| Amenhotep VIII the Educator | |
|---|---|
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| Pharaoh of Egypt | |
| Reign | 6 February 1745 - 19 August 1780 |
| Coronation | 8 March 1745 (Mennefer) 20 May 1745 (Waset) 10 August 1745 (Sesostria) |
| Predecessor | Senusret X |
| Successor | Amenemhat XI |
| Co-Ruler | Senusret X 1745-1760 Amenemhat XI 1763-1780 |
| Born | November 4, 1702 Palace of the Lotus Per-Senusret, Egypt |
| Died | August 19, 1780 (aged 77) |
| Spouse | Nefertari XLII, Iset XI, Wadjet XIV, Henutmira XXXII, Hatshepsut XXXVIII, Ahmose XLIX, Meresankh XX, Meretseger XIII, Meritra XII |
| Issue | Amenemhat XI, King of Egypt Ahmose I King of Nubia Amongst others |
| Full name | |
| Horus Name: Kanakht Tutmesut Segerehtawy Nebty Name: Wehemmesut Sekhemkhepesh Meribra Golden Horus Name: Neferrenput Seankhibra Praenomen: Nefermaatra Setepenatum Nomen: Amenhotep Sadjehuty Merihapi | |
| House | Tutankhamun |
| Father | Senusret X |
| Mother | Twosret XVI |
| Religion | Kemetism |
Amenhotep VIII (born Amenhotep Senusret Thutmose Ramesses Sianhur 4 November 1702 - 19 August 1780) was Pharaoh of the United Kingdom of Egypt from 6 February 1745 until his death on 19 August 1780. Born on November 4, 1702, to King Senusret X and Queen Twosret XVI, Amenhotep VIII was not initially expected to ascend to the throne. However, following the death of his elder half-brother, Crown Prince Tutankhamun, in 1706, Amenhotep became the new crown prince. Amenhotep VIII's early life was marked by a deep love for learning, which would become his defining trait. He excelled in scholarly pursuits, but his military training was less successful. Despite this, he demonstrated promise as a strategist and went on to play a significant role in shaping Egypt's military and cultural landscape.
As pharaoh, Amenhotep VIII implemented numerous reforms, including the establishment of a grand university in Sesostria, the creation of an art gallery showcasing Egyptian and Nubian art, and the construction of the Hall of Kings in Sesostria. He also enacted laws promoting education and cultural exchange, including a law requiring all members of parliament to be fluent in both Egyptian and Greek. Amenhotep VIII's reign was marked by significant military campaigns, including the invasion of Nubia in 1778. Although his campaign was cut short due to illness, his legacy lived on through his grandson, Senusret XI, who would go on to conquer Nubia using the detailed drawings of the Nubian countryside created by Amenhotep's spies.
Throughout his life, Amenhotep VIII demonstrated a commitment to learning and culture. His legacy as a wise and effective leader has endured for centuries, he is remembered as Amenhotep the Educator for his contributions to the egyptian schooling system.
Early Life[]
Amenhotep Senusret Thutmose Ramesses Sianhur was born on November 4, 1702, to King Senusret X and Queen Twosret XVI. At birth, he was not expected to ascend to the throne, as he had an elder half-brother, Crown Prince Tutankhamun. However, in 1706, the young prince died during an outbreak of bubonic plague, making Amenhotep the new crown prince. In 1709, following the end of the plague, Pharaoh Senusret X began Amenhotep's formal education. From the start, Amenhotep demonstrated a deep admiration for learning, which would later become his most defining trait. Known for his intelligence, he excelled in scholarly pursuits. However, his military training, which he underwent at a prestigious academy, was less successful. While he showed promise as a strategist, his skills as a soldier were considered only adequate.
In 1719, Amenhotep married Lady Nefertari of Minu, and on December 3, 1720, their first son, the future Pharaoh Amenemhat XI, was born. Amenhotep's military capabilities were tested in 1721 when Pharaoh Senusret X ordered the invasion of Yemen. Despite early successes, Amenhotep was forced to step down as commander, not due to battlefield errors but because he suffered severe injuries—breaking his left arm and right leg after falling from his horse. Though he eventually recovered, he would walk with a limp for the rest of his life and relied on a walking stick. Following this incident, Amenhotep handed command of the Egyptian forces in Yemen to his younger brother, who achieved great success. Afterward, Amenhotep decided never to lead the Egyptian army again.
In the years that followed, Amenhotep focused on his intellectual interests. He spent three years at the Great Temple of Memphis, studying religious texts and compiling them into five books: the White Book (spells and incantations), the Green Book (prayers), the Gold Book (hymns), the Blue and Black Book (religious tales), and the Red Book of Curses and Sorcery, the latter of which is only accessible to the high priests and the royal family. In 1740, Amenhotep ordered the construction of a new library within the temple to house these religious archives. Around this time, Pharaoh Senusret X revived the ancient Egyptian practice of co-regency, appointing Amenhotep as co-regent to prepare him for his eventual rule as sole pharaoh.
Reign[]
Acession[]
In 1745, Amenhotep VIII was crowned co-monarch by his father, marking the first time Egypt had two legitimate rulers simultaneously since 1502. His first coronation took place on 8 March 1745 in Mennefer, where he was crowned as King of Lower Egypt. On 20 May 1745, he was crowned King of Upper Egypt in Waset, and finally, on 10 August 1745, he was crowned King of the United Kingdom of Egypt in Sesostria. Amenhotep VIII’s early reign was characterized by cultural initiatives. In 1746, he opened an art gallery showcasing works by major Egyptian and Nubian artists such as Menepri, Selamani, Khadjau, and Kheminu. This gallery later evolved into the Egyptian Imperial Art Museum.
In 1747, Amenhotep VIII commissioned the construction of the Hall of Kings in Sesostria, which featured a comprehensive list of Egypt’s rulers and statues of each. The following year, he began work on a grand university in Sesostria, larger than any other in the Nile Valley. This project marked the beginning of his significant contributions to education, which would define his reign. Between 1749 and 1751, his reign was relatively uneventful, but during this time, Amenhotep increasingly assumed the responsibilities of governance from his aging father. In 1752, he enacted a law requiring all members of parliament to be fluent in both Egyptian and Greek. A year later, he embarked on a literary project: a continuation of the Tanesut of Senusret VIII, which he titled Tanesut, Volume 2. The book documented the reigns of pharaohs from Senusret VIII to Senusret X. By 1756, two-thirds of his grand university had been completed, and he inaugurated the first part of the institution in 1757. The first students were admitted the following year.
Sole Reign[]
By 1758, Amenhotep had taken on nearly all of his father’s royal duties, as the elder Amenhotep had fallen into a deep depression following the death of his grandson. On 29 June 1760, his father, Amenhotep VII, died, and Amenhotep VIII ascended as the sole monarch at the age of 57. After his father’s passing, Amenhotep VIII received foreign ambassadors who came to pay their respects.
The birth of his grandson, Senusret, in 1761 brought great relief to the royal family. Crown Prince Amenemhat and his wife had struggled with fertility issues, and most of their children had died young. The news of the crown princess’s pregnancy was celebrated across the kingdom, and Senusret’s birth on the anniversary of Senusret X’s death was seen as a fortunate omen. The university in Sesostria, now fully completed, was named The Great House of Wisdom in 1761 and later renamed the Imperial University of Sesostria. It became the traditional place of study for Egyptian princes. In 1762, Amenhotep VIII published the second volume of the Land of Pharaohs, detailing the accession of the House of Nebiriau and the rise of the House of Tutankhamun. In 1763, he elevated his son Amenemhat as co-pharaoh and named his grandson, Senusret, as crown prince. A grand festival marked the second anniversary of his grandson’s birth, and later that year, Amenhotep celebrated his third Sokar festival, the first of his sole reign.
Amenhotep VIII's reforms continued. In 1764, he passed a law mandating education for all children aged 7 to 18, the first phase of his ambitious plan to enhance Egypt’s intellectual capabilities. By 1765, he had commissioned the construction of 50 new schools, including the prestigious Pharaoh Amenhotep VIII Institute of Education. In 1766, Amenemhat was appointed supreme commander of Egypt’s military forces, and in 1769, the king’s educational reforms culminated with the inauguration of the new schools. In 1770, King Anlamani VI of Nubia died and was succeeded by King Piye IV, who adopted a more aggressive stance towards Egypt. Rather than confront Piye directly, Amenhotep VIII elevated his son Ahmose as King of Nubia in opposition to Piye IV, instructing him to cause unrest and destabilize Piye’s reign.
Invasion of Nubia[]
In 1776, Ahmose's rebellion was gaining momentum, with the lords near the Puntish border serving as his primary allies. However, in September of that year, Ahmose's fortunes took a drastic turn. While besieging Donqal, he was betrayed by Lords Tenumani and Akatokamine, who captured him and delivered him to Qore Piye IV. The Nubian ruler exacted a brutal revenge, cutting Ahmose into five pieces and sending his head and hands to Pharaoh Amenhotep VIII as a grim warning. The rest of Ahmose's body was burned, a stark reminder of the consequences of rebellion. Amenhotep VIII was incensed by this affront, and on November 17, 1777, he vowed to bring Nubia to its knees. In June 1778, he led his army into the southern kingdom, determined to crush the rebellion and assert his dominance. The pharaoh ordered his soldiers to raze every town in their path, leaving no stone unturned in their quest for vengeance.
Upon arriving in Donqal, Amenhotep VIII discovered the families of Lords Tenumani and Akatokamine, who had betrayed Ahmose. In a chilling display of ruthlessness, the pharaoh took them, dug a hole, and burned them all, just as his ancestor Amenhotep II had done before him. The city of Donqal was then sacked, its walls knocked down, and its buildings set ablaze. However, Amenhotep VIII's campaign was cut short when he fell ill with difficulty breathing just two months after destroying Donqal. The army remained in Nubia, but the pharaoh was forced to return to Sesostris to recover. Unfortunately, he never regained his health and passed away on August 19, 1780.
Despite his untimely death, Amenhotep VIII's legacy lived on. During his time in Nubia, he had ordered his spies to create detailed drawings of the Nubian countryside, which would prove invaluable to his grandson, Senusret XI, in his future conquest of the region.
Legacy[]
Cultural Contributions[]
Amenhotep VIII was a patron of the arts, and his love for learning and culture led to the establishment of several institutions that would become cornerstones of Egyptian society. He founded the Egyptian Imperial Art Museum, which showcased the works of prominent Egyptian and Nubian artists. He also commissioned the construction of the Hall of Kings in Sesostria, a grand monument that featured a comprehensive list of Egypt's rulers and statues of each.
Educational Reforms[]
Amenhotep VIII's commitment to education was unparalleled. He enacted a law requiring all members of parliament to be fluent in both Egyptian and Greek, and he established the Imperial University of Sesostria, which became the premier institution of higher learning in the kingdom. He also commissioned the construction of 50 new schools, including the prestigious Pharaoh Amenhotep VIII Institute of Education.
Military Campaigns[]
Amenhotep VIII's military campaigns, although cut short by his illness, demonstrated his determination to assert Egypt's dominance in the region. His invasion of Nubia, sparked by the betrayal of his son Ahmose, resulted in the destruction of Donqal and the punishment of those responsible for the betrayal.
Nefertari XLII, Great Royal Wife
Family[]
| Name | Rank | Sons | Daughters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nefertari XLII | Great Royal Wife | Amenemhat XI, Pharaoh of Egypt, 3/12/1720 - 22/9/1796 Ahmose, King of Nubia 12/3/1726 - 29/10/1777 |
Hatshepsut, Princess of Egypt, 16/11/1724 - 22/2/1800 Meritra, Princess of Egypt, 2/8/1729 - 14/1/1798 Henutmira, Princess of Lebanon, 1/6/1731 - 25/6/1788 |
| Iset XI | Second Queen | Psamtik, Prince of Egypt 13/1/1722- 11/4/1763 | Iset, Princess of Egypt 25/10/1711 - 7/9/1673 |
| Wadjet XIV | Third Queen | Sobekhotep, Prince of Egypt 4/5/1728 - 26/10/1775 | Khameranebty , Princess of Egypt 14/9/1723 - 11/8/1807 |
| Henutmira XXXII | Fourth Queen | Senedj, Prince of Egypt 22/7/1725 - 27/12/1789 | Twosret, Princess of Egypt 15/5/1723 - 13/8/1779 |
| Hatshepsut XXXVIII | Imperial Consort | Dedumose, Crown Prince of Egypt 29/12/1730 - 9/8/1706 | Henutsen, Royal Duchess of Mendes 19/12/1726 - 15/7/1796 |
| Ahmose XLIX | Imperial Consort | Nebiriau, Prince of Egypt 17/10/1734 - 16/10/1767 | Tuya, Princess of Egypt 22/5/1727 - 14/8/1790 |
| Meresankh XX | Imperial Consort | Necho, Prince of Egypt 3/8/1729 - 7/7/1800 | Henuttawy, Princess of Egypt 12/6/1731 - 30/8/1760 |
| Meretseger XIII | Imperial Consort | Pinedjem, Prince of Egypt 8/6/1732 - 22/2/1802 | Sitra, Princess of Egypt 17/9/1733- 29/11/1799 |
| Meritra XII | Imperial Consort | Amunherkhepeshef, Prince of Egypt 22/4/1737 - 24/9/1762 | Tiye, Princess of Egypt 26/8/1735- 31/10/1802 |
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