Ramesses XI facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ramesses XI |
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| Also written Ramses and Rameses | |
Ramesses XI from the Temple of Khonsu in Karnak, drawn by Karl Richard Lepsius
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| Pharaoh | |
| Reign | 1107–1078/77 BC (20th Dynasty) |
| Predecessor | Ramesses X |
| Successor | Smendes |
| Consort | Tentamun |
| Children | Duathathor-Henuttawy, Tentamun, Nodjmet |
| Father | Ramesses X? |
| Died | 1078 or 1077 BC |
| Burial | KV4 |
Ramesses XI (also called Ramses or Rameses) was an ancient Egyptian king, known as a pharaoh. He ruled from 1107 BC to 1078 BC or 1077 BC. He was the tenth and last pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt. This also made him the last king of the important New Kingdom period.
Ramesses XI ruled Egypt for at least 29 years. Some experts believe he might have ruled for as long as 30 or even 33 years. During his reign, a special time called the Whm Mswt era began. This means "Renaissance" or "Repeating of Births," and it was meant to be a new start for Egypt. We know he ruled for at least 29 years because a message carved on a wall mentions that a general named Piankh returned to Thebes in Ramesses XI's 29th year as king.
Family and Early Life
It's not fully clear who Ramesses XI's parents were. Some once thought his mother was Queen Tyti, but new studies show she was likely the queen of an earlier pharaoh, Ramesses III. So, we don't know for sure who his mother was, and it's also not certain if he was the son of the previous pharaoh, Ramesses X.
Ramesses XI is believed to have married a woman named Tentamun. She was the daughter of a man named Nebseny. They likely had a daughter named Duathathor-Henuttawy. She later married a powerful priest named Pinedjem I. Ramesses XI might have had another daughter also named Tentamun. She later married Smendes, who became king in the next dynasty.
During Ramesses XI's time, there was some trouble in Egypt. A powerful priest of Amun named Amenhotep was removed from his job. A military leader named Pinehesy, who was the governor of Nubia, took control of the area around Thebes for a while. This event was called the "suppression of the High Priest of Amun." It caused some chaos in Egypt. The Whm Mswt era, which started in Ramesses XI's 19th year, was probably meant to show that normal life was returning after this difficult period.
The Renaissance Era
Ramesses XI's reign is important because many ancient documents from this time have been found. These documents, called papyri, tell us a lot about what happened. For example, some papyri describe trials for tomb robbers. Others list important documents that were stolen and then bought back. These records help us understand the challenges Egypt faced during this period.
The Whm Mswt period lasted for at least 10 years. During this time, Pinehesy, the leader who caused trouble earlier, was seen as an enemy in many documents. It's not fully known how the chaos ended or who made Pinehesy leave Thebes. He seems to have gone back to Nubia and kept some power there for over ten years.
Later, in the 10th year of the Whm Mswt, General Piankh went on a trip to Nubia to "meet Pinehesy." It's not certain if they fought or if they talked things out. The records are not clear. Some experts think Piankh might not have been fully loyal to Ramesses XI at this point. The relationship between Piankh, Pinehesy, and Ramesses XI was very complicated.
How Long He Ruled
Experts still discuss exactly how long Ramesses XI ruled. His reign lasted at least 29 years. Some believe it could have been 30 years. There might have been a short gap between his rule and the start of the next dynasty. This means he could have ruled a little longer than the records directly show.
Around the time Ramesses XI was king, or shortly after, a famous village called Deir El Medina was left empty. This was probably because the royal burial ground was moved to a new city called Tanis. So, the workers who lived in Deir El Medina were no longer needed in Thebes.
Burial Place
Ramesses XI died under unknown circumstances during this difficult time. He had a tomb prepared for himself in the Valley of the Kings (KV4), but it was never finished or fully decorated. Instead, Ramesses XI chose to be buried away from Thebes, possibly near Memphis.
His tomb in the Valley of the Kings has some unique features. For example, its burial chamber has four rectangular pillars instead of the usual square ones. It also has a very deep central shaft, over 30 feet (10 meters) deep. This might have been a way to try and stop tomb robbers. Later, during the 21st dynasty, Ramesses XI's unfinished tomb was used as a workshop. Workers used it to prepare items for the burials of other pharaohs like Hatshepsut and Thutmose III. Ramesses XI's tomb has been open since ancient times and was even used as a home by early Christians in Egypt, called Copts.
Because Ramesses XI was buried in Lower Egypt, Smendes became the next king. It was a tradition that whoever buried the king could then take the throne. Smendes buried Ramesses XI, so he became the new pharaoh and started the 21st Dynasty. He ruled from his hometown of Tanis. However, Smendes only controlled Lower Egypt. The southern parts of Egypt, Middle and Upper Egypt, were now mostly controlled by the powerful High Priests of Amun at Thebes.
