Seti VIII (Pharaonic Survival)

Seti VIII the Reformer
Pharaoh of Egypt
Reign	1 January 1901 - 3 July 1929
Coronation	11 January 1901 (Mennefer) 26 March 1901 (Waset) 4 June 1901 (Sesostria)
Predecessor	Senusret XI
Successor	Amenemhat XII
Co-Rulers	Senusret XII (1901-1920) Amenemhat XII (1910-1929)
Born	October 12, 1840(1840-10-12) Palace of the Lotus Per-Senusret, Egypt
Died	July 3, 1929(1929-07-03) (aged 88)
Spouse	Henutsen XXV, Nefertari XLIII, Isetnofret XII, Henuttamehu V
Issue	Amenemhat XII Amongst Others
Full name
Horus Name: Kanakht Tutmesut Aapehty Nebty Name: Wehemmesut Sekhemkhepesh Nebibra Golden Horus Name: Segerehtawy Sehotepnetjeru Gemenefmutbak Praenomen: Ankhkheperkara Setepenmsekhmet Nomen: Seti Useranpu Meriusiri
House	Tutankhamun
Father	Senusret XII
Mother	Henutsen XXV
Religion	Kemetism

Seti VIII (born Seti Mentuhotep Wegaf Intef Ramesses Ahmose Sianhur Thutmose 12 October 1840 – 3 July 1929), was an Egyptian pharaoh who played a pivotal role in the defense and modernization of Egypt during the early 20th century. Born to Senusret XII and Henutsen XXV, His reign saw significant reforms, including administrative restructuring of Nubia and Punt, the development of transportation infrastructure through the construction of the Trans-Nubian Railway, and the creation of the United Egyptian Railway. Seti VIII also introduced new tax laws and participated in global diplomacy, with notable state visits to Ethiopia and the United Kingdom.

Early Life

Seti Mentuhotep Wegaf Intef Ramesses Ahmose Sianhur Thutmose was born on October 12, 1840, as the son of Crown Prince Senusret and his wife, Henutsen, in the Palace of Isis in Sesostria. This was during the reign of his great-grandfather, Senusret XI the Conqueror. Seti received his early education at the Amenhotep VIII Institute and later attended the prestigious Imperial University. Afterward, he spent two years at the King Sobekhotep XVI Military Academy, honing his leadership and strategic skills.

Throughout the First Anglo-Egyptian War, Seti continued his studies and military training, despite his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather being engaged in combat. Following the war’s conclusion, Seti won the admiration of the Egyptian population by personally honoring the most injured soldiers. He awarded each of them three gemstones, ensuring they would have support in the future for their recovery and needs.

After this, Seti resumed his education. He spent three years in Nubia, familiarizing himself with the southern kingdom and its culture. In 1865, Seti was appointed Viceroy of Nubia, and in 1866 Senusret appointed Seti as lesser king of Upper Egypt, taking over the administration of the region, effectively making him a co-ruler with his father. However, despite this significant position, Seti did not assume royal titles at that time.

In 1867, Seti ordered the construction of the Trans-Nubian Railway, a major infrastructure project that took ten years to complete. This railway included several stations along the Nile and the coast. By 1872, Seti sponsored the creation of the United Egyptian Railway, which united the rail systems of Nubia, Kush, Egypt, Punt, and Yemen into a single network, greatly enhancing transportation and trade.

In 1893, the Italians attempted to conquer Ethiopia, launching an invasion of Punt. They marched all the way to Ethiopia but were decisively defeated by Emperor Menelik II, leading to a humiliating retreat. As the Italian forces entered Punt, they were met by a prepared local army that launched a devastating counterattack, completely routing the invaders, after this Seti was made the premier diplomat of egypt guaranteeing reparations from the italians, and in 1901, he was elevated to King as Seti VIII.

Reign

Seti VIII was proclaimed co-monarch by his father, Senusret the Glorious, on January 1st, 1901. He was crowned King of Lower Egypt on January 11th, 1901, in Mennefer; King of Upper Egypt on March 26th, 1901, in Waset; and Emperor of the Egyptian Empire on June 4th, 1901, in Sesostria. At the time of his accession, Seti was 60 years old, making him the oldest crown prince to succeed to the throne in the modern kingdom, surpassing Dedumose VIII, who ascended at age 51. Seti remains the oldest monarch to have succeeded to the throne to this day.

Seti VIII took the traditional tour through the provinces, during which he realized that insufficient efforts had been made to integrate the southern kingdoms into the Egyptian Empire. On his return journey, he sent geographers to gather information about the southern lands. Upon arriving in the capital in 1902, Seti began work on an administrative reform inspired by the reforms of his predecessor, Senusret VII, who had grouped the nomes into larger administrative divisions called Wersepatu (provinces). Seti formally divided Nubia into three realms: Lower Nubia, Upper Nubia, and Kush. Lower Nubia had nine nomes, which were grouped into three provinces; Upper Nubia had twelve nomes, grouped into three provinces; and Kush had thirty nomes, which were grouped into four provinces.

Seti also formalized the capitals of Nubia: Neferuanuket as the capital of Lower Nubia, Napata as the capital of Upper Nubia, and Agartum as the capital of Kush. In this reform, Punt was divided into three provinces, with Nesuamun remaining the capital. Seti also reformed provincial governorships, turning them from parliamentary or royal appointments into elected positions. He created the position of Lord Governor of the Nome (Nebimyresepat), also an elected role, which replaced the political authority of the nomarchs. The Nebimyresepat governed for four years, later extended to five, and served as the head of government for their district. Additionally, Seti created new nomes in Nubia and Punt, appointing members of the local nobility as nomarchs.

The reform was presented to Parliament on October 20th, 1903, and approved on May 8th, 1904. It took effect on January 1st, 1904, following a two-year transitional period.

In 1908, Seti VIII made a state visit to the Ethiopian Empire, one of the first visits by an Egyptian head of state since antiquity. In 1910, Seti introduced a new income tax for those with a monthly income exceeding 12,000 NИ. In the same year, at the age of 70, Seti VIII appointed his son, Amenemhat XII, as co-regent. The following year, Italy declared war on the Ottoman Empire in hopes of conquering Libya. Seti VIII decided to maintain neutrality, despite Senusret XII's initial inclination to enter the war. After the war, Egypt and Italy signed a treaty that settled the borders of the kingdom.

In 1914, World War I broke out. Egypt initially declared neutrality until the British government offered a substantial incentive. Egypt officially declared war on January 12th, 1915. The Egyptian army assisted in the invasion of the Levant and advanced quickly, capturing Jerusalem. By 1916, the Egyptians had reached Antioch, where Amenemhat XII met Theodosius I and George VIII, forming an alliance with the Syrian kingdoms. The war continued until 1918, during which Mesopotamia and Assyria rebelled against the Turks and joined the Entente powers. Egypt also assisted the Hashemites in the Arab Revolt.

In 1920, Pharaoh Senusret XII died, one of the longest-lived and longest-reigning monarchs in history. Seti VIII became the senior ruler. In November 1922, the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun I was discovered in the Valley of the Kings. Its location had been theorized by Pharaoh Senusret VIII in his work The Tanesut. His predicted location was only five meters away from the actual tomb. The Egyptian government was immediately notified, and Seti VIII visited the tomb in person. Initially, Seti wished to re-seal the tomb, but his son, Amenemhat XII, pointed out that the tomb's location had become public knowledge, making it inevitable that tomb robbers would attempt to plunder it. As a result, Seti ordered the treasures be transported to the Sesostria Museum and stationed a garrison near the tomb to deter plunderers. He also sent six princes of the royal household to stand vigil, including the future Horemheb X and Amunherkhepeshef I, the first king of Egyptian Cyprus.

In 1923, Seti VIII went on a state visit to the United Kingdom and met with George V. In 1924, under the direction of Amenemhat XII, the 1924 Amenemhatid Reforms were passed, creating thirty new nomes, most in the regions surrounding Lake Sesostris and Lake Thutmose. These regions had seen sufficient population growth to justify the administrative changes. Additionally, the Red Land province was split into four new provinces, grouped together as the realm of the Red Land.

In 1927, Seti VIII transferred almost all of his powers to Amenemhat XII and ceased to take an active role in the state's administration. On July 3rd, 1929, Seti VIII died at the age of 88, just months before the onset of the Great Depression. Amenemhat XII succeeded him as the sole monarch.

Legacy

Seti VIII is remembered as one of the most transformative monarchs in Egyptian history, celebrated for his infrastructure projects, administrative reforms, and diplomatic achievements. His early initiatives, such as the construction of the Trans-Nubian Railway and the unification of regional rail systems, greatly enhanced Egypt’s connectivity and trade. His landmark administrative reforms in Nubia and Punt introduced elected governorships, modernized provincial structures, and fostered integration of southern territories into the Egyptian Empire.

Seti VIII’s reign saw Egypt become a significant diplomatic and military power, as evidenced by his pivotal role in securing reparations from Italy and maintaining Egyptian neutrality during the Italo-Turkish War. His leadership during World War I strengthened Egypt’s position on the global stage, and his contributions to the Entente forces were instrumental in the Arab Revolt and the capture of Jerusalem.

A patron of archaeology, Seti VIII ensured the preservation of Tutankhamun’s tomb, reinforcing Egypt's cultural heritage. His visits abroad, including to the United Kingdom and Ethiopia, marked Egypt’s re-emergence as a prominent international power. Seti VIII’s later years were defined by his gradual delegation of authority to his son and co-regent, Amenemhat XII, setting the stage for a smooth succession.