Horemheb was commander in chief of the army and the designated heir to Tutankhamun. The vizier Ay managed to seize power when Tutankhamun died suddenly, probably while Horemhab was abroad with the army. However, Ay died after only a few years reign, and Horemheb finally ascended the throne. It is not known how he managed it, but presumably it was well known that he was the intended heir to Tutankhamun.
Horemeb initiated a return to religious normalcy by restoring the old gods to power, reducing the worship of Aten introduced by Akhenaten to rubble. He furthermore started erasing all traces of their reign and history, and was very successful, as the Amarna period kings were more or less forgotten.
Horemheb might be the Armaa mentioned in a historical text of the Hittite king Mursili II, written when Horemheb was the commander of the armies of Asia, before he became pharaoh. This name seems quite similar to the Armais/Armesis of Manetho.
Horemheb failed to produce a son, so instead he appointed his vizier, Paramessu, to succeed him, which he did as Ramesses I.
| Precedessor Successor | |
|---|---|
| Reign of Horemheb | |
| AE Chronology | 1319–1292 |
| v. Beckerath | 1321–1294 |
| Shaw | 1323–1295 |
| Dodson | 1328–1298 |
| Arnold | 1335–1308 |
| Malek | 1323–1295 |
| Grimal | 1323–1295 |
| Redford | 1343–1315 |
| Manetho (Josephus) | 4y 1m |
| Manetho (Africanus) | 5 years |
| Manetho (Eusebius) | 5 years |
| Manetho (Jerome) | 5 years |
| Highest attestation | Year 27 |
The Royal Titulary
From the hieroglyphic records
Horus Ka nakht seped sekheru The Dual King Djoser kheperu Ra, setep en Ra Son of Ra Horemhab
Horus names
The oldest form of the name of a pharaoh, a falcon representing Horus is perched on the palace facade.
ASAE , 17, 85
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 112d
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 146-147, 14:H
Gardiner. 1953. "The coronation of King Haremhab". JEA 39. 13-31, pl. II
Nebty name
The “Two Ladies”, the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet, representing Upper and Lower Egypt respectively.
ASAE , 17, 85
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 146-147, 14:N
Golden Horus name
Horus perched on Gold, which was associated with eternity, but its meaning is disputed.
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 146-147, 14:G
Throne names
Announced at the coronation and always written in a cartouche. The “official” name of the pharaoh. Also known as the Prenomen.
Saqqara Canon no. 4
Karnak pylon IX
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 112b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 146-147, 14:T1
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 146-147, 14:T2
de Saulcy, Mémoires de l'Académie nationale de Metz, 1864, Pt. 2, 257-358
Birth names
Personal name given at birth. Also known as the Nomen.
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 146-147, 14:E1
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 146-147, 14:E2
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 146-147, 14:E3
ASAE , 17, 85
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 146-147, 14:E5
The sources of antiquity
From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity
| Author | Greek | Transcription | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africanus xviii, 14 | Aρμεσης | Armeses | 5 years |
| Eusebius xviii, 14 | Aρμαις | Armais | 5 years |
| Jerome | Armais also called Danaus | 5 years | |
| Josephus 97 | Aρμαις | Armais | 4 years, 1 month |
Bibliography
- Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 18 (1912): 381–396
- Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 146–147
- Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 107
- Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 115–118
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