Her brothers were considerably younger than she.

The claim of a son, though younger, seemed to be naturally stronger than that of a daughter; but the commanding talents and rising influence of Cleopatra appeared to make it doubtful whether it would be safe to pass her by.

The father settled the question in the way in which such difficulties were usually surmounted in the Ptolemy family.

He ordained that Cleopatra should marry the oldest of her brothers, and that they two should jointly occupy the throne.

Adhering also, still, to the idea of the alliance of Egypt with Rome, which had been the leading principle of the whole policy of his reign, he solemnly committed the execution of his will and the guardianship of his children, by a provision of the instrument itself, to the Roman Senate.