The news spread throughout Egypt—a new pharaoh, Ramses III, now sat on the throne.
The succession had been easy, as Ramses followed his father, Setnakhte. Still, because Setnakhte could claim no relation to the rulers before him, his reign had started a new dynasty, the 20th. This break in the line of succession meant that father and son needed to send a message to the people that reinforced their right to beon the throne. One way to do so was through marriage, and there is evidence that indicates that Setnakhte’s wife was the granddaughter of Ramses II, the most powerful ruler of the 19th dynasty.
According to the record…
Ramses II had many wives and dozens of children. So, if the evidence is correct, Ramses III was given his name not just to honor a powerful king of the past, but also to highlight a direct relation to such an illustrious ancestor. For his part, Ramses III was eager to emphasize the connection. Ramses II had ruled during what is considered to be the height of Egypt’s power and influence. And, now, in the 20th Dynasty, Egypt was encountering some difficult times. So, Ramses III was looking for a way to convince his people that he could restore the country to its former glory.
In Ramses II’s day…
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