Nefertari was a Great Royal Wives of Pharaoh Ramesses II (c. 1279-1213 BC). Her lineage is unknown. The discovery in her tomb of a knob inscribed with the cartouche of Pharaoh Ay (c. 1323-1319 BC) has led some to speculate that they were related… if any relation exists, she would’ve been a great-granddaughter.
Nefertari was the mother of Amun-her-khepeshef, Pareherwenemef, Meryatum, Meryre, Meritamen, Henuttawy, possibly Baketmut, Nefertari, and Nebettawy.
Cuneiform tablets from the Hittite city of Hattusa contain Nefertari's correspondences with King Hattusili III (c. 1267-1237 BC) and his wife Puduhepa.
Hattusili III, a Hittite king ruling central Anatolia, was the son of Mursili II (c. 1321-1295 BC) and Gassulawiya.
Hattusili III’s siblings were Muwatalli II, Halpasulupi, and Massanauzz.
King Muwatalli II (c. 1295-1272 BC) is best known for relocating the Hittite capital, which had been Hattusa, to Tarhuntassa, appointing his brother, Hattusili III, as governor in Hattusa, and fighting Ramesses II (c. 1279-1213 BC) in the Battle of Kadesh (c. 1274 BC).
His son, Mursili III (c. 1272-1267 BC), reverted the capital from Tarhuntassa back to Hattusa. After being deposed by Hattusili III, Mursili III fled to Egypt, where he was received by Pharaoh Ramesses II (c. 1279-1213 BC).
Isetnofret, another Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II, was likely the daughter of Nemtimose and Isitnofret, who was likely daughter of Horemheb (c. 1319-1292 BC), the last pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt.
Isetnofret was the mother of Ramesses, Bintanath, Khaemwaset, Merenptah, and possibly another Isetnofret.
She was the mother of Ramesses II’s successor, Merneptah (c. 1213-1203 BC).
Maathorneferure, also a Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II, was a daughter of Hittite king Hattusili III and his queen Puduhepa.
Maathorneferure’s siblings were Nerikkaili, Tudhaliya IV, and Kilus-Hepa.
In the autumn of 1246 BC, accompanied by her mother, Maathornefrure traveled to Egypt. A message was dispatched to the Ramesses II: "They have traversed sheer mountains and treacherous passes to reach Your Majesty's border."
Queens Meritamen, Bintanath, and Nebettawy were all daughters and wives of Ramesses II.
Their siblings included Amunherkhepeshef, Ramesses, Khaemwaset, Merneptah, Seti, Henuttawy, and Neferure.
Yet another Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II was Henutmire, likely the daughter of Pharaoh Seti I (c. 1290-1279 BC) and Tuya.
Following the peace treaty between Egypt and the Hittites during Ramesses II’s reign and following the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BC, Tuya sent congratulatory letters to Hattusili III and Puduhepa.
Centuries earlier, Suppiluliuma I (c. 1350-1322 BC) agreed to send Zannanza, the second-youngest of his five sons, to Egypt to marry Queen Ankhesenamun, widow of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (r. 1332-1323 BC).
Zannanza never made it past the Egyptian border. Suppiluliuma I accused the Egyptians of murdering him. Pharaoh Ay, denied the murder, but acknowledged the death.
Zannanza’s disappearance under mysterious circumstances caused a diplomatic incident between the Hittites and Egyptian Empire, resulting in a war that ultimately resulted in the death of Suppliluliuma I and a long-lived rivalry between Egypt and the Hittites which did not come to an end until the treaty following the Battle of Kadesh.
Ramesses II was succeeded by Merneptah (c. 1213-1203 BC), who was then succeeded by Seti II (c. 1203-1197 BC).
---
Like this post? Stop by and read “Queens & Consorts of 19th Dynasty Egypt: Tuya, Wife of Seti I (c. 1290-1279 BC).” Queen Tuya was the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Seti I (c. 1290-1279 BC), the second pharaoh of Egypt's 19th Dynasty. Seti I was succeeded by Ramesses II (c. 1279-1213 BC), who was then succeeded by Merneptah (c. 1213-1203 BC).
I'd love to have you as a customer, head to the online store and shop for handcrafted beaded jewelry by beYOUteous.
Leave a comment