This article is about the specific polity Ptolemaic Kingdom and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.
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Was a Kingdom during the Hellenistic Period that originated from the division of the Macedonian Empire after the death of Alexander the Great between its generals, Ptolemy being able to take possession of Egypt. As for most of the Hellenistic Kingdoms, it was absorbed by the Roman State in the first century BC.
Establishment
April 315 BC: After the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC), Cyrenaica became subject to the Ptolemaic dynasty.
April 315 BC: Ptolemy controls Egypt, Syria, Cyrene and Cyprus.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
Were a series of conflicts that were fought between the generals of Alexander the Great, known as the Diadochi, over who would rule his empire following his death.
1.1.Second War of the Diadochi
Was the conflict between the coalition of Polyperchon (as regent of the Macedonian Empire), Olympias and Eumenes and the coalition of Cassander, Antigonus, Ptolemy and Lysimachus following the death of Cassander's father, Antipater (the old regent).
1.1.1.Consolidation of the borders after the Second War of the Diadochi
Were a series of events and military operations after the Second war of the Diadochi that led to the consolidation of the borders between the successor states of the Macedonian Empire.
January 314 BC: Ptolemy sent military support to his allies, providing troops under the command of Seleucus and Menelaus. Lapithos-Kyrenia was occupied after a siege and Marion capitulated. Diodorus Siculus tells us that Amathus was forced to provide hostages, while Kition was laid siege to in about 315 BC.
1.2.Third War of the Diadochi
Was a war between Macedonian Generals that saw Ptolemy, Lysimachus and Cassander fight against Antigonus.
April 314 BC: Ptolemy, Lysimachus and Cassander were unwilling to see Antigonus reign whole Asia, thus formed an alliance against him. Antigonos marched into Pheonicia and besieged Tyre.
September 314 BC: Antigonus conquered Joppa and Gaza.
November 314 BC: Cyprus conquered by Ptolemaic Kingdom.
September 313 BC: Antigpnos conquers Tyros.
November 313 BC: Demetrios is appointed governor in Syria.
September 312 BC: Ptolemaic march in Chalkis, Oropos, Attica, Boeotia and Locris.
October 312 BC: Ptolemy (the nephew of general of Antigonus I Monophthalmus) marches through Chalkis and Oropos, as well as Attica, Boeotia and Locris freeing these regions from the occupation of the Ptolemaic Kingdom.
October 312 BC: Ptolemy (the nephew of general of Antigonus I Monophthalmus) frees Chalkis and Oropos, and marches through Attica, Boeotia and Locris.
November 312 BC: Battle of Gaza: Ptolemy defeats Demetrios.
April 311 BC: Antigonus marches into Syria, Ptolemy retreats to Egypt.
1.3.Consolidation of the borders after the Third War of the Diadochi
Were a series of events and military operations after the Third war of the Diadochi that led to the consolidation of the borders between the successor states of the Macedonian Empire.
January 297 BC: Demetrios conquers Gaza and Samaria from Ptolemy.
January 293 BC: Cyprus came once again under Ptolemaic control in 294 BC.
January 293 BC: Ptolemy I recovers Cyprus, eastern Cilicia, and Lycia.
1.4.Fourth War of the Diadochi
Was a war between Macedonian generals that saw Ptolemy, Lysimachus and Cassander fight against Antigonus and Demetrios.
September 308 BC: Ptolemy seizes Sicyon and Corinth.
January 307 BC: In the time of the Diadochi, Megara came under the rule of Ptolemy I in 308.
January 307 BC: When the Macedonian commander Alexander was murdered in Sicyon in 314 BC, his wife Cratesipolis took control of the city and ruled it for six years, until she was induced by king Ptolemy I to hand it over to the Egyptians.
September 307 BC: Demetrios frees Megara.
April 306 BC: Battle of Salamis: Demetrios defeats Ptolemy by land and sea and conquers Cyprus.
January 302 BC: In 303 BC Sicyon was conquered by Demetrius Poliorcetes.
April 301 BC: Ptolemy annexes Coile-Syria.
1.5.Fifth War of the Diadochi
Was a war between Macedonian Generals that saw Ptolemy, Lysimachus and Seleucus fight against Demetrios.
January 286 BC: In -287, Ptolemy I Soter, the founder of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt, took over the territories of Sidon and Tyre. These cities were important Phoenician ports known for their trade and naval power. Ptolemy's conquest further expanded his influence in the region.
Were a series of six wars between the Seleucid Empire and the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, successor states to Alexander the Great's empire, during the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC mainyl over the region then called Coele-Syria.
2.1.First Syrian War
Was one of the wars between the Seleucid Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Kingdom over the domain in the Levant.
January 273 BC: The Seleucid Empire annexed Coele-Syria.
January 270 BC: Ptolemy II Philadelphus reconquered territories in Syria and Cilicia.
2.2.Second Syrian War
Was one of the wars between the Seleucid Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Kingdom over the domain in the Levant.
January 260 BC: Antiochus II Theos regained Miletus and Ephesus.
January 260 BC: Antioch was conquered by the Seleucids during the Third Syrian War.
2.3.Third Syrian War
Was one of the wars between the Seleucid Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Kingdom over the domain in the Levant.
January 245 BC: Ptolemaic forces conquered several cities of the coast of Propontic Thrace during the Third Syrian War around 246 BC.
January 245 BC: Seleucid presence was replaced by that of the Ptolemies, who established a satrapy in coastal Thrace.
January 245 BC: After 246, for about half a century, the Ptolemies, a dynasty of Macedonian Greek origin, ruled over the territory of nan. The Ptolemaic Kingdom was established by Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great, after his death in 323 BC.
January 240 BC: Antiochus II left two ambitious mothers in a competition to put their respective sons on the throne of the Seleucid Kingdom, Laodice and Berenice. Berenice asked her brother Ptolemy III, the new Ptolemaic king, to come to Antioch and help place her son on the throne. When Ptolemy arrived, Berenice and her child had been assassinated.
Ptolemy declared war on Laodice's newly crowned son, Seleucus II, in 246 BC, and campaigned with great success. In exchange for a peace in 241 BC, Ptolemy was awarded new territories on the northern coast of Syria, including Seleucia Pieria, the port of Antioch.
2.4.Fourth Syrian War
Was one of the wars between the Seleucid Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Kingdom over the domain in the Levant.
2.4.1.Invasion of Phoenicia
Was a Seleucid military campaign in Pheonicia to reconquer the region from the Ptoleamic Kingdom during the Fourth Syrian War.
January 218 BC: Upon taking the Seleucid throne in 223 BC, Antiochus III the Great (241-187 BC) set himself the task of restoring the lost imperial possessions of Seleucus I Nicator. Egypt had been significantly weakened by court intrigue and public unrest. The rule of the newly inaugurated Ptolemy IV Philopator (reigned 221-204 BC) began with the murder of queen-mother Berenice II. The young king quickly fell under the absolute influence of imperial courtiers.
Antiochus sought to take advantage of this chaotic situation. He finally began the Fourth Syrian War in 219 BC. He recaptured Seleucia Pieria as well as cities in Phoenicia, amongst them Tyre.
2.5.Fifth Syrian War
Was one of the many wars between the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Seleucid Kingdom over the region of Coele-Syria.
January 199 BC: The death of Ptolemy IV in 204 BC was followed by a bloody conflict over the regency as his heir, Ptolemy V, was just a child. The regency was passed from one adviser to another, and the kingdom was in a state of near anarchy.
Seeking to take advantage of this turmoil, Antiochus III staged a second invasion of Coele-Syria. After a brief setback at Gaza, he delivered a crushing blow to the Ptolemies at the Battle of Panium near the head of the River Jordan which earned him the important port of Sidon.
January 197 BC: Antiochus completed the subjugation of Coele-Syria in 198 BC and went on to raid Ptolemy's remaining coastal strongholds in Caria and Cilicia.
2.6.Sixth Syrian War
Was one of the wars between the Seleucid Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Kingdom over the domain in the Levant.
2.6.1.Conquest of Pelusium
The Seleucids conquered Pelusium, in Egypt.
December 170 BC: The Seleucids, led by King Antiochus IV, captured the strategic city of Pelusium in -170. This victory allowed the Seleucid Kingdom to expand its territory and exert control over key trade routes in the region.
2.6.2.Egypt becomes a Seleucid puppet state
Seleucid King Antiochus took Egyptian King Ptolemy VI (who was his nephew) under his guardianship, giving him effective control of Ptolemaic Egypt. .
December 169 BC: The Egyptians realised their folly in starting the war, Eulaeus and Lenaeus were overthrown and replaced by two new regents, Comanus and Cineas, and envoys were sent to negotiate a peace treaty with Antiochus. Antiochus took Ptolemy VI (who was his nephew) under his guardianship, giving him effective control of Egypt.
2.6.3.Revolt of Egypt against the Seleucids
Egypt revolted against Antiochus IV and expelled the Seleucids.
January 168 BC: The people of Alexandria proclaimed Ptolemy Physcon as sole king. Antiochus besieged Alexandria but he was unable to cut communications to the city so, at the end of 169, he withdrew his army.
2.6.4.Intervention of Rome in the Sixth Syrian War
Due to the intervention of Rome, the Seleucid King Antiochus IV was forced to leave the territories conquered from the Ptolemaic Kingdom during the Sixth Syrian War.
January 167 BC: At Eleusis, on the outskirts of the capital, Antiochus met Popilius Laenas, with whom he had been friends during his stay in Rome. But instead of a friendly welcome, Popilius offered the king an ultimatum from the Senate: he must evacuate Egypt and Cyprus immediately. Antiochus begged to have time to consider but Popilius drew a circle round him in the sand with his cane and told him to decide before he stepped outside it. Antiochus chose to obey the Roman ultimatum. The "Day of Eleusis" ended the Sixth Syrian War and Antiochus' hopes of conquering Egyptian territory.
With Ptolemy's eye focused eastward, his half-brother Magas declared his province of Cyrenaica to be independent. It would remain independent until 250 BC, when it was reabsorbed into the Ptolemaic Kingdom.
January 270 BC: With Ptolemy's eye focused eastward, his half-brother Magas declared his province of Cyrenaica to be independent.
Was a War between the Kingdom of Kush and the Ptolemaic Kingdom resulting in the latter conquering Kushite territory as far south as modern-day Port Sudan.
January 269 BC: Ptolemy II defeated the Kingdom of Kush in war, gaining the Ptolemies free access to Kushite territory and control of important gold-mining areas south of Egypt known as Dodekasoinos. As a result, the Ptolemies established hunting stations and ports as far south as Port Sudan, from where raiding parties searched for war elephants. Hellenistic culture would acquire an important influence on Kush at this time.
Magas, the half-brother of the Ptolemaic King, declared the province of Cyrenaica to be independent.
January 249 BC: With Ptolemy's eye focused eastward, his half-brother Magas declared his province of Cyrenaica to be independent.
Was a revolt against the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Upper Egypt.
January 216 BC: Nationalist sentiment had developed among the native Egyptians who had fought at Raphia. Confident and well-trained, they broke from Ptolemy in what is known as the Egyptian Revolt, establishing their own kingdom in Upper Egypt which the Ptolemies finally reconquered around 185 BC.
Were a seris of conflicts between the Roman Republic and Antigonid Macedonia over control of Greece and the eastern Mediterranean Basin. .
7.1.Second Macedonian War
Was a war fought by Rome, allied with the Kingdoms of Pergamons and Rhodes, against Antigonid Macedonia.
January 203 BC: In the last years of the 3rd century, Macedonia under king Philip V began a renewed expansion to the east, exploiting the weakness of the Ptolemies after the death of Ptolemy IV.
Was fought by King Philip V of Macedon, the Aetolian League, many Cretan cities (of which Olous and Hierapytna were the most important) and Spartan pirates against the forces of Rhodes and later Attalus I of Pergamum, Byzantium, Cyzicus, Athens, and Knossos.
January 199 BC: The Ptolemaic Kingdom was captured by Philip V of Macedon in 200 BC.
January 199 BC: Philip attacked and occupied the cities in Thrace which still belonged to Ptolemy, Maroneia, Cypsela, Doriscus, Serrheum and Aemus.
January 199 BC: In -200, the Macedonians, led by King Philip V of Macedon, advanced on the Thracian Chersonese and captured several cities including Perinthus, Sestos, Elaeus, Alopeconnesus, Callipolis, and Madytus. This expansion of territory was part of Philip V's efforts to strengthen his control over the region.
Were a series of succesful military campaigns by Antiochus III to expand Selecuid territories in Asia Minor.
9.1.Conquest of Thracia
Was a succesful military campaign led by Seleucid ruler Antiochus III in Thrace.
January 195 BC: Seleucid ruler Antiochus conquered Thrace.
Was a revolt against the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Upper Egypt.
January 184 BC: The war between Upper and Lower Egypt continued until 185 BC with the arrest of Ankhmakis by Ptolemaic general Conanus. This victory re-established Ptolemaic rule in Upper Egypt, as well as the Triakontaschoinos.
Cyrenaica was separated from the main kingdom by Ptolemy VIII and given to his son Ptolemy Apion.
January 115 BC: Cyrenaica was separated from the main kingdom of Egypt by Ptolemy VIII and given to his son Ptolemy Apion. When Ptolemy Apion died without heirs in 96 BC, he bequeathed Cyrenaica to the Roman Republic.
Were a series of military campaigns (against the Seleucid Kingdom and the Nabateans) by the Hasmonean Kings to expand their territory.
12.1.Conquests of Alexander Jannaeus
Military campaigns of Hasmonean King Alexander Jannaeus.
January 95 BC: Conquests of Alexander Jannaeus (Hasmonean Kingdom) by 96 BC.
Ptolemy of Cyprus was the king of Cyprus c. 80-58 BC. He was the younger brother of Ptolemy XII Auletes, King of Egypt.
January 79 BC: Ptolemy of Cyprus was the king of Cyprus c. 80-58 BC. He was the younger brother of Ptolemy XII Auletes, king of Egypt, and, like him, an illegitimate son of Ptolemy IX Lathyros, he was also the uncle of Cleopatra VII. He appears to have been acknowledged king of Cyprus at the same time that his brother Auletes obtained the possession of the throne of Egypt, 80 BC.
Egypt became entangled in a Roman civil war, which ultimately led to its conquest by Rome as the last independent Hellenistic state.
January 29 BC: Egypt became entangled in a Roman civil war, which ultimately led to its conquest by Rome as the last independent Hellenistic state.
January 278 BC: In 279 BC Miletus was taken from Seleucid king Antiochus II by Egyptian king Ptolemy II Philadelphus.
January 262 BC: Ephesus came under Egyptian rule between 263 and 197 BC.
January 249 BC: The Zenon papyri, a collection of documents from the time of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, provide evidence of the Nabataeans expanding into the Hauran region around -250 BC. This marked the Nabatean Kingdom's territorial expansion and influence in the area during this period.
January 245 BC: Ptolemaic forces conquered several cities of the coast of Propontic Thrace during the Third Syrian War around 246 BC.
January 199 BC: Remained in their control through 200 BC.
January 199 BC: After 246 BC, for about half a century, the Ptolemies, a dynasty of Macedonian Greek origin, ruled over the territory of Nan. However, in -200 BC, the territory was conquered by the Seleucid Kingdom, a Hellenistic state founded by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals.
January 61 BC: During the reign of Aretas III (87 to 62 BC) the Nabatean Kingdom reached its territorial zenith.
Disestablishment
January 29 BC: Egypt became entangled in a Roman civil war, which ultimately led to its conquest by Rome as the last independent Hellenistic state.
Selected Sources
Bunson, M.R. (2014): Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, Infobase Publishing, p. 314
https://www.latsis-foundation.org/content/elib/book_17/thiba_en.pdf
Ptolemaic Kingdom
