Rameses II, he was the third of his line in the Nineteenth Dynasty, son of Seti I,
and grandson of Rameses I. He ruled for nearly seventy years in the middle of a
Period known, as the New Kingdom when Egypt was at it�s most powerful. During
His reign 1279-1213, Egypt enjoyed an era of prosperity and stability, not only
internally, but externally as well.
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He is responsible for the building of more
Monuments and famous structures than any other pharaoh, having many
Structures and statues renamed as if he commissioned them himself. By the end
of his unusually long sixty-six-year long reign, he was famous throughout the
then known ancient world.
Ramses I was chosen as heir to King Horemheb, the last king of the Eighteenth Dynasty after serving as general, vizier, Commander of the Army of the Ruler of Two Lands, High Priest of all the Gods and Hereditary Prince of the Entire Land. King Horemheb chose Ramses as his successor as he had no children of his own, he too was chosen by the previous pharaoh.
Ramses I not only had a son, Seti, a soldier who was married to Tuya, also from a military family, but a grandson, also called Rameses as well. A strong military background was important and all of these factors probably helped in Horemheb�s decision. Having sons and grandsons ensured Rameses of having heirs to carry on the new dynasty.
In 1295, BCE, Horemheb died, Rameses I first royal act, the overseeing of his secret burial rites in the Valley of the Kings. Rameses I took this time to pick out his own burial tomb and began preparations to be buried next to his friend Horemheb. Rameses I and his son Seti planned fabulous buildings, and had existing buildings and monuments redone with pictures, rituals and the names of Rameses I and Seti.
After this work was started Seti was sent back to train the military and even led a small army expedition into Canaan. During the Eighteenth Dynasty many of Egypt�s territories had been lost. It was Seti�s main goal to restore Egypt�s Syrian empire. After serving as king for little more than a year, Rameses became sick and appointed Seti as co-regent. Only sixteen months after being made heir to the throne by Horemheb, Rameses I died, leaving Seti to rule over Egypt.
The mummification and secret burial of Rameses I now fell on Seti I. The tomb Rameses I had begun had to be finished in a hurry. Seti I and his son Rameses went with Rameses I�s mummified body to its secret burial place. Seti I used this time to pick out his own burial spot and construction began immediately.
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AKHAND PRATAP SINGH
