Thutmose II

Little is known about the rule of Thutmose II due to his relatively short reign. Son of Thutmose I and a minor wife, his reign was secured through his marriage to his half-sister, Hatshepsut, daughter of Thutmose I’s principal queen, Ahmose. Fourth king of the 18th Dynasty, he probably ruled for less than five years, although this is still a matter of debate. With Hatshepsut he sired two daughters, Neferure and Neferubity; a secondary wife, Iset, was the mother of his only known son, Thutmose III, who succeeded him on the throne.

The historical record credits Thutmose II with putting down several uprisings in Nubia and vanquishing a tribe called the Shasu in Sinai, and he may have carried out a military campaign in Syria. He left behind remains of modest building programs in Elephantine, as well as in Nubia, at Semna and Kumma. In Karnak, he built a festival court in front of the Fourth Pylon and side entrances into it one of which was a small pylon.

The king died at approximately the age of 30. His original tomb in the Valley has not been definitely identified, although many believe it was KV 42. However, this was most likely disturbed by grave robbers looking for treasure, as his mummy was moved to the Deir el-Bahari cache. A docket written in hieratic on the outer shroud of the mummy records the restoration of his burial in Year 6 of Smendes (the northern king of the 21st Dynasty while Pinudjem I controlled the Theban Region; his final reburial may have taken place later than this.