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Ptolemy of Mauretania, son of Cleopatra VIII, the daughter of Cleopatra VII

Ptolemy of Mauretania or Ptolemy of Morocco (Ptolemy in Greek:ο Πτολεμαίος, 1 BC - 40 AD) was a prince and the last Roman client king of Mauretania.

Ptolemy was the only son to queen Cleopatra Selene (II) and king Juba II of Mauretania. Cleopatra of Mauretania could have been his possible elder sister and his younger sister was Drusilla of Mauretania.

His father Juba II of Numidia, was an only son king to Juba I of Numidia (a king of Numidia of Berber descent from North Africa, who was an ally to Roman General Pompey the Great). His mother Cleopatra Selene (II) was the only daughter to Ptolemaic Greek queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt from her marriage to Roman Triumvir Mark Antony. Ptolemy was of Berber, Greek and Roman ancestry.

Ptolemy with his sisters, were the only grandchildren to African king Juba I of Numidia, Ptolemaic Greek queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and were among the younger grandchildren to Roman Triumvir Mark Antony. Through his maternal grandfather, he was a distant relative to Julius Caesar and the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. Ptolemy was a first cousin to Roman General Germanicus and his brother the Roman Emperor Claudius and a second cousin to Roman Emperor Caligula, Roman Empress Agrippina the Younger, Roman Empress Valeria Messalina and Roman Emperor Nero.

Ptolemy was most probably born in Caesaria, the capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania (modern Cherchell, Algeria) in the Roman Empire. He was named Ptolemy, in honor of his mother’s Greek, Ptolemaic and Egyptian heritage.

His parents sent him to Rome to be educated. In Rome, Ptolemy received a Roman education and became Romanization (cultural). His mother died in 6 AD. Between 19 AD - 21 AD, Ptolemy returned to Mauretania from Rome and his aging father made him co-ruler and in 23 AD his father died. After his father’s death, he became the new client king of Mauretania.

In 17 AD, the local Berber tribes (Numidian Tacfarinas and Garamantes) started to revolt against Rome. The war had ravaged Africa and the war had reached a point that Ptolemy, had called for assistance from the Roman Governor of Africa to end the long war. In 24 AD, the war had ended. Although, the Romans won, both sides lost much infantry and cavalry.

The Roman Senate, impressed by Ptolemy’s loyal conduct, had sent a Roman Senator to visit Ptolemy. The Roman Senator, recognised his loyal conduct by awarding Ptolemy an ivory sceptre, an embroidered triumphal robe and the senator greeted Ptolemy as king, ally and friend. This recognition was a tradition which was revived, which recognises and awards the allies to Rome. Ptolemy would often visit Alexandria, Egypt.

Ptolemy married a woman called Julia Urania, who probably was a member of the Royal Family of Emesa, (modern Homs, Syria). Their only child, a daughter called Drusilla, (known as Drusilla of Mauretania) was born about 38 AD.

Although Ptolemy was well educated, was a popular king with the Berbers and had proven his capability and loyalty as an ally and client king to Rome, Ptolemy was not as a strong leader as his father.

In 40 AD, Ptolemy's second cousin, the Roman Emperor Caligula, invited him to Rome. Caligula welcomed him with appropriate honors. As Ptolemy entered an amphitheatre during a gladiatorial show, he wore a purple cloak that attracted admiration. Out of Caligula's jealousy, Caligula ordered Ptolemy's execution. Caligula once mistreated Ptolemy, by sending him a message reading: "Do nothing at all, either good or bad, to the bearer".

With the death of Ptolemy of Mauretania, he was the last Ptolemaic Monarch to rule with the royal name Ptolemy. In the reign of Roman Emperor Claudius, Claudius tried Gaius Rabirius Postumus (a man from a senatorial family) for treason, who before tried unsuccessfully to recover money from Ptolemy.

After the murder of Ptolemy in Rome, the Berbers from their outrage, started to revolt against Rome. A former freeman of Ptolemy started the revolt. After the revolt ended in 44 AD, the Roman Emperor Claudius divided the Mauretanian Kingdom into two Roman provinces which were Mauretania Tingitana and Mauretania Caesariensis. Ptolemy is mentioned in the novels by Robert Graves, I, Claudius and Claudius the God.

On Friday 10 December 2004, the US Auction Group, Sotheby in New York, auctioned a seven inche fine bronze Roman imperial bust of Ptolemy of Mauretania about age 15. The bust, c. 5 AD - 20 AD, was estimated between US$300,000 - US$500,000, but was sold for US$960,000.

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