
Setnakhte (died 1186 BC) was Pharaoh of Egypt from 1189 to 1186 BC, succeeding Twosret and preceding Ramesses III.
Biography[]
Setnakhte belonged to a minor line of the Ramesside dynasty, and Pharaoh Merneptah (a relative of his) appointed him governor of Lower Egypt's western border with Libya, where Setnakhte fought off Libu raids. In 1205 BC, Setnakhte's son Ramesses was appointed Governor of Sinai both with the intention of keeping Setnakhte and his charismatic son apart (Merneptah believed that the young Ramesses had the potential to seize the throne someday), as well as to test the young prince's leadership capabilities as Egypt warred with her Canaanite neighbors. During the 1190s BC, Setnakhte emerged as a major player in Egyptian politics, supporting Pharaoh Seti I against Amenmesse. In 1189 BC, however, Setnakhte seized the throne from the Egyptian queen Twosret during a period of political instability following Seti's downfall, possibly slaying Twosret during a decisive battle for control of the Egyptian throne. With the pharaonic name "Userkhaure-setepenre Setnakhte", Setnakhte married Pharaoh Merneptah's daughter Tiy-Merenese as a means of securing his legitimacy. During his reign, Setnakhte expelled Irsu's Canaanite raiders from Egypt, forcing them to abandon the gold they had looted from Egypt's temples. He also stabilized Egypt's chaotic political situation through the subjugation of the remaining rebellious nobles, and he established his son Ramesses III as his successor before dying in 1186 BC.