ptolemy xii auletes, ruling pharaoh of the ptolemaic kingdom of egypt, designated in his will that his daughter cleopatra vii should reign alongside her brother ptolemy xiii as co-rulers in the moment of his death. on 31 may 52 bc cleopatra was made a regent of ptolemy xii as indicated by an inscription in the temple of hathor at dendera. duane w. roller asserts that ptolemy xii perhaps died sometime before 22 march 51 bc, while joann fletcher offers the date 7 march 51 bc. michael grant claims it could have occurred as late as may of that year. cleopatra's first known act as queen occurred on 22 march 51 bc. she traveled to hermonthis, near thebes, to install a new sacred buchis bull, worshiped as an intermediary for the god montu in the ancient egyptian religion. the roman senate, which viewed ptolemaic egypt as a client state, was not informed of the death of ptolemy xii until 30 june or 1 august 51 bc. this was most likely an attempt by cleopatra to suppress this information and consolidate power.