New Kingdom Egypt

The Royal family of the late 17th Dynasty played important and varied roles in establishing New Kingdom Egypt (NKE). Archaeological and written evidence shows that both pharaohs and their Queens played curial roles in the establishment of NKE.  In particular King Ahmose played the key role in establishing and the reunification of upper and Lower Egypt.

Due to very little evidence it is not know who started the war against the Hyksos or why.  However evidence suggest that it was Seqenenre Tao II (STII) who inaugurated the war.  It is believed that King Apophis insulted STII through a letter complaining about the Hippos in Thebes.  A 19th dynasty papyrus records a challenge to the Theban king from King Apophis. A fragment of the papyrus that survived indicated that STII was provoked by Apophis, which led him to going to war with the Hyksos. A second piece of evidence is in Dier el-Ballas, 40Km away from Thebes, STII build a mud brick place and fort at Ballas to north Thebes. Perhaps in preparation for future conflict. According to Janine Bourriau “ it seems hard to avoid the conclusion that purpose of the settlement, deliberately built in a remote place, was military, perhaps intended for mustering of an army containing a large contingent of Kerma Nubian”. As a result of location , it is evidence that STII was preparing for a war against the Hyksos. The biggest evidence of STTII going to war with the Hyksos is his mummy. The mummy of STII indicates that he had died on the battle field. His mummy reveals a wound behind one ear caused by a dagger, his nose and cheek smashed by a mace-like weapon and the bone above his forehead cut through with a battle axe of Palestine origin. The mummy is the biggest evidence because weapons that the Hyksos used were from Palestine and STII skull was smashed with a Palestine weapon. Also his body is said to have been left in the position that he died in a while, which indicated that he did on a battlefield because it would have taken time to find his body. Therefore, the weight of evidence would indicate that he played an important role in the establishment of NKE ,by being the first King to starting a war against the Hyksos.

King Kamose believed to the older brother of Ahmose and son of STII played an important part in establishing NKE by launching and taking the war further that his father had started. Kamose is believed to launch a war to seek revenge for his possible after STII  or to expel the Hyksos our of Egypt because he felt weak as a Pharaoh since Egypt was divided. “ Each man has his slice of Egypt dividing the land with me”. This account supports that Kamose was angry and felt weak and it was his motivation to attack the Hyksos. However before heading to the north he and to deal with a major threat from the Nubian Kushites southern allies of the Hyksos. The Nuabins rules a powerful kingdom and the recent discovery of an inscription at El-Kab hints that there was a Kushite-led invasion of Kamose’s kingdom. For Kamose to succeeded in defeating the Hyksos he must attack the Nubians in which he did and succussed in. After attacking the Nubians, Kamose attacked the Hyksos in the north . His army destroyed the Hyksos territory, destroying ship and town and slaughter and capturing people.  The Kamose Stela records that on the command of Amun-god of Thebes- they sailed north with a powerful army into the north. The Kamose Stela that was step up by the official priest confirms that Kamose played a part in establishing Egypt.

Ahmose was the brother or half brother of Kamose , is regarded as the first king of the 17th dynasty and is known as the father of NKE as he defeated the Hyksos and reunited lower and upper Egypt.  Ahmose became king at a young age and was not able to take any actions again the Hyksos. Once of age he turned his attention  to the unfinished business that STII and Kamose started but were never able finish. Ahmose made a direct attack on Avaris and drove the Hyksos out of Egypt . Evidence that supports this comes from excavation at Del el-Daba that reveals abandonment of the site rather that wholesale slaughter; a distinct change in material cultural occurs at this time with no further evidence of Hyksos re-occupation of the site.  Del-el Daba supports that Ahmose was successful in expelling Hyksos and NKE was emerging , because instead of a mass slaughter after his victory there was a mass exodus and this indicates that NKE was emerging  because Ahmose had” broken” the culture. Another piece of evidence that supports Ahmose expelling the Hyksos is found in the tomb biography of the soldier Ahmose Son of Ebana who took part in the King’s attack on Avaris and accompanied him on his campaigns into Palestine and Nubia claims the king drove the Hyksos out of Egypt and campaigned in southern Palestine far as the city of Sharuhen as written in Source 1 “ Sharuhen was besieged for three years. His majesty despoiled it and I brought spoil from it”.  Through the inscriptions in the tombs , Ahmose is warning the Prince of Palestine and Syria that a new force had emerged in Egypt. This is evidence that NKE was beginning established and that Egypt was becoming stronger than ever. This is evidence that Egypt was becoming stronger than ever and a new era was starting.