Ramesses III

Ramesses III was the second and most famous pharaoh of the 20th Dynasty, who ruled in Thebes from 757 to 726 B.C. He succeeded his father, Setnakhte, and was succeeded by his son Ramesses IV. Much is known about him, in both the revised and traditional histories.

Ramesses III was the son of Setnakhte, who founded the dynasty. He had many sons, but the most important to the revised history were Ramesses IV, Ramesses VI, Ramesses VIII, and Montuherkhopshef (who was the father of Ramesses IX).

In 757 B.C., the short reign of Setnakhte ended at his death, making Ramesses III the next pharaoh of the dynasty. The first years of his reign were engulfed in turmoil, as he attempted to fight off invading nomads after the catastrophic Santorini eruption. In his eighth year (750 B.C.), he fought off a coalition of Sea People who invaded from the north and west with the help of Smendes I.

Ramesses also constantly fought the invading Libyans in the western Nile delta, who had formed the 22nd Dynasty. He was unable to completely fight them off. He also lost power in Tanis, where the High Priests of Amun had formed their 21st Dynasty. Eventually, Ramesses III was forced to move the seat of power far south to Thebes.

Even there, much trouble abounded. Volcanic ash in the air lingering from the Santorini eruption remained for decades, blocking sunlight and preventing food from growing. In 729 B.C., the first labor strike in recorded history occurred due to a lack of sustenance for workers building at Thebes. Ramesses III’s troubled reign finally ended at his death in 726 B.C., when he was murdered in a conspiracy by his wives.

The evidence for the revised history can be found at Displaced Dynasties. Evidence regarding this pharaoh specifically can be found here and here. Supplemental evidence can be found here.