Eye of Horus (3,388 byte)
Ramesses-I to XI

19th Dynasty 01 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-I (Menpehtyre) 1295-1294 B.C.
Was the son of a military commander named Seti. Ramesses entered the military service and worked his way up to commander of troops, superintendent of the cavalry and eventually general. A short time later he became vizier to King Horemheb. He was also Primate of Egypt, which was the high priest of Amon, and was in charge of all the temples in Egypt. Horemheb died with no heir so Ramesses assumed the throne. His queen, Sitre, was the mother of Seti I, who was already a veteran military commander.

Tomb: originally in the Valley of the Kings, later vandalized and moved to Deir el Bahri.

19th Dynasty 03 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-II (Usermaatresetepenre) 1279-1213 B.C. Ramses II Egypts Founding Father!
Ramses II Usermaatre Setepenre, son of King Sethi I, was one of the longest reigning pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. He reigned 67 years (roughly from 1290-1224 BC), in the he was beginning co regent with his father. He was said to have lived for more than 80 years this must have made him seem even more than godly for the average life expectancy was nearly half that. During his life he made quite a reputation as a builder and a warrior, but also as a ladies man. He had 5 or 6 main wives, foremost of all being Nefertari, but he is also known to have had more than 100 children with all of his wives! It seems that in Ancient Egypt people seemed to have made fun of this fact, since the contemporary and famous Turin Papyrus features erotic scenes involving a pharaoh --probably Ramses II--and several women. Ramses II is, however, best known for all the buildings he had constructed in his name across the country. Especially the monumental temples of Karnak (near Luxor) and Abu Simbel (in the south of the country in so-called Nubia), and his mortuary temple The Ramesseum (on the West Bank near Luxor) give evidence of his love for grandeur. In all of his monuments he had his name cartouche and texts engraved so deep that no successor would be able to remove it. Ramses' energetic building activities more or less, led to a degrading period of Egyptian art as far as the engraving of texts and images on temple walls was concerned. He demanded the monuments to be erected with greater speed than usual, the result was that carefully engraved texts and images with many beautiful details were now made more superficially, a practice which was unfortunately continued by his successors. Most famous of his military engagements is the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites (from Western Asia), with whom the Egyptians had been struggling for many years. He seems to have escaped with nothing but pure luck, as his main force --the pharaoh himself commanding-- was ambushed by the Hittites, and was only saved just in time by reinforcements while retreating. Both sides claimed the victory in this battle, but it seems more likely to have ended in a status quo. Ramses II recorded 'his' victory on several monuments, showing him slaying the Hittites in person. The problems between Egyptians and Hittites were finally settled though, several years later, when Ramses married a Hittite princess.

Tomb: in the the Valley of the Kings, but moved to in Deir el-Bahri. The mummy is now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

19th Dynasty 03 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-II (Usermaatresetepenre) 1279-1213 B.C.
The son of Seti I and Queen Tuya was the third king of the 19th Dynasty. Called Ramesses the Great, he lived to be 96 years old, had 200 wives and concubines, 96 sons and 60 daughters. One son, Prince Kha-m-was, was a high priest of Ptah, governor of Memphis, and was in charge of the restoration of the Pyramid of Unas. This son was buried in The Serapeum. Ramesses II outlived the first thirteen of his heirs. Ramesses was named co-ruler with his father, Seti I, early in his life. He accompanied his father on numerous campaigns in Libya and Nubia. At the age of 22 Ramesses went on a campaign in Nubia with two of his own sons. Seti I and Ramesses built a palace in Avaris where Ramesses I had started a new capital. When Seti I died in 1290 B.C., Ramesses assumed the throne and began a series of wars against the Syrians. The famous Battle of Kadesh is inscribed on the walls of Ramesses temple. Ramesses' building accomplishments are two temples at Abu Simbel, the hypostyle hall at Karnak, a mortuary complex at Abydos, the Colossus of Ramesses at Memphis, a vast tomb at Thebes, additions at the Luxor Temple, and the famous Ramesseum. Among Ramesses' wives were Nefertari, Queen Istnofret, his two daughters, Binthanath and Merytamon, and the Hittite princess, Maathornefrure.

Tomb: Originally in the Valley of The priests removed Ramesses body and removed valuable materials in the guise of protecting the bodies from the "common" thieves.

20th Dynasty 02 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-III (Usermaatremeryamun) 1184-1153 B.C.
The second king of the 20th Dynasty was the son of Sethnakhte and was the last great king of the New Kingdom. Ramesses assumed the throne after his father's short two year reign. Ramesses fought the Libyans twice during his reign. He compared himself to Mont, the god of war and was confident in his abilities. He overcame an attack by the Sea Peoples in his eighth year as pharaoh. After defeating the Sea People (of which he took many captives) he attacked the Palestinian tribes and was again victorious. Ramesses received tributes from all conquered peoples. Egypt, however, was experiencing financial problems. Workers were striking for pay and there was a general unrest of all social classes. Consequently, an unsuccessful harem revolt led to the deaths of many, including officials and women. During his thirty-one year reign, Ramesses built the vast mortuary complex at Medinet Habu, three shrines at Karnak that were dedicated to the gods Amon, Mut and Khons, and a palace at Leontopolis, just north of Cairo.

Tomb:In the Valley of the Kings. His mummy found at Deir el-Bahri and is now in the Cairo Museum.

20th Dynasty 03 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-IV (Hekamaatresetepenamun) 1153-1147 B.C.
Ramesses IV was the son of Ramesses III. His reign lasted no more than six years. He did survive the harem conspiracy which was designed to spoil his claims to the throne. He placed a document in the tomb of his father which is now known as the Papyrus Harris I, that gives an elaborate account of the reign of Ramesses III. Ramesses IV is thought to have been in his forties when he became king. There are two stele that were found at Abydos by Mariette that proclaim his piety and exceptional devotion to the gods. The quarrying of the stone is said to have involved more than 8,000 people. Ramesses IV caused the high-priest Mont , as well as other capable officials and scribes to visit the site. There were 5,000 soldiers that were most likely sent to haul the huge stones over the rough desert roads. He is also known for the continuation of the Khonsu at Karnak, which was begun by his father, Ramesses III. A temple at Asasif, which is on the western bank of the Nile at Thebes, was erected by Ramesses.

Tomb: in the Valley of the Kings, now his mummy is in the Cairo Museum.

20th Dynasty 03 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-V (Usermaatresekheperenre) 1147-1143 B.C.
Ramesses V is thought to have reigned no more than four years. He was the son of Ramesses IV and Queen Ta-Opet. The mummy shows that he died of smallpox at about the age of 35.

Tomb: was unfinished and was in the Biban el-Moluk, than the tomb of Amenophis II and now in the Cairo Museum.

20th Dynasty 05 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-VI (Nebmaatremeryamun) 1143-1136 B.C.
The fifth king of the 20th Dynasty usurped the throne from his nephew, Ramesses V. However, the son of Ramesses III allowed mortuary ceremonies to continue for Ramesses V, who was only on the throne for four years. He usurped cartouches of previous kings and left his name on inscriptions in the Sinai. His built statues in Bubastis, Coptos, Karnak and Nubia.

Tomb: was vandalized, priests pined the corpse on a board for a decent burial.

20th Dynasty 06 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-VII (Usermaatresetepenre) 1136-1129 B.C.
Ramesses VII is probably the son of Ramesses VI and was the sixth king of the Twentieth Dynasty. He did have a son that did not live to succeed him.

Tomb: in the Valley of the Kings.

20th Dynasty 07 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-VIII (Usermaatreakhenamun) 1129-1126 B.C.
Ramesses VIII was the seventh king of the Twentieth Dynasty and was probably Ramesses III's son.

Tomb: was found but was very modest. His mummy has never been found

20th Dynasty 08 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-IX (Neferkaresetepenre) 1126-1108 B.C. 20th Dynasty
Ramesses IX was the eighth king of the Twentieth Dynasty. He is thought to have reigned for about seventeen or more years. During his reign, there was a scandal in which the tombs in the Theban necropolis were being robbed. There were also campaigns by Libyan bandits. He had a son, Montuherkhopshef, who did not live to succeed Ramesses.

Tomb: In the Valley of the Kings.

20th Dynasty 09 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-X (Khepermaatresetepenre) 1108-1099 B.C.
Ramesses X was the ninth king of the Twentieth Dynasty. During his reign the workers went on strike for wages not paid. There are few monuments of Ramesses that have survived.

Tomb: In the Valley of the Kings.

20th Dynasty 10 Pharaoh/King Ramesses-XI (Menmaatresetepenptah) 1099-1069 B.C.
Ramesses XI reign was a period of turmoil, he was not energetic or vital. The viceroy of Nubia, unrest, famine (called the "Year of the Hyena." Hrihor was left in Thebes by Panehsi to control the affairs there. Ramesses XI remained in seclusion while Hrihor administered the affairs of Egypt . Ramesses was technically pharaoh until his death, but Hrihor was the ruler of Upper Egypt for all practical purposes. Upon his death Hrihor and Smendes divided Egypt between themselves. The death Ramesse XI was the end of the Twentieth Dynasty and the New Kingdom.

Tomb: the Valley of the Kings.