Ptolemy XII was often referred to as "The Bastard" or "Flute Player" -- which, I gather, was not a complimentary label and may have involved suggestions of homosexuality -- and he referred to himself with the lofty title "Theos Philopater Philadelphos Neos Dionysus. Only the history books called him Ptolemy XII

Ptolemy XII was the illegitimate son of Ptolemy IX (Lathyros), who ruled as co-regent with his mother. He was married to Cleopatra V Tryphanea (his sister) and was the father of the famous Cleopatra VII, she of Marc Antony and Rome.

Ptolemy XII was not a good pharaoh, and his violent behavior and reprehensible life caused the people of Alexandria to force him out of office and out of Egypt. He pleaded for help from Rome and eventually paid Aulus Gabinius, consul of Syria, a huge sum of money to put him back on the throne. During his absence, he left co-regents his sister CLeopatra V Tryphnaena and their eldest daughter, Berenice.

When Cleopatra Tryphaena died, Berenice ruled by herself. Leery of having a woman on the throne, her consuls forced her to marry Seleucus Kybiosaktes, but she had him strangled and retained power to herself. When her father returned to Egypt, he unseated her and when he died, he left his regency to his other daughter, Cleopatra VII.

Ptolemy handed most power to Rome, making the Roman senate the executor of his will and a Roman, Pompey, the guardian of his son Ptolemy XIII.

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