Career
In approximately 340 BCE , Alexander quite a large quarrel with his father, King Philip. During this quarrel, Ptolemy supported and advised Alexander. After the long feud which lasted multiple years, relations between Alexander and his father were sour. King Philip claimed that Ptolemy's dangerous advise was leading Alexander astray and as such, Ptolemy was exiled from Macedonia 377 BCE.
A year later when King Philip II was assassinated by a group of nobles, Ptolemy returned to Macedonia to support Alexanders claim and ascension to the throne. Still remaining a trusted adviser, Ptolemy decided to serve in the King's guard, taking part in Alexanders European campaigns during 336 and 335 BCE. Later in 330 BCE, Ptolemy was appointed as one of the seven of the Kings personal bodyguards. Ptolemy marched with Alexander in his conquest of the Persian empire led by Darius III. Ptolemy was reported to have had great military success during this conquest and even captured Bessus, the one who assassinated Darius III and claimed the throne for himself. As a result of his prowess, he was appointed a military commander within Alexanders army.
Family
During Alexanders campaign, in an effort to merge the population of the recently conquered lands with the Macedonian people, he arranged for several marriages. One bride named Artacama , a daughter of a Persian noblemen, was given to Ptolemy. Ptolemy married but would later divorce after the death of Alexander. They had no children. Ptolemy would soon after marry a Macedonian noblewoman named Eurydice as a result of a political alliance. Unhappy, Ptolemy put her aside and would shortly after marry the half-sister of Eurydice, Berenice. With Berenice, Ptolemy had three children, two daughters one named Arsinoë II , one named Philotera, and a son who would later become Ptolemy's successor, Ptolemy II. Berenice is considered to be Ptolemy's most prominent wife during life or his main wife.
Ptolemy also had 9 other children (Thus making 11 in total.), none of whom were considered to be heirs. Three of the children were Eurydice's whose names were Ptolemy Keraunos, Meleager, Argaeus, Lysandra, and Ptolemais. The other three children were with a woman named Thaïs, a woman who accompanied the Macedonians on the conquest through Persia, mainly at the behest of Alexander himself. Their names were Lagus, Leontiscus, and Eirene.
New Beginnings
In 323 BCE, the empire went into mourning as their leader, Alexander The Great died. Perdiccas, who had been handed Alexanders signet ring upon his death, a possible transference of power since Alexander had no successor, was in charge of deciding what should become of the great empire. Perdiccas was in favour of waiting until the birth of Alexander's son, whom his wife, Roxanne was carrying, before naming the successor. Ptolemy was opposed to this idea from the beginning and would soon shape the outcome of the empire. This marked a turning point in Ptolemy's life and would see his political and strategic skills come into play. This will be further explored in the next page, entitled "Ruler Of Egypt".
In approximately 340 BCE , Alexander quite a large quarrel with his father, King Philip. During this quarrel, Ptolemy supported and advised Alexander. After the long feud which lasted multiple years, relations between Alexander and his father were sour. King Philip claimed that Ptolemy's dangerous advise was leading Alexander astray and as such, Ptolemy was exiled from Macedonia 377 BCE.
A year later when King Philip II was assassinated by a group of nobles, Ptolemy returned to Macedonia to support Alexanders claim and ascension to the throne. Still remaining a trusted adviser, Ptolemy decided to serve in the King's guard, taking part in Alexanders European campaigns during 336 and 335 BCE. Later in 330 BCE, Ptolemy was appointed as one of the seven of the Kings personal bodyguards. Ptolemy marched with Alexander in his conquest of the Persian empire led by Darius III. Ptolemy was reported to have had great military success during this conquest and even captured Bessus, the one who assassinated Darius III and claimed the throne for himself. As a result of his prowess, he was appointed a military commander within Alexanders army.
Family
During Alexanders campaign, in an effort to merge the population of the recently conquered lands with the Macedonian people, he arranged for several marriages. One bride named Artacama , a daughter of a Persian noblemen, was given to Ptolemy. Ptolemy married but would later divorce after the death of Alexander. They had no children. Ptolemy would soon after marry a Macedonian noblewoman named Eurydice as a result of a political alliance. Unhappy, Ptolemy put her aside and would shortly after marry the half-sister of Eurydice, Berenice. With Berenice, Ptolemy had three children, two daughters one named Arsinoë II , one named Philotera, and a son who would later become Ptolemy's successor, Ptolemy II. Berenice is considered to be Ptolemy's most prominent wife during life or his main wife.
Ptolemy also had 9 other children (Thus making 11 in total.), none of whom were considered to be heirs. Three of the children were Eurydice's whose names were Ptolemy Keraunos, Meleager, Argaeus, Lysandra, and Ptolemais. The other three children were with a woman named Thaïs, a woman who accompanied the Macedonians on the conquest through Persia, mainly at the behest of Alexander himself. Their names were Lagus, Leontiscus, and Eirene.
New Beginnings
In 323 BCE, the empire went into mourning as their leader, Alexander The Great died. Perdiccas, who had been handed Alexanders signet ring upon his death, a possible transference of power since Alexander had no successor, was in charge of deciding what should become of the great empire. Perdiccas was in favour of waiting until the birth of Alexander's son, whom his wife, Roxanne was carrying, before naming the successor. Ptolemy was opposed to this idea from the beginning and would soon shape the outcome of the empire. This marked a turning point in Ptolemy's life and would see his political and strategic skills come into play. This will be further explored in the next page, entitled "Ruler Of Egypt".