Pompey had been the means, some years before, of restoring a certain king of Egypt to his throne, and many of his soldiers had been left in the country, and remained there still.

It is true that the king himself had died.

He had left a daughter named Cleopatra, and also a son, who was at this time very young.

The name of this youthful prince was Ptolemy.

Ptolemy and Cleopatra bad been made by their father joint heirs to the throne.