cleopatra vii was born in early 69 bc to ptolemaic pharaoh ptolemy xii auletes and an unknown mother, presumably ptolemy xii's sister-wife cleopatra vi tryphaena, also known as cleopatra v tryphaena—mother of cleopatra's older sister, berenice iv. ptolemy xii was given the epithet "auletes" ("the flute-player") due to his adoption of the title "new dionysos" and his reported flute-playing during the dionysian festivals. he had a reputation as an aloof monarch who enjoyed a life of luxury while causing dynastic troubles with the expulsion of cleopatra vi from the court in late 69 bc (a few months after the birth of cleopatra vii). his three younger children (cleopatra's sister arsinoe iv and brothers ptolemy xiii and ptolemy xiv) were born during the more than decade-long absence of his wife.