List of kings of Cyrene

CyreneorCyrenaicawas aGreekcolony on theNorth Africancoast, in what is now northeasternLibya,founded byDoriansettlers fromThera(modernSantorini) in the 7th century BC. Kings of Cyrene received a recurring posthumoushero cultlike that of the Doriankings of Sparta.

Kings of Cyrene (Battiad dynasty), 632–440 BC

• Battus I630–600 BC
• Arcesilaus I600–583 BC
• Battus II583–560 BC
• Arcesilaus II560–550 BC
• Learchus550 BC (disputed)
• Battus III550–530 BC
• Arcesilaus III530–515 BC
• Battus IV515–465 BC
• Arcesilaus IV465–440 BC

In 440 BC, Cyrene became a republic, underPersiansuzerainty (as had been the latter kings from Arcesilaus III). Cyrene was conquered byAlexander the Greatin 331 BC and fell to the portion ofPtolemy Iin the division of Alexander's empire. In 276 BC it reasserted its independence.

Kings of Cyrene, 276–246 BC

• Magas276–250 BC
• Berenice II(Queen) 258–246 BC, alongside a series of her co-rulers:Magas,Demetriusand a republican government
• Demetrius the Fair250–249 BC
• Republican government249–246 BC

In 249 BC Cyrene again became a republic, but was restored to Ptolemaic control in 246 BC byPtolemy IIIwho married toBerenice II,Queen of Cyrene. From 163 BC, Cyrene occasionally had its own rulers from the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Kings of Cyrene, 163–30 BC

• Ptolemy VIII Physcon163–116 BC
• Ptolemy Apion116–96 BC
• Roman Republic96–75 BC
• Roman province75–37 BC
• Ptolemaic Kingdom37–34 BC
• Cleopatra Selene II(Queen) 34–30 BC

In 75 BC, the city became part of a Roman province, but it was restored to thePtolemiesbyMark Antonyin 37 BC. In 34 BCCleopatra VIIand Antony's daughter,Cleopatra Selene II,was made Queen of Cyrene, but the city returned to Rome followingAugustus' conquest ofEgyptin 30 BC.