pompey eventually convinced aulus gabinius, the roman governor of syria, to invade egypt and restore ptolemy xii to power. in the spring of 55 bc, gabinius' invasion force arrived. his officer mark antony prevented ptolemy xii from massacring the inhabitants of pelousion for their defiance, and rescued the body of archelaos (berenice's husband) after he was killed in battle. although antony said years later that it was then that he fell in love with cleopatra, their affair did not begin until 41 bc. ptolemy xii made cleopatra his regent and joint ruler in 52 bc, naming her and his son (ptolemy xiii) joint successors in his will and testament. ptolemy xii died by 22 march 51 bc, the date of cleopatra's first known act as queen: restoring the sacred buchis bull in hermonthis, egypt. she may have married her brother, ptolemy xiii, but it is uncertain if they married before engaging in open hostilities against one another.