Ramesses III (1217-1155 BC) was Pharaoh of Egypt from 1186 to 1155 BC, succeeding Setnakhte and preceding Ramesses IV.
Biography[]
Ramesses was the son of Setnakhte and Tiy-Merenese, and he governed the Sinai as a young man, with that arid peninsula being meant to serve as his proving grounds. In that position, Ramesses battled the most feared raider of that time, the Canaanite chieftain Irsu. He succeeded his father as Pharaoh in 1186 BC. He was the last great New Kingdom monarch to wield any substantial authority over Egypt, and he fought against the invading Sea Peoples and the Libyans; he defeated the Sea Peoples in two great land and sea battles. After defeating the Sea Peoples, he subjugated them and sent them to settle southern Canaan, contributing to the formation of Philistia. Ramesses also campaigned against the Libyan tribesmen in 1181 and 1175 BC. The heavy cost of his battles financially drained Egypt, and Egyptian political and economic power declined. He was assassinated by one of his secondary wives and several high officials in the "Harem conspiracy" of 1155 BC.
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