Ptolemy of Mauretania
King of Mauretania (AD 21–40)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ptolemy of Mauretania (Ancient Greek: Πτολεμαῖος, Ptolemaîos; Latin: Ptolemaeus; c. 13/9 BC – AD 40) was the king of Mauretania, a client kingdom of the Roman Empire. He was the son of Juba II of Numidia and Cleopatra Selene II of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and the maternal grandson of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra and Roman general Mark Antony.
| Ptolemy | |
|---|---|
Bust of Ptolemy of Mauretania, c. AD 30–40, Louvre | |
| King of Mauretania | |
| Reign | c. AD 21–40 |
| Predecessor | Juba II |
| Successor | Caligula (as Roman emperor)[a] |
| Co-ruler | Juba II (until AD 23) |
| Born | 13–9 BC Mauretania |
| Died | AD 40 (aged 49–53) Rome |
| Wife | Urania (possibly) |
| Issue | Drusilla (possibly) |
| Dynasty |
|
| Father | King Juba II |
| Mother | Queen Cleopatra Selene II |
During his reign, Mauretania was a prosperous exporter of grain, oil, garum and luxuries like Tyrian purple dye to the Roman Empire. In AD 24, Ptolemy helped Publius Cornelius Dolabella to defeat the anti-Roman rebellion of Tacfarinas in North Africa. The Roman Senate honoured him for his role in suppressing the revolt, and named him a friend and ally of the Roman people.
He was later executed by the Roman emperor Caligula in AD 40 for unknown reasons. Although ancient sources claimed that Caligula was motivated by personal jealousy, modern historians have suggested that the emperor thought Ptolemy was a political threat. Upon Ptolemy's death, the Roman Empire annexed Mauretania and turned it into a Roman province. The kingdom rebelled against Roman control until it was subdued during the reign of emperor Claudius and separated into the provinces of Mauretania Tingitana and Mauretania Caesariensis.
Early life and education
Ptolemy was the son of King Juba II and Queen Cleopatra Selene II of Mauretania, a client kingdom of the Roman Empire.[2] Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II had been appointed rulers of Mauretania by the Roman emperor Augustus in 25 BC.[3] Juba II was the son of King Juba I of Numidia and was raised in Rome as a captive after the Roman conquest of Numidia.[4] Cleopatra Selene II was the daughter of the Ptolemaic queen Cleopatra of Egypt and the Roman general Mark Antony. She was raised in Rome after Augustus conquered Egypt and her parents committed suicide.[5]
Cleopatra Selene II and Juba II fostered Greek and Egyptian culture in Mauretania's capital Caesarea through architectural programs, art, and the creation of a royal library. Their royal court functioned as a Ptolemaic government-in-exile since Cleopatra Selene II was the last surviving member of the dynasty. She could theoretically claim a right to rule most of North Africa, although there is no evidence that she formally claimed these territories.[6]
Ptolemy was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, although his grandmother Cleopatra is popularly described as the last Ptolemaic ruler.[7] Cleopatra Selene II named him "Ptolemy", the traditional male name of the Ptolemaic dynasty, instead of giving him a Numidian or Roman name.[6] Through his grandfather Mark Antony,[b] Ptolemy was also related to the Julio-Claudian dynasty that ruled the Roman Empire.[9] Sculptures of Ptolemy portray him with a youthful appearance and comma-shaped locks around his forehead; this iconography connected him with his relatives in the Julio-Claudian dynasty.[10]
Ptolemy was likely born between 13 and 9 BC.[11] He may not have been the first child born to Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II, who had been married for approximately a decade by the time of his birth,[12] but no siblings of Ptolemy have been firmly identified. He is the only confirmed grandchild of Cleopatra.[13] He was related to the princess Drusilla, who is described by the Roman historian Tacitus as the granddaughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony. Tacitus' account does not specify who Drusilla's parents were, and her relationship to Cleopatra Selene II and Ptolemy is unclear.[14] Drusilla may have been the daughter of Cleopatra Selene II, which would make her Ptolemy's sister.[15] Alternatively, she may have been Ptolemy's daughter, which would make her the great-granddaughter of Cleopatra and Antony.[13][16]
.jpg)
.jpg)
Ptolemy likely had Roman citizenship, as did his father Juba II.[17] He was probably educated in Athens,[18] and he was honoured with a statue at the Gymnasium of Ptolemy in Athens.[19] The gymnasium was founded by one of his ancestors, likely either Ptolemy III or Ptolemy VI. Ptolemy also received honours from the Lycian Federation in Xanthos. Like other Roman client kings, he probably received some education at Rome.[18] His mother died sometime between 5 BC and AD 11, and was buried in the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania.[20]
Reign
Background and co-regency
As client-kings of the Roman Empire, the Mauretanian kings were expected to keep the Roman Empire's frontiers safe, although they risked overstepping their authority if they took independent military actions without Roman approval.[21] In Mauretania’s neighboring territories, there was continuous conflict between Roman armies and pastoral Berber tribes, including the Gaetulians and Garamantes. These tribes resented Roman rule and the growing population of foreign settlers, and their revolts had begun to spread to Mauretania by AD 3.[22]
In AD 17, Juba II faced a revolt led by Tacfarinas, a Gaetulian who had once served in the Roman army as an auxiliary. Tacfarinas waged anti-Roman guerilla campaigns across North Africa in defiance of the emperor Tiberius. Juba II and his Roman allies achieved limited victories against the rebels but failed to capture Tacfarinas, who regrouped his forces and continued his rebellion.[24] By AD 21, Juba II had made Ptolemy co-regent. Juba II likely wanted to ensure a stable succession as he was growing old and the kingdom faced continued disturbances from Tacfarinas.[25]
Sole reign
In AD 23, Juba II died and was buried alongside Cleopatra Selene II in the Royal Mausoleum. Ptolemy became sole-ruler of Mauretania,[26] and also inherited his father's honorary[27] position as duumvir quinquennalis of Carthago Nova.[18] The title of duumvir quinquennalis was given to the two chief magistrates of a town or colony, who served a five-year term together.[28] During the Julio-Claudian era, members of the imperial family were often given honorary titles as magistrates of prominent cities in the Roman Empire. Other dignitaries with personal ties to the emperor sometimes also received honorary appointments as duumvir.[29]
Around the time of Ptolemy's ascension, Publius Cornelius Dolabella, the Roman proconsul of Africa, was sent to stop Tacfarinas' rebellion. Ptolemy assisted Dolabella’s successful campaign against Tacfarinas, which saw the rebel leader killed at Augea.[30] Ptolemy was honoured by the Roman Senate for his conduct in the war, naming him a "friend and ally of the Roman people".[31] The Senate sent Ptolemy further honours in AD 24, including a ceremonial ivory sceptre, gold crown, curule seat, and toga picta. The toga picta was a purple toga with gold decorations, traditionally worn by victorious generals during a Roman triumph. Tiberius permitted client kings to wear the toga picta, which his predecessor Augustus had not allowed. Mauretanian coins minted by Ptolemy portray the honors that he received from the Senate.[32] Historian Duane W. Roller considered the war to be an important episode in Ptolemy's career that demonstrated his competence,[30] while Anthony A. Barrett suggested that Ptolemy did not contribute much to the campaign's success and that the Romans only honored him as a diplomatic gesture because of his popularity.[33]
During the reign of Ptolemy, Mauretania was an important producer of grain, olive oil, garum, rare Tyrian purple dye, and luxury woods like citrus, olive and cedar, which were exported to Rome. It also exported exotic animals that were used for spectacles in the Colosseum. The exportation of commodities to Rome made Mauretania prosperous, and Ptolemy's wealth reportedly aroused the jealousy of his cousin emperor Caligula.[34] Near the end of his reign, Ptolemy acted independently of Rome and minted an issue of Mauretanian gold coins.[35] Unlike his father, who had a reputation for being a scholarly king, Ptolemy was reputed to be an immature and weak ruler,[18] who was controlled by members of his court.[2] Little is known of his personal life.[26] A woman named Queen Urania is named on an inscription from Caesarea, and may have been associated with the Mauretanian royal court during Ptolemy's reign. She has been identified as Ptolemy's concubine[36] or wife.[26]
Death
Sometime in late AD 39[37] or early 40, the emperor Caligula summoned Ptolemy to Rome.[32] According to the Roman historian Suetonius, Ptolemy was originally supposed to receive honors in Rome, but Caligula instead had him arrested.[35] Ptolemy was imprisoned for an unspecified period of time before being executed.[38] The statesman and philosopher Seneca the Younger claims to have seen Ptolemy during his incarceration. Ptolemy's execution likely took place sometime after the spring of AD 40, when Caligula returned from the northern provinces where he had been unsuccessfully preparing to invade Britain.[32] Ancient sources provide differing explanations for Caligula's sudden hostility to Ptolemy. The Roman historian Cassius Dio claimed that Caligula was simply envious of Ptolemy's wealth.[39] Suetonius claimed that Ptolemy aroused the emperor's jealousy while attending a spectacle in the amphitheatre,[33] because his impressive purple attire drew admiration from the audience.[34]
.jpg)
Modern historians have suggested more complex reasons for Caligula's behavior. Roller suggested that Caligula felt that Ptolemy was a potential threat because of his wealth, independent behaviour as king, and close diplomatic ties to the Greek regions. Caligula's pattern of hostility towards his relatives might also have been a factor, since Ptolemy was his cousin.[39] Barrett suggested that Caligula might have been offended when he saw the purple toga picta worn by Ptolemy because it signified the king's military achievements, especially since Caligula had just returned from relatively unsuccessful campaigns in the northern provinces.[32]
Historians Duncan Fishwick and Brent Shaw theorized that Ptolemy's execution might have been related to the execution of Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Gaetulicus, the governor of Germania Superior. Gaetulicus was executed in AD 39 for allegedly conspiring against Caligula. Ptolemy may have been suspected of involvement in the conspiracy since their families were at one time connected; Gaetulicus' father Cossus Cornelius Lentulus Gaetulicus had been Juba II's ally in the wars against the Gaetulians. Fishwick and Shaw both suggested that Ptolemy was almost certainly innocent, but might have been wrongfully accused.[41]
Most statues of Ptolemy in Mauretania and Rome were probably destroyed after his death as a form of damnatio memoriae,[10] a modern term for the politically motivated destruction or mutilation of portraiture. The destruction of a person's portraiture served to erase their legacy and remove them from collective memory. Most incidences of damnatio memoriae in the Roman Empire were perpetrated against members of the imperial family or individuals accused of conspiring against the emperor.[42] Surviving portraits of Ptolemy from Rome and Caesarea were likely removed from public view and put into storage shortly after his death.[10]
Annexation of Mauretania
Caligula attempted to annex Mauretania upon the death of Ptolemy.[1] A group of Mauretanians loyal to Ptolemy rebelled against the Roman Empire,[43] led by Aedemon, who had served Ptolemy as either a freedman or minor chieftain.[7] The revolt impacted several Mauretanian cities, resulting in the destruction and abandonment of Tamuda, and the partial destruction of Volubilis and Lixus.[1] The Mauretanian revolt was suppressed shortly before Claudius succeeded Caligula as emperor in AD 41.[43] Another anti-Roman rebellion broke out in AD 42.[1] During the period of instability created by the rebellion, Mauretania was raided by the Berber tribes that fought Juba II and Ptolemy in previous years. Caligula's successor Claudius sent Gaius Suetonius Paulinus and Gnaeus Hosidius Geta to suppress the revolt and establish Roman control over Mauretania.[43] They faced intense resistance from the Berber tribes, who targeted important trade routes between Mauretania and Rome.[34]
Suetonius and Geta succeeded in establishing Roman control over Mauretania, but were unable to completely eradicate resistance in the region.[44] Mauretania was difficult for the Roman Empire to subdue and administer because it was made up of two distinct regions which were separated by water and two mountain ranges, the Atlas Mountains and the Rif Mountains. Claudius addressed this by separating Mauretania into two provinces, Mauretania Tingitana and Mauretania Caesariensis. Each province was governed by its own procurator, who was appointed by the emperor. Claudius also established new military colonies throughout the Mauretanian provinces and reinforced existing ones that had been established in the reign of Augustus.[45]
The annexation of Mauretania was a significant event in the reign of Claudius, who received triumphal honours for the conquest of Mauretania.[46] It was also an important event in the history of Roman exploration in sub-Saharan Africa as Paulinus’ conquests brought him to the Atlas Mountains, which were at the edge of the known world to the Romans. He explored further and led expeditions into Africa south of the Atlas Mountains, documenting parts of Africa that had been previously shrouded by myth and legend in Greco-Roman tradition.[47]
