
Amenmesse (died 1198 BC) was an Egyptian usurper who claimed the title of Pharaoh from 1201 to 1198 BC, challenging Seti II.
Biography[]
Amenmesse was the son of Merneptah and Takhat, the brother of Twosret, and the half-brother of Seti II. A headstrong member of the royal family who gained considerable wealth by controlling many of Egypt's gold mines, he grew bitter that he was passed up in the line of succession; he was given a distant posting as Viceroy of Kush, while his half-brother Seti was favored as heir. On the death of their father Merneptah in 1203 BC, Amenmesse attempted to usurp the title of Pharaoh from his half-brother, and he succeeded in taking power in Upper Egypt and Nubia, which he may have previously governed. Amenmesse destroyed his half-brother's tomb-to-be in the Valley of Kings in 1201 BC, but, in 1198 BC, Amenmesse was defeated and slain by Seti in 1198 BC, and his tomb was destroyed to settle their score.