Ramesses IV served as the third pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty of the New Kingdom in Ancient Egypt. Emerging as heir-apparent following the death of his elder brother Amenherkhepshef in 1164 BC, he occupied a complex political landscape defined by dynastic instability and the violent end of his predecessor, Ramesses III.
Accession and the Conspiracy
The transition of power occurred under extreme duress. Following the assassination of his father, Ramesses III, in a coup organized by the secondary wife Tiye to promote her son Pentawer, Ramesses IV successfully secured the throne. Judicial proceedings against the conspirators were conducted in the name of the deceased king, though subsequent CT scanning of the mummy of Ramesses III revealed a fatal throat wound, confirming that the new pharaoh presided over the trial and execution of the plotters.
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Evidence identifies Queen Tyti as the likely mother of Ramesses IV. Research published in the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology indicates that the title of king's mother associated with her tomb, QV52, aligns with his reign. He was ultimately succeeded by his thirteen-year-old son, Ramesses V.
Building Programs and Expeditions
The pharaoh launched an ambitious construction agenda, significantly increasing the labor force at Deir el-Medina to 120 personnel. Major projects included the enlargement of the Temple of Khonsu at Karnak and a mortuary temple near the structure of Hatshepsut. Extensive quarrying expeditions were dispatched to Wadi Hammamat and the Sinai turquoise mines. A recorded expedition in Year 3 involved over 8,000 men, with a mortality rate exceeding 10 percent during the transport of massive stone blocks.
Fast facts
- Dynasty: Twentieth Dynasty
- Pharaoh Tenure: 1155–1149 BC
- Father: Ramesses III
- Mother: Queen Tyti
- Burial Site: KV2
- Primary Occupations: Statesperson, Pharaoh
Questions readers ask
How long did Ramesses IV rule?
He reigned for approximately six and a half years.
What happened to the conspirators who killed his father?
Ramesses IV oversaw their arrest, prosecution, and execution.
Achievements
- pharaoh (-1154–-1148)
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