Amenmes, also known as Amenmesse, was an Egyptian pharaoh of the XIXth dynasty, having reigned around 1203 to 1200 BC. J.-C. His reign is surrounded by controversies and remains rather ephemeral.
Disputed rise
Amenmes' ascension to the throne is marked by conflict and rivalry. It is possible that he usurped the throne from Merenptah, the eldest son of Ramses II. This explains why some monuments and inscriptions at Amenmes were later damaged or erased.
Fleeting reign
Amenmes' reign was short-lived, probably around three to four years. Little information is available on the achievements or milestones of this period, suggesting that his authority and influence were limited.
Elimination of his legacy
After his death, the legitimacy of Amenmes is disputed by his successors, in particular by Merenptah. Monuments and inscriptions in his name are often altered or deliberately erased to erase his memory. This makes it difficult to reconstruct the history and achievements of Amenmes.
Posterity
Due to the controversial and short-lived nature of his reign, Amenmes is often omitted from lists of pharaohs of the XIXth dynasty. However, his figure remains an interesting example of the complexity and rivalries that marked the period of New Empire in Egypt.
📋 LIST OF EGYPTIAN SOVEREIGNS 📋
Hotepsekhemwey / Sneferka / Nebra / ninetjer / Senedj / Noubnefer / Horus Ba / Peribsen / Sekhemib / Khasekhemwy / Neferkasokar / | |||
Djoser / Sanakht / Sekhemkhet / Spoon / Huni | |||
Sekhemre-Khutaouy Amenemhat-/Sobekhotep I/Sekhemkare Amenemhat-Senbef/Sekhemkare Amenemhat V/Ameny-Qemaou/Hotepibre Qémaou-Sa-Hornejhéritef/Ioufeni/Séânkhibrê Amény-Antef-Amenemhat (or Amenemhat VI)/Semenkarê Nebnoun/Sehotepibrê Sousekhtaouy | |||
Sekhaenre Yakbim/Nebuuserre Yaammou/Khauserre Qareh | |||
Semqen/Aper-Anat/Sakir-Har/Khyan/Apophis I/Apophis II?/Khamoudy | |||
/Sekhemre-Sementaouy Djehouty/Sekhemre-Sousertaouy Sobekhotep VIII | |||
Twenty-first dynasty | |||
Twenty-second dynasty | |||
Twenty-third dynasty | |||
Twenty-fourth dynasty | |||
1st Persian Dynasty | |||
Thirty-first dynasty (Achaemenid) | 2nd Persian Dynasty | ||