(Menmire) (fl. c. 1214 B.C.E.) Sixth ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty, recorded as a usurper
He took the throne of SETI II (r. 1214–c. 1204 B.C.E.). His name, Amenmesses, meant “Fashioned by Amun, God of Thebes.” He ruled only four years, possibly as an interlude ruler between MERENPTAH and Seti II, who was the crown prince and designated heir. Amenmesses was possibly the son of MERENPTAH and Queen TAKHAT (1). Records give her only the title of “King’s Mother,” not that of a royal wife of rank. He is believed to have married BAKETWEREL, but no documentation supports this. Three bodies discovered in Amenmesses’ tomb in the VALLEY OF THE KINGS on the western shore of Thebes have not been identified. He is also recorded as marrying TIA (2), the mother of SIPTAH. Amenmesses did not rule in the north, where Seti II controlled the Delta and the dynastic capital of PER-RAMESSES.
He had the backing of the Theban priests, including the high priest, Roma-Ray, who had considerable power in the name of the god AMUN. Amenmesses also controlled NUBIA, modern Sudan. How he died at the end of four years is unknown. He simply disappeared from the scene, and Seti II usurped his statues and monuments. Some cartouches were even removed from his tomb in Thebes, at BIBAN EL-MOLUK, and some chambers were vandalized. The tomb has three corridors, a square chamber, and four pillared halls.
Amenmose (fl. 16th century B.C.E.) Prince of the Eighteenth Dynasty
He was the son of TUTHMOSIS I (r. 1504–1492 B.C.E.) and Queen ’AHMOSE (1), and an older brother of Queen- Pharaoh HATSHEPSUT (r. 1473–1458 B.C.E.). Records indicate that he was general of Egypt’s armies. He predeceased Tuthmosis I. Amenmose had a brother, WADJMOSE, who also died before he could inherit the throne from his father. Amenmose was buried in the royal necropolis on the western shore of THEBES.
