The traditional view has been that Tutankhamun's widow is the queen in question because she had no sons and eventually was married to a "servant", Ay. Reeves has long held that the queen was Nefertiti, who was The Queen "par excellence" of the period.</ref> Her ploy succeeds and the Hittite prince Zannanza travels to Egypt and marries her to claim the throne. He adopts the name Smenkhkare, and her throne name. After his death, she adopts full pharoanic prerogatives to continue to rule as King Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten. Since Tutankamun was alive and of royal lineage, Meritaten's actions almost certainly must be taken as intending to prevent his ascension.