Death of Ptolemy XII
On Cleopatra VII's sixteenth birthday, the king knew full well that he would not live long, and that perhaps this was the last time he would be able to sing and dance so happily and freely on Cleopatra VII's birthday! So, the king got himself completely drunk. He took advantage of his drink to forget for a while the troubles of the war around him! He played his flute and danced happily, and had a great time with all the people who were there for his birthday ball!
...
As Ptolemy XII himself had predicted, one morning in 51 BC, when he no longer had the strength to get out of bed, at the age of 66, Ptolemy XII knew his time was up! He asked the queen to call the princesses and princes to his room, announced his will and then died!
"Father, don't leave me!" All present sank in grief at the king's death, and Cleopatra VII wept particularly hard. She knew that although her own father, who was sometimes cowardly and timid and had even paid tribute to his neighbours in exchange for peace in Egypt, could not be considered a heroic and perfect king, it was his dearest father who had always protected her and doted on her as the dearest princess when she had been ostracised and ridiculed by other princes and princesses in the palace because she had no mother! Because of Ptolemy XII's love for her, Cleopatra VII used to forget the loneliness and helplessness of not having her birth mother by her side! Cleopatra VII looked at her father, who was lying in bed and could no longer open his eyes, and left tears of sadness in her eyes. Cleopatra VII suddenly remembered that her name was of Greek origin, meaning "she comes from a glorious father", and Cleopatra VII gave herself several Egyptian names according to which she had given herself ideal goals in life such as: "Great and perfect woman, outstanding Advocate", etc. At this moment, in honour of her father, she suddenly gave herself a new name, "Cleopatra, the goddess favoured by her father"! Yes, she had been her father's proud little princess, the apple of his eye, the goddess of his heart! But from now on, from the moment her father's closed eyes could no longer be opened, she lost all this privilege and love! She knew that from now on, her father could no longer protect her, love her or spoil her, and she would be alone!
She didn't know what her future looked like!
Helplessness, sadness and despair loomed over her like a shadow, leaving her thin body with nowhere to run!
At this thought, Cleopatra VII's tears could no longer be stopped like broken beads ...
Thus, with her eyes barely open and her head drowsy with tears, Cleopatra VII completed the king's funeral according to the rituals, and by the will of Ptolemy XII when he died, Cleopatra VII and her half-brother Ptolemy XIII officially became joint heirs to the throne and ruled together. In 51 BC, Cleopatra married Ptolemy XIII and ascended to the throne.
...