Administration
The administration of Egypt was broken into three sections; internal and external administration and the royal palace. The system of administration was hierarchical with the pharaoh being the dominant leader to whom all officials answered to. As leader of Egypt the pharaoh, with the assistance of officials including priests, scribes, viziers and chief of military, worked together to run the empire efficiently and keep maat. To do this military campaigns, building programs and propaganda were used to remind the people of the power of the pharaoh, subdue and internal and external problems that arose and gain the support and admiration of the people and gods.
Background
Ramesses II came from a generation of military leaders who did not belong to the royal bloodline. This was a result of Horemheb, a pharaoh from the eighteenth dynasty who died with no heir to the throne. Ramesses I, Horemheb’s chief military commander, was appointed pharaoh though he had no ties to the royal bloodline. He had a son Seti I so that when Ramesses died the rule of pharaoh was passed down through the military family, marking the beginning of the nineteenth dynasty and becoming known as the Ramesside period.
Ramesses II’s contributions and involvement within the administration of the empire can be seen throughout the pharaohs life. In the earlier years of Ramesses II life while still heir, the prince gained experience within the three main areas of the administration by accompanying his father Seti I, assisting him with building programs and campaigns. Evidence gained through a stele at Quban shows that at the age of ten, Ramesses II was title ‘Chief of Military’.
Officials
In 1279 with the death of Ramesses father Seti I, Ramesses demonstrated his involvement within the administration as his first act after his father’s death was to appoint Nebwenenef as the new high priest of Amun. Other official who assisted Ramesses II in the governing of the empire were Paser, the Vizier of Thebes, who served under Seti I and Ramesses II, The Viceroy of Kush was Iuni and Merenptah who was appointed Executive head of the Two lands, Royal Scribe and later became heir to the throne as he was the pharaohs 12th son.
Many of the High priests throughout the empire had a large amount of power and influence over the Egyptian people as they controlled a large percentage of food and land. The High Priests of Amen, were rapidly gaining power throughout Ramesses reign. To prevent this Ramesses moved the focus of religion away from Amen by building temples in honour of other gods including Ptah and Re.
Background
Ramesses II came from a generation of military leaders who did not belong to the royal bloodline. This was a result of Horemheb, a pharaoh from the eighteenth dynasty who died with no heir to the throne. Ramesses I, Horemheb’s chief military commander, was appointed pharaoh though he had no ties to the royal bloodline. He had a son Seti I so that when Ramesses died the rule of pharaoh was passed down through the military family, marking the beginning of the nineteenth dynasty and becoming known as the Ramesside period.
Ramesses II’s contributions and involvement within the administration of the empire can be seen throughout the pharaohs life. In the earlier years of Ramesses II life while still heir, the prince gained experience within the three main areas of the administration by accompanying his father Seti I, assisting him with building programs and campaigns. Evidence gained through a stele at Quban shows that at the age of ten, Ramesses II was title ‘Chief of Military’.
Officials
In 1279 with the death of Ramesses father Seti I, Ramesses demonstrated his involvement within the administration as his first act after his father’s death was to appoint Nebwenenef as the new high priest of Amun. Other official who assisted Ramesses II in the governing of the empire were Paser, the Vizier of Thebes, who served under Seti I and Ramesses II, The Viceroy of Kush was Iuni and Merenptah who was appointed Executive head of the Two lands, Royal Scribe and later became heir to the throne as he was the pharaohs 12th son.
Many of the High priests throughout the empire had a large amount of power and influence over the Egyptian people as they controlled a large percentage of food and land. The High Priests of Amen, were rapidly gaining power throughout Ramesses reign. To prevent this Ramesses moved the focus of religion away from Amen by building temples in honour of other gods including Ptah and Re.
Campaigns
Within Seti I and Ramesses II’s reign, only a minimal amount of uprisings occurred throughout Nubia and Egypt but whenever necessary the pharaoh would intervene to maintain public order. These were dealt with personally by the Pharaoh. Within the nineteenth dynasty the Irem tribe organised two revolts, the first under the reign of Seti which was subdued quickly and the second in the fifteenth to twentieth year of Ramesses II reign. Evidence shows that Ramesses personally came to Nubia and with the assistance of the Viceroy of Kush, an estimated seven thousand members of the tribe were taken captive. By advertising the capture of the tribe Ramesses demonstrated to the Nubian people, his power and influence over them and successfully prevented other revolts from occurring. Ramesses also built many temples within Nubia, the most significant being the rock temple at Abu Simbel. The structure overlooked Nubia and its overpowering size emphasised the pharaoh’s control of the region. |