Flourished Circa 1187-1156 B.C.E.
King, Dynasty 20

Attempted Assassination. Ramesses III was the last significant king of the New Kingdom (circa 1539-1075 B.C.E.). His parents, King Sethnakhte and Queen Tiye-Merenaset, were the founders of Dynasty 20 (circa 1190-1075 B.C.E.). Ramesses III had at least three wives. Queen Isis-Hemdjeret was the mother of Ramesses IV, the next king. An unknown queen or queens bore ten other sons. Among these sons were the future kings Ramesses VI and Ramesses VIII. (Ramesses V was perhaps Ramesses Ill's brother.) Another secondary queen named Tiye was the mother of Prince Pentaweret. Their plot to assassinate Ramesses III was discovered and led to their death by suicide.

Diplomacy. Ramesses Ill's early reign was dominated by war. The Meshwesh tribe, with origins in Libya, continued to infiltrate the delta from the west. Egypt had accepted the presence of these...