roman interventionism in egypt predated the reign of cleopatra vii. in 168 bc, after antiochus iv invaded ptolemaic egypt, he obeyed the demands of the roman senate to withdraw and return to seleucid territory instead of warring with the roman republic. when ptolemy ix lathyros died in late 81 bc, he was succeeded by his daughter berenice iii. with opposition building at the royal court against the idea of a sole female monarch, berenice iii accepted joint rule and marriage to ptolemy xi alexander ii, the son of ptolemy ix's brother ptolemy x alexander i. the match was arranged by the dictator sulla, the first powerful roman figure to intervene directly in the dynastic affairs of kingdoms east of the roman republic.