| Dedumose VIII The Cruel | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pharaoh of Egypt | |
| Reign | 12 January 1615 - 14 January 1650 |
| Coronation | 3 March 1615 (Mennefer) 25 July 1615 (Waset) |
| Predecessor | Nebiriau VIII |
| Successor | Senusret IX |
| Born | December 6, 1563 Palace of the Lotus Per-Senusret, Egypt |
| Died | January 14, 1650 (aged 86) |
| Spouse | Henutsen XXII Hatshepsut XXXV Twosret XIV Sitra VI Meritites XIX Khameranebty XXI Sitkamose V |
| Issue | Dedumose IX, Usurper of Egypt Senusret IX, King of Egypt Amongst Others |
| Full name | |
| Horus Name: Kanakht Tutmesut Seankhtawy Nebty Name: Wehemmesut Sekhemkhepesh Golden Horus Name: Sekhemrenput Userkhepesh Praenomen: Khnumkheperkara Setepenwadjwer Nomen: Dedumose Sasobek Merimontu | |
| House | Nebiriau |
| Father | Nebiriau VIII |
| Mother | Khameranebty XX |
| Religion | Kemetism |
Dedumose VIII, (Dedumose Sanebiriau Hesunebiriaut; 6 December 1563 – 14 January 1650) was King of the United Kingdom of Egypt from 12 January 1615 until his death in 1650. He was born on December 6, 1563, during the reign of his grandfather Tutankhamun V, ascended to the throne of Egypt in a period marked by intrigue, betrayal, and relentless ambition. His reign, spanning from a tumultuous succession crisis to the chaos of multiple house wars and internal rebellions, is often regarded as one of the darkest periods in Egyptian history. Dedumose VIII's rule is characterized by his tyrannical tendencies, excessive cruelty, and ruthless pursuit of power, earning him widespread hatred and disdain from his subjects.
From an early age, Dedumose displayed remarkable intelligence alongside a fiery temper and signs of cruelty. Despite not being his father's favorite son, he garnered admiration for his abilities. Tragedy struck early in his life when his younger brother, Prince Senusret, drowned in the Nile, fueling Dedumose's desire for revenge and setting the stage for his ruthless ascent to power.
Upon the proclamation of Crown Prince Ahmose, Dedumose soon orchestrated his assassination, marking the beginning of a series of scheming and murders to eliminate potential rivals to the throne. His actions culminated in a succession crisis upon the death of his father, King Nebiriau, sparking conflict between Dedumose and his elder brother, Horemheb. This crisis led to a power struggle, with Dedumose ultimately securing his position as Dedumose VIII, although not without fierce opposition from parliament and remnants of his brother's loyalists.
Dedumose's reign was marred by constant warfare, including multiple house wars, rebellions, and punitive expeditions, leaving Egypt devastated and its population in turmoil. His brutal suppression of dissent, draconian measures against rebels, and conflicts with parliament further fueled public discontent and opposition.
Despite his efforts to consolidate power and maintain control, Dedumose's tyrannical rule eventually led to his downfall. His assassination in 1650 marked the end of a dark chapter in Egyptian history, paving the way for his son Senusret to inherit a kingdom in desperate need of restoration and reconciliation. Dedumose VIII's legacy remains a cautionary tale of the perils of unchecked power and the consequences of tyranny in Egypt's storied history.
Name[]
Dedumose was born Dedumose Sanebiriau Betnebiriau, His birth name meaning Dedumose, son of Nebiriau (VIII), of the House of Nebiriau, upon taking the throne he altered his name to the new royal protocol of 7 Names, His horus name was Kanakht Tutmesut Seankhtawy: Victorious bull, the (very) image of (re)birth, He who makes life in the two lands; Nebty Name: Wehemmesut Sekhemkhepesh: He who renews the births, strong with a sword; Golden Horus: Sekhemrenput Userkhepesh: Powerful in years, He whose blow is powerful; Praenomen: Khnumkheperkara Setepenwadjwer: He who embraces the manifestation of the Ka of Ra, Chosen by Wadjwer; Nomen: Dedumose: The one (whose) birth has been granted; Sanetjer: Sasobek: Son of Sobek; Merinetjer: Merimontu: Beloved of Montu.
Early Life[]
Dedumose was born on the 6th of December in 1563 during the reign of his grandfather Tutankhamun V. He was the son of Crown Prince Nebiriau and Khameranebty XX, one of his father's secondary wives. Dedumose was his father's fifth child, and from an early age, he displayed a high degree of intelligence alongside a fiery temper and signs of cruelty. Despite his competence, he was not his father's favorite son, although Nebiriau did acknowledge and admire his abilities. Dedumose harbored disdain for his brothers, except for the two youngest who were among the few friends he ever had. Tragically, the elder of his youger brothers, Prince Senusret drowned in the Nile due to a reckless incident involving the crown prince Ahmose. This event fueled Dedumose's desire for revenge, prompting King Nebiriau to send his eldest son away to Syene for safety.
As Dedumose delved into his studies, it became clear that he surpassed his brothers in competence. Crown Prince Nebiriau, who held a deep appreciation for knowledge, took note of this but still declared Ahmose as the crown prince upon ascending the throne in 1592. Dedumose's hatred for Ahmose intensified, leading him to plot the crown prince's assassination just three weeks after his appointment. After orchestrating Ahmose's murder, Dedumose continued his quest for power by eliminating his successors. He had Usermaatra, who later changed his name to Anhurhotep, poisoned after four months as crown prince. The cycle repeated with Kamose, who held the title for 11 months before also falling victim to Dedumose's schemes.
Witnessing the deaths of his sons, King Nebiriau decided to leave the appointment of the next pharaoh to his will rather than naming another crown prince. In a special session of parliament in 1595, he declared this decision, distributing copies of his will to parliament, the army headquarters, and the courtisans for safekeeping. King Nebiriau personally inspected the seals on these documents daily to ensure their security. Meanwhile, Dedumose consolidated his power by gaining allies in the bureaucracy and the army. His military prowess was showcased when he successfully quelled a rebellion in Lower Nubia, returning in triumph with the rebel leader's display akin to King Thutmose I's style. Dedumose's achievements, including the crushing of two more rebellions and the development of Akhmin's infrastructure in 1614, earned him recognition and support. However, King Nebiriau's attempt to update his will faced a setback when he suffered a debilitating stroke on December 29, 1614. Despite a brief recovery, he succumbed to another stroke on January 2, 1615, passing away ten days later before he could complete the third copy of his revised will for parliament.
Reign[]
Commemorative Sed II Jubilee portrait of Dedumose VIII made two years before his assassination
Contested Acession[]
Dedmose had been sent to patrol the western desert when his father died a sucession crisis ensued Dedumose was proclaimed king by the army as Dedumose VIII, while parliament proclaimed his elder brother Horemheb as king Horemheb X, who had been named in the previous will, when new reached Dedumose he rushed back to the capital, Where barrickades were already being raised, Dedumose decided to meet with representatives of the parliament lead by the Prime Minister Psamtilk III, he told them that no reprisals would be carried out if they were to bend the knee immediately, Psamtik III agreed and swore loyalty to the King, along with most of the court faction, Parliament refused to bow until the final copy of the royal will was produced and matched with the will in possession of the army, in addition the partial name Ded... was written on he section regarding the crown prince, parliament thus renounced their allegiance to horemheb and submitted to king Dedumose two MPs still refused to bow so Dedumose had them and their sons flogged in public, while Dedumose did forgive parliament he would never trust them again.
A troubled reign[]
Despite thwarting this initial attempt to block his accession, the Pharaoh had not yet solidified his position. Horemheb loyalists launched an uprising in Upper Egypt, which, despite being disorganized, was swiftly crushed by Dedumose VIII. In an uncommon act of mercy, he spared the life of his brother but subjected all involved in the rebellion to 32 lashes. Three months later, Horemheb tried to assassinate Dedumose in the throne room, prompting the Pharaoh to order his brother's execution by first severing his fingers and then burning him alive.
Following a brief period of peace, during which Dedumose fortified his positions and expanded trade routes initiated by his father, he faced escalating tensions with parliament in 1620. This period marked the outbreak of the First Nebirionic House War when two of Dedumose's brothers, Prince Amenhotep and Prince Qemau Kaiu, announced their intention to avenge Prince Horemheb and enthrone his young daughter. Dedumose VIII prepared to confront these challengers but encountered obstacles as parliament blocked army funds. Enraged, Dedumose stormed parliament, resulting in a massacre where only 161 members survived, leading to the immediate approval of the army budget.
Subsequently, Dedumose crushed the rebellion, seizing Horemheb's daughter and making her a priestess of Isis. The two princes and their sons were burned alive, solidifying Dedumose's reputation as Dedumose the Severe, although the Latin version, Dedumosis Severus, gained more popularity. The following year, resentful MPs, including relatives of those purged, attempted to depose Dedumose in what became known as the bloody coup. However, their assassins were apprehended and tortured by the Pharaoh himself.
During this turmoil, parliament proclaimed Dedumose's uncle, Prince Sobekemsaf, as the new Pharaoh (Sobekemsaf V), but he rejected their allegiance and joined his nephew in the fight, swearing loyalty. Dedumose once again quelled the insurrection, resulting in the deaths of over 3000 individuals and further deteriorating his trust in parliament. Subsequently, Dedumose began every parliamentary speech with scathing criticisms and sometimes personal insults, referring to MPs as servants of chaos and predicting their demise by Ammit.
Second Nebirionic House War[]
In January 1623, relatives of those killed in the bloody coup initiated a silent rebellion in Upper Egypt, swiftly seizing control of most cities up to Akhmin. This marked the beginning of the Second Nebirionic House War. However, news of this uprising reached King Dedumose, prompting the rebels to proclaim another of Dedumose's uncles, Prince Senedj, as King Userenra Senedj II. The rebels advanced towards Herakleopolis but faced opposition from Dedumose's army. While Dedumose besieged Herakleopolis, he also dispatched a division to attack vulnerable rebel-held cities. By June, his troops had recaptured West Waset and Abydos, regaining control over every town between Abydos and the Nubian border by July.
As the rebels realized the futility of their resistance, they sought peace by sending three messengers with their terms to Dedumose. In a display of dominance, Dedumose sent the messengers back, each cut into six pieces with his terms engraved on their chests. With the rebels surrendering on August 23, Dedumose executed a severe punishment. He cut off the left arm of every rebel, including his uncle, and branded them with a scar on their foreheads reading "traitor." Additionally, he confiscated their properties and assigned them to clean the royal stables.
With peace restored, Dedumose focused on rebuilding the parts of Egypt devastated by the rebellion, dedicating his time to reconstruction efforts.
Third, Fourth and Fifth Nebirionic House War[]
In 1628, while overseeing restoration works in Herakleopolis, Dedumose faced the "Golden Coup," marking the start of the Third Nebirionic House War. During this event, Dedumose was briefly dethroned as his eldest son, Prince Dedumose, was declared King Dedumose IX. The new king swiftly ordered his father's execution, shocking Dedumose VIII upon learning of this betrayal.
In response, Dedumose VIII mobilized his troops and swiftly traveled north, reaching the capital within two days. Despite his rebel son's attempt to garner support, his betrayal was deemed unforgivable, leading cities like Sais to declare their allegiance to the true king, Dedumose VIII. As a gesture of gratitude, Dedumose VIII refurbished Sais entirely and gave every citizen a golden necklace.
The king decisively defeated his rebel son and supporters, sealing them inside a ship and sinking it off the coast of Alexandria. However, rumors circulated due to the lack of a funeral, with some claiming the prince had survived. A man purporting to be the dead prince Dedumose incited rebellion, supported by two sons of the Usurper Senedj II, sparking the Fourth Nebirionic House War lasting four years.
The rebellion culminated in the rebel leader's poisoning, leading to a split among the rebels supporting different sons of Senedj II. Dedumose ended the rebellion by burning Prince Thutmose alive, but failing to capture Prince Amenhotep, who later reappeared during King Dedumose's Bronze Jubilee celebrations in 1635, initiating the Fifth Nebirionic House War in the western oases. This rebellion met an unexpected end, not at the hands of King Dedumose, but through a Bedouin raid that killed Prince Amenhotep, bringing an end to the conflict.
Sixth Nebirionic House War[]
Senusret IX, his son and successor
In 1637, a radical sect of Set worshipers launched a rebellion in Upper Egypt. Though swiftly crushed, it drew attention due to the notable presence of Nubians among them. Two years later, a Nubian raiding party advanced northward to Elephantine, leaving destruction in their wake. Dedumose, now aged 74, tasked the Duke of Sais with handling the raiders. Despite crushing them, the duke perished in combat. Dedumose honored him with a grand burial and commissioned a small pyramid for his tomb.
Following this, Dedumose VIII led a punitive expedition into Nubia, resulting in a ten-year occupation. Meanwhile, the Sixth Nebirionic House War erupted, with six contenders vying for the throne. Dedumose spent four years fiercely quelling the rebellion, resorting to draconian measures like boiling the rebel princes Shumose, Khafra, Djoser-Hor, Unas, Mentuhotep and eventually Thutmose in oil and skinning their allies alive. This brutality aimed to silence his opponents. Simultaneously, Akhmin rebelled against the governor, executing his eldest son. Enraged, Dedumose marched on Akhmin, pillaging the city and causing significant casualties. In 1642, amidst ongoing rebellions, Nubia invaded Lower Nubia. Dedumose retaliated with another punitive expedition, employing tactics from the ongoing conflict. Finally, in 1644, he quashed the last rebellion, but Egypt lay devastated, with a fifth of its population lost and cities in ruins.
Despite efforts to rebuild, Dedumose's constant warfare, conflicts with parliament, and general cruelty tarnished his reputation, earning him numerous enemies. His first sed festival drew a meager attendance of fewer than 300 people. In response, Dedumose named his son Senusret as crown prince, hoping to stabilize the tumultuous situation.
Later Reign[]
In 1646, to prevent further chaos during the future rule of his son, Dedumose VIII made a drastic decision to eliminate all of his remaining brothers except his beloved Thutmose and ten out of his seventeen sons. While seen as a pragmatic move, this act eroded any remaining sympathy towards him, causing widespread condemnation. Crown Prince Senusret, recognizing the need to rebuild trust between the crown and the people, embarked on a campaign to improve his public image. In 1647, he delivered a speech to parliament acknowledging the institution's significance, drawing inspiration from his namesake, Senusret VIII. This gesture greatly restored confidence in the crown, leading parliament members to pledge their loyalty to him as the future king spontaneously. Senusret also toured Egyptian provinces, engaging in charitable works, donations, and restoration projects, earning immense popularity for his benevolence and raising hopes for his upcoming reign.
In 1648, Dedumose VIII celebrated his second sed festival, announcing a new aid package for his people. However, a final riot erupted in Bubastis in June 1649, resulting in the brutal suppression and the deaths of 31 people. The crown prince intervened, making donations for rebuilding damaged structures. Despite these efforts, the tide of public sentiment had turned against Dedumose.
In 1650, as Dedumose celebrated 35 years on the throne, his reign came to an abrupt end. While watching a parade, he fell ill and was found dead later that day, his face purple, indicating poisoning. Investigations revealed the culprit as Beshotep, the king's cupbearer. Furthermore, it was discovered that Beshotep's brother had perished during the Bubastis riot despite not being part of the rebellion, Dedumose's remark that all those who died should be condemned by the gods, was likely Beshotep's motive. Beshotep faced swift execution the next day for his treachery, Dedumose was 86.
Legacy[]
King Dedumose VIII's reign stands as one of the most turbulent and despised periods in modern Egyptian history. By the end of his rule, he was widely regarded as a tyrant, excessively cruel, and unyielding in his pursuit of power. His reign marked a significant decline in the monarchy's prestige and the erosion of public trust in the crown. Dedumose VIII's legacy is characterized by constant warfare, conflicts with parliament, and a ruthless approach to governance that left a trail of blood and devastation across Egypt.
His son and successor, Crown Prince Senusret, faced a daunting task of rebuilding the shattered confidence in the monarchy. Dedumose's actions, including the brutal purging of his relatives and his reputation for extreme cruelty, had alienated many within the kingdom. Senusret embarked on a comprehensive campaign to restore faith in the crown, emphasizing benevolence, charity, and engagement with the people. In 1647, Senusret's pivotal speech to parliament signaled a new era of reconciliation and cooperation between the monarchy and its subjects. His acknowledgment of parliament's importance and his homage to past rulers like the great Senusret VIII resonated with both lawmakers and the populace, leading to a resurgence of loyalty and hope in the monarchy's future. Senusret's extensive charitable works, donations, and restoration projects across Egypt further endeared him to the people. His efforts to heal the wounds left by his father's reign and rebuild the war-torn nation earned him immense popularity and raised expectations for a more compassionate and effective rule.
Dedumose VIII's death marked the end of an era characterized by tyranny and brutality. He became the last Pharaoh to be assassinated, symbolizing the collapse of an autocratic regime. His reign serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of unchecked power and the importance of ethical leadership in preserving a kingdom's stability and prosperity.
Family[]
Henutsen XXII was Dedumose VIII's primary wife, with whom he frequently quarreled. However, despite their disagreements, she remains a strong and popular figure to this day, known for her intellect and charisma.
Sitra VI, with whom he had a better relationship
| Wife | Rank | Sons | Daughters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henutsen XXII 1565-1657 | Great Royal Wife | Dedumose IX, Usurper of Egypt, 1585-1628 Anhuremsaf, Prince Royal, 1588-1646 Thutmose, Prince of Pelusium 1591-1646 Djehutyemhat, Prince of Aswan 1594-1646 Senusret IX, King of Egypt, 1601-1689 |
Princess Khameranebty 1597-1646 |
| Hatshepsut XXXV 1568-1651 | Second Queen | Intef, Prince of Hermopolis, 1590-1646 Amenemhat, Prince Royal, 1602-1679 |
Princess Henutsen 1594-1670 Princess Isis 1598-1692 |
| Twosret XIV 1568-1643 | Third Queen | Prince Sankhkara 1590-1646 Prince Nebiriau 1599-1668 |
Princess Sobekneferu 1593-1688 Princess Tiaa 1597-1686 |
| Sitra VI 1569-1630 | Fourth Queen | Prince Seti 1602-1609 Prince Khety 1604-1692 |
Princess Tuya 1588-1588 Princess Tuya 1591-1670 Princess Neithhotep 1593-1658 Princess Tiye 1595-1621 Princess Twosret 1599-1683 |
| Meritites XIX 1563-1631 | Imperial Consort | Prince Khafra Kaiu 1583-1646 Prince Neferefra 1586-1646 Prince Sehebra 1598-1673 |
Princess Sitamun-Merimontu 1590-1609 |
| Khameranebty XXI 1575-1672 | Imperial Consort | Prince Shoshenq 1597-1646 Prince Osorkon 1599-1674 |
Princess Neferuptah 1595-1692 |
| Sitkamose V 1577-1652 | Imperial Consort | Prince Sehotepibra 1599-1646 Prince Awibra 1602-1646 Prince Mentuhotep 1606-1701 |
Princess Sithathor1604-1677 |