Interregnum regent: Difference between revisions
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An '''interregnum regent''' is a person who rules in the place of the rightful heir until he or she reaches the age of maturity. In ancient Egypt, the tradition was established during Dynasty One during the reign of Merneith, who acted as interregnum regent for her son, Den, who later ruled as Pharaoh. That this queen ruled for a period of time is confirmed from the [[Palermo Stone]], on which the early dynastic kings are named. |
An '''interregnum regent''' is a person who rules in the place of the rightful heir until he or she reaches the age of maturity. In ancient Egypt, the tradition was established during Dynasty One during the reign of Merneith, who acted as interregnum regent for her son, Den, who later ruled as Pharaoh. That this queen ruled for a period of time is confirmed from the [[Palermo Stone]], on which the early dynastic kings are named. This established the position in ancient Egyptian queenship of '''interrregnum queen'''. |
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An '''[[interregnum queen]]''', in ancient Egypt, is a '''[[Great Royal Wife]]''' of a previous pharaoh who rules as a regent in the place of her heir-son, who has not yet reached the age to solely assume the role of pharah of Egypt. Officially the young heir-son is assumed to be king, ''de jure'', making, in theory, his mother a '''co-regent'''. |
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But, in practice, the '''interregnum queen''' rules ''in the place'' of the young male heir as '''sole ruler''', until the heir-son reaches an age, sometimes as early as 9 years old, as in the case of Tutankhamun <ref>Carter, H. and A. C. Mace 1932. ''The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, Discovered by the Late Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter.'' ('''3 Vols.'''). New York: Cooper Square Publishers, Inc.</ref>, when he could assume the duties of pharaoh alone. |
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Interregnum queens include [[Merneith]], mentioned above, as well as [[Ankhesenmeryre II]], mother of [[Pepi II]]. |
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In Dynasty 18 it is speculatied the following were also interregnum queens: [[Ahhotep I]], mother of [[Ahmose]] and [[Kamose]]; [[Ahmose-Nefertari]], mother of [[Amenhotep I]]. The best-known interregnum queen which can be established with certainty is [[Hatshepsut]], step-mother to [[Thutmose III]], who ruled first as interregnum queen for Thutmose III, but later assumed the position and regalia of a pharaoh in her own right. |
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It is possible that in the "Egyptian Queen" correspondence, which occurred after the death of [[Tutankhamun]] (or, alternatively, [[Akhenaten]]), that the queen was attempting to establish an interregnum position by asking for a son from the Hittites to marry <ref>Murnane, W. J. 1990. ''The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak''. Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilizations. SAOC 42. Chicago: Oriental Institute.</ref>. This theory, developed by William Murnane, would have made [[Ay]], vizier under Tutankhamun, as the mentor to the Hittite prince, in a position called '''it nTr''', or 'father of the god', a position often delegated to Egyptian statesmen by the royal household.<ref>Janssen, R. M. and J. J. Janssen 2007. ''Growing Up and Getting Old in Ancient Egypt''. London: Golden House Publications.</ref> Unfortunately, the Hittite prince, called [[Zannanza]], died enroute to Egypt, which dissolved any plans of the "Egyptian Queen." |
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== Notes == |
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Revision as of 14:50, 9 June 2008
An interregnum regent is a person who rules in the place of the rightful heir until he or she reaches the age of maturity. In ancient Egypt, the tradition was established during Dynasty One during the reign of Merneith, who acted as interregnum regent for her son, Den, who later ruled as Pharaoh. That this queen ruled for a period of time is confirmed from the Palermo Stone, on which the early dynastic kings are named. This established the position in ancient Egyptian queenship of interrregnum queen.
An interregnum queen, in ancient Egypt, is a Great Royal Wife of a previous pharaoh who rules as a regent in the place of her heir-son, who has not yet reached the age to solely assume the role of pharah of Egypt. Officially the young heir-son is assumed to be king, de jure, making, in theory, his mother a co-regent.
But, in practice, the interregnum queen rules in the place of the young male heir as sole ruler, until the heir-son reaches an age, sometimes as early as 9 years old, as in the case of Tutankhamun [1], when he could assume the duties of pharaoh alone.
Interregnum queens include Merneith, mentioned above, as well as Ankhesenmeryre II, mother of Pepi II.
In Dynasty 18 it is speculatied the following were also interregnum queens: Ahhotep I, mother of Ahmose and Kamose; Ahmose-Nefertari, mother of Amenhotep I. The best-known interregnum queen which can be established with certainty is Hatshepsut, step-mother to Thutmose III, who ruled first as interregnum queen for Thutmose III, but later assumed the position and regalia of a pharaoh in her own right.
It is possible that in the "Egyptian Queen" correspondence, which occurred after the death of Tutankhamun (or, alternatively, Akhenaten), that the queen was attempting to establish an interregnum position by asking for a son from the Hittites to marry [2]. This theory, developed by William Murnane, would have made Ay, vizier under Tutankhamun, as the mentor to the Hittite prince, in a position called it nTr, or 'father of the god', a position often delegated to Egyptian statesmen by the royal household.[3] Unfortunately, the Hittite prince, called Zannanza, died enroute to Egypt, which dissolved any plans of the "Egyptian Queen."
Notes
- ^ Carter, H. and A. C. Mace 1932. The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, Discovered by the Late Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter. (3 Vols.). New York: Cooper Square Publishers, Inc.
- ^ Murnane, W. J. 1990. The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak. Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilizations. SAOC 42. Chicago: Oriental Institute.
- ^ Janssen, R. M. and J. J. Janssen 2007. Growing Up and Getting Old in Ancient Egypt. London: Golden House Publications.