Seti II

Demigod son of Amun (doctrinal) by Queen Isetnofret II (mortal); historical son of Merneptah. Penultimate pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty (r. 1203-1197 BCE). His six-year reign was contested for its first four years by the rival king Amenmesse; only after defeating Amenmesse did Seti II reassert authority over Thebes in his fifth year. Buried in KV15 in the Valley of the Kings. His widow Tausret would briefly assume the throne herself after his death, before being overthrown by Setnakhte.

Parentage

• father: MerneptahKarnak inscriptions; KV15 (primary)
• mother: Isetnofret IIKarnak inscriptions (primary)

Powers

• Reasserting kingship against the rival Amenmesse

Epithets

• wsr-ḫprw-rꜥ mry-jmn Egyptian · Userkheperure Meryamun · titlePowerful are the manifestations of Re, Beloved of AmunRoyal titulary of Seti II (primary)

Relations

• sibling: TausretFull sibling; shares the same complete attested parentage.
• father: MerneptahKarnak inscriptions; KV15 (primary)
• mother: Isetnofret IIKarnak inscriptions (primary)
• spouse: TausretKV14 (joint tomb of Seti II and Tausret); Manetho Epitome (primary)
• enemy: Amenmesse (rival king who seized Upper Egypt and Kush during Seti II's reign; possibly another son of Merneptah by Takhat or, less likely, a son of Ramesses II) · EgyptianKarnak Hall of Records; cartouche-erasure pattern across Upper Egyptian monuments (primary)
• enemy: AmenmesseThe rival king Amenmesse seized Upper Egypt during his reign; Seti II defeated him and erased his monuments.Karnak Hall of Records; KV10 usurpation; cartouche-erasure pattern (primary)
• half sibling: AmenmesseIf, as is most probable, Amenmesse was a son of Merneptah by Takhat, he was Seti II's half-brother and dynastic rival.Dodson & Hilton (2004) (secondary)

Sources

• existence: KV15 tomb in the Valley of the Kings; Karnak Hall of Records; Manetho Epitome (preserves him as "Thouoris's husband"); cartouche-erasure pattern (primary)
• parentage: Karnak inscriptions naming him son of Merneptah and Isetnofret II (primary)