Ptolemy I, Soter c.367-283BC
Egyptian king and soldier

A son of Lagus, he was one of the greatest generals of Alexander the Great, upon whose death he obtained Egypt (323BC). Subject to the Macedonian kings, he occupied the first half of his reign in repelling outside attacks and consolidating his government. In 306BC he was defeated by Demetrius Poliorcetes in a sea-fight off Salamis in Cyprus, but still assumed the royal title (305BC) and defended his territories against Antigonus (Monophthalmos) and Demetrius. In 304BC he defended the Rhodians against Demetrius, and received from them his title Soter ('Saviour' or 'Preserver'). Alexandria, his capital, became the centre of commerce and Greek culture.

Bibliography: E R Bevan, The House of Ptolemy: A History of Egypt Under the Ptolemaic Dynasty (rev edn, 1968)