hate him and sentence him to death by drinking poison. Aristomene was succeeded by a Polycrantes who was the king’s deputy in Cyprus. Yet, he was not efficient for the position. He used to voice opinions that the king liked. The Egyptians hated Ptolemy V for his harshness.
Ptolemy V died suddenly while getting ready to attack Syria. it is said he was poisoned, to be succeeded by Ptolemy VI, only to start a new story. Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
