Ramesses VI

Ramesses VI, the fifth ruler of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt, ascended to the throne following the death of his predecessor, Ramesses V. Born around one thousand one hundred seventy-five BC, he was the son of the renowned Ramesses III and queen Iset Ta-Hemdjert. Initially known as Ramesses Amunherkhepeshef, he held esteemed titles such as royal scribe and cavalry general, showcasing his early prominence within the royal court.

During his reign, which lasted approximately eight years in the mid-to-late twelfth century BC, Ramesses VI faced significant challenges. He successfully halted frequent raids by marauders in Upper Egypt and undertook the burial of his predecessor in an unknown tomb within the Theban necropolis. Notably, he usurped KV9, a tomb originally intended for Ramesses V, enlarging and redecorating it for his own use. This act inadvertently protected the entrance to Tutankhamun's tomb from a series of tomb robberies that plagued the region shortly after his death.

Despite his efforts, Ramesses VI's reign was marked by the decline of Egyptian power, particularly in Canaan, which strained the economy and led to increased prices. In response, he engraved his cartouches over those of his forefathers on existing monuments, claiming to have covered the land with great monuments in his name. His fondness for cult statues resulted in a greater number of representations of himself than any other king of the Twentieth Dynasty after Ramesses III.

As his power waned, the religious landscape of Egypt shifted, with Thebes emerging as a second center of power under the high-priest Ramessesnakht. Despite these changes, there is no evidence that this new dynasty acted against royal interests, suggesting a level of approval from the Ramesside kings. Ramesses VI passed away in his forties, leaving behind a legacy that would be marred by the pillaging of his tomb shortly after his death. His mummy, discovered in one thousand eight hundred ninety-eight by Victor Loret, is currently housed in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.