Ramesses II

Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty (~1279-1213 BCE). The longest-reigning and most-attested Egyptian pharaoh. Battle of Kadesh, Egyptian-Hittite treaty, monumental construction at Abu Simbel and the Ramesseum. Subject of Shelley's Ozymandias. Less developed Birth Cycle than the 18th Dynasty pharaohs but full claim of divine paternity through royal titulary.

Parentage

• paternal: Amun
• maternal: Tuya

Children

• Amunherkhepeshef
• Khaemweset
• Merneptah

Powers

• kingship egyptian conferral
• monumental construction
• military command

Epithets

• 𓄤𓇳𓁛𓍉𓈖𓇳 egyptian-hieroglyphic · Wsr-mꜣꜥt-Rꜥ stp-n-Rꜥthrone-name Usermaatre Setepenre 'Powerful is the Justice of Re, Chosen of Re'Abu Simbel and Ramesseum inscriptions (primary)
• 𓀴𓏠𓈖 egyptian-hieroglyphic · mrj-Jmn'Beloved of Amun' — standing royal epithet of Ramesses IIKadesh inscriptions, Abydos (primary)
• wsr-mꜣꜥt-rꜥ stp-n-rꜥ Egyptian · Usermaatre Setepenre · titleThe Maat of Re is strong, Chosen of ReRoyal titulary of Ramesses II (monuments passim) (primary)

Relations

• father of: KhaemwesetFourth son by Isetnofret; High Priest of Ptah at Memphis.Abu Simbel reliefs; Saqqara Serapeum stelae (primary)
• father of: MerneptahThirteenth son by Isetnofret; succeeded as pharaoh after the deaths of all twelve elder Ramesside princes.Abu Simbel reliefs; Karnak inscriptions (primary)
• father of: AmunherkhepeshefFirstborn son by Nefertari; predeceased him by some 41 years.Abu Simbel temple reliefs; QV55 tomb (primary)
• spouse: NefertariHis first and most-beloved Great Royal Wife.Abu Simbel small temple; QV66 (primary)
• spouse: IsetnofretSecond Great Royal Wife, principal queen after Nefertari's death.Aswan Stela (primary)

Sources

• existence: Abu Simbel temple complex (primary); Battle of Kadesh inscriptions, Karnak (primary); Egyptian-Hittite treaty (KBo 1.7) (primary)
• divine-paternity-from-amun: Royal titulary (primary)