The life of Ramesses the Great

Welcome to Egyptology Online - Ancient Egypt at your fingertips!

Wooden inner coffin of Irtyru, 26th Dynasty

Pages in this article: [ THE LIFE OF RAMESSESS THE GREAT ] [ THE EARLY YEARS ] [ NEFETARI ] [ RAMESSESS THE WARRIOR ] [ BATTLE OF KADESH ] [ RAMESSES THE GOD ] [ RAMESSES THE BUILDER ] [ DEATH OF A GOD ]

The early years

Young Ramesses II As "First king's son" or "Crown Prince", we know that during his childhood years he was already being groomed for the huge burden and the responsibilities of his impending office as pharaoh and as a living god. Seti tried to pre-empt all eventualities that would befall Ramesses when he assumed the mantle of pharaoh. So, Seti appointed his best and most trusted courtiers to assist with the young Ramesses education in all matters royal.

Ramesses's education fell to two of Seti's own trusted staff, the first being Paser the vizier, "Head of the secrets of the two ladies" and "Keeper of the Royal Crowns". Paser would have educated Ramesses in the affairs of state, such as warfare, finance, and astrology.

Secondly was Imenemipet, Ramesses's childhood friend and viceroy to Nubia. We are not told what role Imenemipet would have had in Ramesses education, only that he was involved in the Crown Prince's education.

Records show that Ramesses was trained in the use of weapons from a very early age. He showed a natural aptitude to weapon handling and drove a chariot as well as a seasoned warrior. At the age of 14, Ramesses was allowed to experience his first taste of battle, joining the Egyptian army as it marched west to quell a Libyan uprising.

Responsibility was thrust upon Ramesses at a very early age. At the age of 10 he was appointed as "Commander–in-Chief of the army" and also "Supervisor of all Constructions".

A stele found at Quban glorifies the young Ramesses's new titles. It reads:

"No monument was raised that was not under your authority, no mission took place without your approval".

Co-regency

After the decline of the Amarna period, the priesthood of Amun once again inherited their exalted status. Their power was such that they were able to rival Pharaoh's authority.

Seti was acutely aware that none of his forefathers were of royal blood. Seti had inherited the throne from his father Ramesses I who was formerly an army general called Pramesses, who in turn also, inherited the throne from another general, the renowned Horemheb.

To ensure that the priesthood were unable to use this "failing" as a means to the throne by usurping Ramesses, Seti had Ramesses crowned co-regent in year 7 of his reign, establishing his lineage and so avoiding any problems or issues with succession.

This clever piece of political manoeuvring negated any designs that the priesthood had on claiming the throne for themselves. However, in reality this was purely a token gesture as power was still wholly vested with Seti.

Ramesses was now formally known as Usermaatre Ramesses, meaning Strong in Truth in Re, born of Re. All through Ramesses's life he felt insecure and wracked with guilt regarding his heritage. He had a stele erected at Abydos commemorating his divine birthright. It reads:

"It was Menmaatre (Seti) who nurtured me, and the All-Lord himself advanced me when I was a child until I could start to rule. Already when I was in the egg he had given the land to me. The officials kissed the ground before me when I was installed as the Eldest Son…. and when I reported concerning the affairs of the Two Lands as a commander of the infantry and of the chariotry. When my father rose up before the people (when I was still a child in his arms) he said of me: ‘raise him as a king so that I may see his beauty while I still live."

Ramesses was using the text to subtly refer to the creation myth, describing that he was born from the divine egg, knowing full well that he was born a commoner's son from a commoner.

Images of Nefetari from her tomb in the Valley of the Queens. Ramesses was approximately 15-20 years old when he was crowned co-regent. To emphasise his new status, Ramesses was installed in his own palace along with his first two Great Royal Wives, who were chosen by Seti for their beauty and intelligence. These were Nefertari and Isis-Nofret. During the course of his life, Ramesses would go on to have a purported 200 wives, bearing 96 sons and 60 daughters! Today, this vast number of wives and offspring are considered to be yet another exaggeration on Ramesses behalf.

Once again, his insecurities surface. He was trying to live up to the image that he had created for himself as being super-human. He may well have had a large harem, but most experts now agree on a more conservative figure of a maximum of 45-6 sons and 40-55 daughters. Taking infant mortality into consideration, this figure can be lowered to about 30 sons and 35 daughters - still a considerable retinue. But out of all his consorts, it was Nefertari who captivated Ramesses and whose love affair has gone down in history as one of the greatest love affairs of all time.

Next: Nefetari >>