Merneptah (1287 BC-2 May 1203 BC) was Pharaoh of Egypt from 1213 BC to 1203 BC, succeeding Ramesses II and preceding Seti II.
Biography[]
Merneptah was the thirteenth son of Ramesses II and Isetnofret, and he became Overseer of the Army in 1239 BC and heir to his father in 1224 BC. For the last twelve years of his father's life, he served as prince regent, and he fully succeeded his father in 1213 BC. He carried out several military campaigns during his reign, fighting against the Libyans in 1208 BC; at Perire, he won a six-hour battle against the Libyans and the Sea Peoples, killing 6,000 of them and taking 9,000 prisoners. He also launched a five-year campaign against Israel, claiming that he wiped them out, and that their seed was no more. He died in 1203 BC.
Merneptah's death coincided with the Bronze Age collapse, and Seti (r. 1203-1197 BC), Amenmesse (r. 1201-1198 BC), Tausret (r. 1191-1189 BC), and Ramesses (r. 1186-1155 BC) each claimed the throne for themselves. These leaders were forced to battle social disarray, natural disasters, and waves of invaders as they fought for control of the throne; they also vied for power against the Canaanite rulers Bay and Irsu and the Hittite kings Kurunta and Suppiluliuma II.
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