

The Pharaohs

Birth name: Horemheb Meryamun ("Horus is in Jubilation, Beloved of Amun")
Throne name: Djeserkheperure Setepenre ("Holy are the Manifestations of Re, Chosen of Re") 
Rule: 1321 - 1293 BC (14th king of the 18th dynasty, New Kingdom)
Noteworthy relatives: Mutnodjme (wife), Nefertiti ("sister-in-law"... Mutnodjme's sister).


Horemheb was a commoner who worked his way up to commander of Tutankhamun's army. With no sons, Tutankhamun had named Horemheb as his "hereditary prince" with the understanding that if he died before having any sons, Horemheb would become the pharaoh. When Tut died, Horemheb was supposed to assume the throne, however he was on a military mission at the time so Ay swept in and took his rightful spot. Horemheb reclaimed the position after the death of Ay. Horemheb attempted to erase Ay out of existence by vandalizing his tomb, carving his own name over Ay's on a giant statue, and taking over and enlarging Ay's mortuary temple for his own use.

Horemheb had no children so he was succeeded by his vizier Ramses I when he died.

Statue of Horemheb. By Captmondo (Own work (photo)) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

In the tomb of Horemheb. By Jean-Pierre Dalbéra [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons