Ptolemy I Soter
Macedonian general, ruler of Egypt
Ptolemy I Soter (/ˈtɒləmi/; Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Σωτήρ Ptolemaîos Sōtḗr 'Ptolemy the Saviour', Latin: Ptolemaeus; c. 367 BC – January 282 BC) was a general in the Greek army of Alexander the Great who was the king and pharaoh of ancient Egypt from 305/304 BC until he died. He was the first king of Egypt during the Hellenistic period. Ptolemy made Alexandria the capital city of Egypt. (The old capital was Memphis.) Ptolemy's children were the next kings of the Ptolemaic dynasty. This dynasty (line of rulers) controlled Egypt until the beginning of the Roman Empire.
| Ptolemy I Soter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pharaoh and Basileus of the Ptolemaic Kingdom | |
| Reign | 305/304 – 282 BC (Ptolemaic) |
| Predecessor | Alexander IV |
| Successor | Ptolemy II Philadelphus |
| Consort | |
| Children | With Thaïs (mistress):
With Eurydice:
With Berenice I: |
| Father | Lagus or Philip II of Macedon |
| Mother | Arsinoe |
| Born | c. 367 BC Possibly Pella, Macedon |
| Died | January 282 BC (aged 84–85) Alexandria, Egypt |