Like his older brother, Ptolemy IX Soter II, Ptolemy II Alexander I ruled as a co-regent with his mother Cleopatra III. She had always been her first choice (when Ptolemy VIII died, he left the throne to his wife and whichever son she chose). When the people of Alexander demanded her older son, Soter II be recalled from Cyprus to rule Egypt, Cleopatra accused him of trying to kill her and had him banished so that she could install her younger, favorite son in his place.

But, Cleopatra III was a fickle woman and she tired of sharing the throne with him, as well, and forced him to flee Alexandria. He returned in 101 BCE under the pretense of reconciliation, but in reality it was a way to get closer to her an have her assassinated. Of course, he was driven out of Egypt entirely after he sold the gold coffin of Alexander the Great to raise money. To raise even more money, he bequeathed Egypt to Rome (obviously they couldn't collect while he still lived), but it gave him the resources to raise a navy and curry the favor of the moneylenders in Rome.

Ptolemy eventually tired if his mother's intrigue and had her murdered in 102 BC, after which he ruled Egypt alone -- or perhaps as a coregent with his niece/wife, Cleopatra Berenice.

Ptolemy was killed in a naval battle in Cyprus and his niece, Cleopatra Berenice, was ruler on her own until the Romans had her killed.

pharaohs

Ptolemy I Soter
Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Ptolemy III Euergeter
Ptolemy IV Philopater
Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Cleopatra I
Ptolemy Eupator
Ptolemy VI Philometor
Cleopatra II
Ptolemy VII Neos Philpator
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
Cleopatra III & Ptolemy IX Soter II
Cleopatra III & Ptolemy X Alexander
Cleopatra Berenice
Ptolemy XI Alexander
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos
Berenice IV
Cleopatra VII
Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XIII
Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XIV
Ptolemy XV Cesarion