Ptolemy VI Philometer (which translates into “mother loving”), had two individual reigns. He was the eldest son of Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I of Egypt. He first came to the throne as a youngster and therefore was assisted by regents, his mother being one of them, perhaps further explanation into his name Philometer. After his mother’s death in 178 or 177 BC he was assisted in rule by two close associates of his mother, Eulaeus and Lenaeus, however from 170 onward his sister/wife, Cleopatra II and his brother Ptolemy VIII co-ruled with him.

Through much of Ptolemy’s reign he was at war with the Seleucid Empire, which then controlled much of Syria. While fighting the endless wars, Ptolemy VI and his younger brother and co-ruler Ptolemy VII had internal conflicts. Once Ptolemy VI negotiated a peace settlement with the Seleucids his brother managed to have Ptolemy VI ousted from Egypt.

This banishment was short lived as the people of Egypt were fond of the emperor and invited him back in 163 BC to rule again thus ousting his younger brother. He banished his brother to the island of Cyprus and continued to rule again in a more successful reign. He continued his wars with the Seleucids and eventually fought in a battle at Antioch against the Seleucid king Alexander Balas. While he was successful he sustained life threatening injuries in battle which took his life 3 days following the conflict.  Once dead his brother Ptolemy VII returned from exile and ruled Egypt again.