Ptolemy was a Macedonian general in the army of Alexander. When Alexander died without a clear line of succession, the generals fought amongst each other. While most of them initially fought for total control of Alexander's empire, Ptolemy immediately carved off Egypt and part of the Levant for himself, and removed himself from the rest of the Macedonian in-fighting, which ultimately ended in the empire's fragmentation into what would be known as the Hellenistic kingdoms. Of these, Ptolemaic Egypt would be the most stable, successful, and longest lasting. Ptolemy founded the city of Alexandria on the northern coast of Egypt, and made it his capital. The ruling dynasty he founded would be known as the Ptolemaic dynasty, as all of the male successors of that dynasty would inherit Ptolemy's name. The dynasty would last roughly 300 years, until Cleopatra VII (of Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius fame) was ultimately defeated by Caesar's heir and grand-nephew, Octavian (later known as Augustus) in 30 BCE.Note: Some of the appearances listed in the filmography here refer to one of the original Ptolemy's successors, especially Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, who was brother, husband, and rival of Cleopatra VII. Show less «