Background
Ptolemy was the eldest son of Ptolemy I Soter, Pharaoh of Egypt, and his second wife Eurydice, daughter of the regent Antipater.
Ptolemy was the eldest son of Ptolemy I Soter, Pharaoh of Egypt, and his second wife Eurydice, daughter of the regent Antipater.
His epithet Keraunos is Greek for "Thunder" or "Thunderbolt". After Keraunos" younger half-brother, also called Ptolemy, was named heir apparent and, in 282 British Columbia, ascended to the throne as Ptolemy II, he had to leave Egypt, being a potential rival for the throne. While Ptolemy was staying in Lysimachus"s court, Arsinoe"s intrigues led to the accusation of Lysimachus" first son, Agathocles, of treason and to his execution.
Seeing an opportunity to intervene for his own gain in the politics of both Lysimachan Thrace and Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucus prepared an expedition against Lysimachus shortly afterwards.
After Lysimachus" defeat and death in the Battle of Corupedium in 281 British Columbia, against Seleucus I Nicator, Ptolemy Keraunos murdered Seleucus I in order to gain the power of his former protector. He then rushed to Lysimacheia where he had himself acclaimed king by the Macedonian army.
At this time he also formally relinquished his claim to the Egyptian throne. In 281 British Columbia, he made an alliance with Pyrrhus of Epirus.
Arsinoe was not happy with the situation.
Keraunos quickly captured Cassandreia, and killed Arsinoe"s two younger sons, while the eldest fled north to the kingdom of the Dardanians. Although Ptolemy Keraunos was at the zenith of his power, he did not live long afterwards. In 279 British Columbia, he was captured and killed during the wars against the Gauls led by Bolgius who conducted a series of mass raids against Macedon and the rest of Greece.
His death brought anarchy to the Greek states, since none of his successors were able to bring stability.
This situation lasted about two years, until Antigonos Gonatas defeated the Gauls in the battle near Lysimachia, Thrace, in 277 British Columbia, After this victory he was recognized king of Macedon and his power extended eventually also to southern Greece.