Takelot II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Takelot II |
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Takelot II (left) and Amun-Ra at Karnak
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| Pharaoh | |
| Reign | 845/834 – 820/809 BC (23rd Dynasty) |
| Predecessor | Harsiese A |
| Successor | Pedubast I |
| Consort | Karomama Merytmut II, Karomama D, Tashep, Tabeketenasket A |
| Children | Osorkon III, Iuput I ?, Bakenptah, Nimlot, Isetweret, DjedPtahefankh ?, Shebensopdet II ?, Karomama ?, Tentsepeh ?, Irbastudjatjau ?, Deersenesyt ? |
| Father | Nimlot C |
Takelot II Si-Ese was an ancient pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. He ruled during the 23rd Dynasty, controlling parts of Middle and Upper Egypt.
Experts believe Takelot II was the same person as Takelot F, who was a High Priest of Amun in Thebes. He was the son of Nimlot C, another High Priest, and the grandson of King Osorkon II.
Takelot II became pharaoh around 845 BC or 834 BC. At this time, Egypt was divided into different kingdoms. Takelot II ruled a separate kingdom in Middle and Upper Egypt. The 22nd Dynasty ruled Lower Egypt from a city called Tanis.
Before becoming king, Takelot F served as a High Priest under King Osorkon II. He then declared himself king, Takelot II, during the last three years of Osorkon II's reign. This is shown in carvings at Temple J in Karnak. All records mentioning Takelot II come from Middle or Upper Egypt, not Lower Egypt.
Takelot II added "Si-Ese" to his royal name, which means "Son of Isis." This helped connect him to Thebes and made his name different from another pharaoh, Takelot I, who had a similar royal name.
The Crown Prince Osorkon
Takelot II ruled Middle and Upper Egypt for about 20 years. This period included the last three years of Osorkon II's reign and the first two decades of Shoshenq III's rule.
Many historians believe that King Osorkon III was actually "Crown Prince and High Priest Osorkon B," who was Takelot II's son.
Osorkon B kept a record of his actions, known as the Crown Prince's Chronicle. This record was carved on the Bubastite Portal at Karnak. In it, Osorkon B dated his activities using his father Takelot II's regnal years (years 11 to 24). After his father died in year 25, Osorkon B started dating his actions using the years of King Shoshenq III (from year 22 onwards).
This shows that Takelot II and Shoshenq III were kings at the same time, but in different parts of Egypt. Osorkon B did not immediately become king after his father. He was involved in a long civil war against his rivals, Pedubast I and later Shoshenq VI, for control of Thebes. Instead, he simply used the regnal years of the 22nd Dynasty pharaoh, Shoshenq III, who ruled Lower Egypt.
Osorkon B was not meant to rule Tanis. He and his father, Takelot II, ruled most of Upper Egypt, from Herakleopolis Magna to Thebes. In 1983, a stone tablet found at Tehna showed that Osorkon III was once a High Priest of Amun. This must have been Osorkon B, as no other High Priests named Osorkon are known from that time.
Theban Uprising and Conflict
In year 11 of Takelot II's reign, a rebellion started in Thebes. A rival named Pedubast I challenged Takelot's power. Takelot sent his son, Osorkon B, to Thebes to stop the uprising. Osorkon B managed to take control of the city and declared himself the new High Priest of Amun. He even burned some of the rebels' bodies, which was a harsh punishment meant to prevent their souls from having an afterlife.
However, four years later, in year 15 of Takelot II, another major revolt happened. This time, Osorkon B's forces were driven out of Thebes by Pedubast I. This led to a long period of fighting and instability in Upper Egypt. The conflict between Takelot II/Osorkon B and Pedubast I/Shoshenq VI lasted for 27 years. Finally, in year 39 of Shoshenq III's reign, Osorkon B defeated his enemies and took control of Thebes. After this victory, Osorkon B declared himself King Osorkon III.
The Chronicle of Prince Osorkon B, carved at Karnak, records his activities from year 11 to 24 of his father's reign, and then from year 22 to 29 of Shoshenq III's reign. Takelot II's short 25th year is also known from a special stone tablet. This tablet was made by his son, Osorkon B, as High Priest. It gave 35 acres of land to Takelot II's daughter, Karomama E.
A very old document called Papyrus Berlin 3048 has been confirmed to be from Takelot II's reign. This is because it mentions a priest named Harsiese, who was known to serve during Takelot II's time. This papyrus has several dates, including year 13, 14, 16, 23, and even a year 26. However, a year 26 for Takelot II is not usually known, so it might refer to another pharaoh.
As of 2025, no tomb or final resting place has been found for King Takelot II. His eldest son, Osorkon B, did not immediately become king after him. Instead, another son, Iuput I, might have taken the throne first. Osorkon B later reappeared as High Priest in Thebes several times, until he finally became King Osorkon III.
Family and Children
Takelot II had several wives and many children.
He married his sister, Karomama Merymut II, who was his Great Royal Wife. They had two known children:
- Osorkon B: He became the High Priest of Amun and later King Osorkon III.
- Bakenptah B: He was a general in Heracleopolis. A text from year 39 of Shoshenq III mentions him as a brother of High Priest Osorkon B.
Takelot II also married a woman whose name is partly lost, Tashep[...]. They had one son:
- Nimlot F: He is mentioned on a wooden tablet as the son of King Takelot and Tashep[...]. He is believed to be a son of Takelot II.
Another wife of Takelot was named Tabektenasket (I). They had one daughter:
- Isetweret (II): She married a Theban official named Nakhtefmut (C). We know about her from the coffins of her children, Ankhpakhered and Tabektenasket (II).
Other children of Takelot II include:
- Djed-Ptah-ef-ankh: A younger son.
- Shebensopdet (II): She married a priest named Djed-Khons-ef-ankh. Her statue is in the Cairo Museum.
- Karomama (E): She was a chantress (singer) for Amun.
Some other possible children of Takelot II are:
- Iuput I: He might have become king after Takelot II, before Osorkon III.
- Tentsepeh (D): She married Ptah-udj-ankhef. Some believe she was Takelot II's daughter, while others think she was Osorkon II's daughter.
- Ir-Bast-udja-tjau: She married Pakhuru. She was a daughter of either Takelot II or Takelot III.
- Di-Ese-nesyt: She married Nespaqashuty B. She was also a daughter of either Takelot II or Takelot III.
See also
In Spanish: Takelot II para niños
