Amenhotep III

A MASTER OF DIPLOMACY

Amenhotep III (1390-1352 BC) was Egypt’s 18th Dynasty’s ninth ruler. When he ascended to the kingdom. He developed into a master of diplomacy, putting many countries in his debt with expensive gold things so that they would be compelled to yield to his wishes, which they did on a regular basis.

Thutmose IV, Amenhotep’s father, bequeathed his son an empire of enormous size, money, and power. “Amenhotep III was born into a world where Egypt reigned supreme,” writes Egyptologist Zahi Hawass. It had riches in its coffers, and its vassals bowed down to the powerful kings of the Two Lands” ). He ascended to the kingdom at the age of twelve and married Tiye in a royal wedding. Amenhotep’s relationship with his wife was marked by her elevation to the status of Great Royal Wife shortly after their marriage, an honour that Amenhotep’s mother, Mutemwiya, had never received and which practically indicated that Tiye outranked the king’s mother in courtly issues.