Menkhpere: The Pharaoh Who Won an Empire for Ancient Egypt

By ROYSTON MOORE

MENKHPERE

Pharaoh Menkheperre Thutmose, who preferred to be called Menperre, was the sixth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt and was the pharaoh who won a vast empire for ancient Egypt.

With his queen, Merytre Hatshepsut, daughter of Pharaoh Makere Hatshepsut, this man and womans romance is probably the greatest love story of the ancient world.

It seems three different minds bedeviled him throughout his life.

Not fearing being killed, nor those resulting in the deaths of his soldiers or enemies, simply because he believed his destiny, was to conquer an empire for Egyptwhich he did achieve.

A man, who at times, was consumed by intense hatred, particularly of Senmut and King Solomon. A desire for revenge which at times drove him mad.

Yet he was capable of great love, tenderness, and kindness to his wives and family, providing a supreme atmosphere of family life enjoyed by everyone.

It is time this great romance is known to the world.

This book, though offered in a fictionalized form, is factually correct in every aspect. Enjoy the peculiarities of Menkheperre Thutmose, which has never been told before.

But enjoy how his love for his wives transcends all else.

ROYSTON MOORE

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Jul 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466941946

ROYSTON MOORE

After a highly successful career in education and politics, he has become a successful historical author. His successful ancient Egypt fiction novels Makere, The Magnificent Heresy, and now, Menkhpere are based on his discovery of 500 years’ error in ancient Egyptian history. Now offering six historical fiction books on early American history. Royston Moore is a chemistry honours graduate of the University of Manchester and was granted the CBE in 1983. He was also granted an honorary MA from the University of Bradford in 1986.

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© Copyright 2012 Royston Moore.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or

otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4669-4195-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4669-4194-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012910414

Trafford rev. 08/03/2012

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CONTENTS

IN THE BEGINNING

PREPARATION

PLANING

INVASION

MITANNI

EMPIRE

DECISION

RESTITUTION

APPENDICES

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FOREWORD

Pharoah Menkhpere Thutmose (who we know today as Thutmose III, the sixth pharaoh of the Royal House of the famous Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt) wished to be known as Menperre and was a very religious man. He considered no woman could wear the Double Crown and become the Living God. For his god Amen Re was a very masciline god (as his statues maintain).

Therefore Makere Hatshepsut should never have become pharaoh, though he blamed her father and his grandfather, for this, realising that Hepnere Thutmose (Thutmose II) was totally unfitted to become pharaoh. Because of this he claimed his accession to the throne from the day Hepnere Thutmose died, completely discounting the reign of Makere. However he did accept that she was the Great Gods Wife of Hepnere Thutmose. So ignoring the insults she had given him,—when she died,—acccepting she had no right to become pharaoh, she could not be buried in her Mortuary Temple – Her ‘Splendour of Splendours’ – now at Deir el Bahir, Luxor .

Instead he buried her with the father she loved in his tomb, with the full rites, not as a pharaoh, but as the Great Gods Wife. However her mummy disappeared later. This caused his wife Merytre Hatshepsut to strongly dislike him for a long time though, in time, this gradually turned to one of complete love.

He was a strange man and history has given us a distorted view of him. He sincerely believed he was born to make his country, Tomery (Egypt) great, so invading and capturing most of the Middle East at that time. Although this resulted in countles deaths of Egyptians as well as his enemies, and he himself in the lead was always in mortal danger,—yet, in other ways, he could become a different man.

His love for his wives and children and the tenderness he bestowed on all of them, shows him to be a very caring man. His love for his first wife, Nebet-yuney, continued for all his life, long after her death. His love for Merytre Hatshepsut was just as strong but in an entirely different way.

How the hatred Merytre Hatshepsut had for him turned very gradually to her all embracing love for him is one of the great love stories of the ancient world. It seems that the attack he made on the memory of Makere Hatshepsut did not occure when she died but some thirty years later. Then he tried to obliterate her from history destroying every image, statue and statements of her believing as Egyptians did, you also denied them an ‘after life’. It nearly succeeded. She was omitted from all king-lists and was unkown until 1870. Even then her name was read inverted and she was thought to be a man. It has taken many years to discover the true life of this amazing woman.

This book attempts to explain this but, also, to bring to you a true picture of Thutmose’s unique life both of warfarfe and complete love and tenderness. The love affair of Merytre Hatshepsut and Menkhpere Thutmose is truly one of the most intense and enduring romances of the ancient world and needs to be told.

Royston Moore

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IN THE BEGINNING

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Menkhpere Part 1 – In the Beginning

IN THE BEGINNING

1.

This story may seem to be improbable – but it actually happened.

It seems there has been an error in the Chronology of Egypt and we should now deduct some 500 Years from the present timings. A synopsis of the proof of this error is included in the Appendices to this book.

These events occurred in what we now call the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Menkhpere Thutmose, who today we know as Thutmose III, was the son of Princess Isis who was married to Okheperkere Thutmose, known today as Thutmose II. However he may not have been his father, for Thutmose II was a homosexual. Although this was considered a crime in Ancient Egypt, he was absolved being an illustrious member of the Royal House.

Thutmose II was normally called Hepnere Thutmose and it is this name we will use in future.

However there is no doubt of Hepnere’s desire for beauty and the Lady Isis was a very beautiful woman. Her loveliness captivated him and why he married her making her a princess of the Royal House. Only later did she discover he was a homosexual. The truth was he normally hated women, even his own mother, Princess Mutnofret. However even worse he could be excessively cruel to women. This then was the unfortunate life Princess Isis had to endure due to her marriage to this perverted man, and why we must question who was Menkhperre Thutmose’s father. Again Menkhperre was normally referred to as Menperre, so we shall use this name in future, as he grew up to become a very strong masculine male, quite different from Hepnere.

Princess Isis was only a secondary wife of her husband for it is known that after her father, now known as Thutmose I, died poor Makere Hatshepsut, as the Sacred Heiress of Amen Re was forced to marry her perverted step-brother so he could become Pharaoh and so became his Premier Wife. For in those days to become pharaoh it was demanded he must first marry the Sacred Heiress.

Women in Ancient Egypt held a unique position. Only women could inherit property, and this was denied to men. So to acquire possession of anything he must first marry when in this civil contract his wife bestowed all her property to her husband. Yet when she died this property was inherited by another woman, usually her sister or daughter. This was the very reason why incestuous relationships were common in the aristocracy.

This applied to the Sacred Heiress of Amen Re and why Hepnere had to marry Makere Hatshepsut before he could be crowned Pharaoh. The complete storey of her complicated life can be found in the book ‘Makere’ by this author.

So it seems that Menkhpere or Menperre Thutmose was the son of a secondary wife and should Makere Hatshepsut bear a son, Menperre would lose any chance of becoming pharaoh. A fact which makes his life of great interest, as we shall see.

*     *     *   *     *     *   *     *     *   *     *     *   *     *     *   *

The childhood of Menperre Thomas was unusual as firstly his parents spent separate lives. Hepnere Thutmose only married Makere Hatshepsut so he could be crowned pharaoh, though he hated intercourse with any women he had to ensure there were children to follow him after he died. It seems after the wedding it was ten full days and nights before he eventually came to her and painfully seized her, raped her and made her pregnant. This resulted in a daughter she called Princess Nefrure. Afterwards there were few times when he came to her. Fortunately her will to live was only possible because she eventually found true love with a web priest of Amen Re, Senmut, later becoming his very willing mistress which lasted the entire length of her life.

She tried to marry him and raised him to one of the highest positions in Egypt, but he was a commoner and marriage would have made him pharaoh, which Egypt could never have accepted. Never-the-less Makere was eventually to become the only Egyptian lady to wear the Double Crown of Egypt as undisputed Sole Pharaoh of Egypt long after her husbands death. Remember Cleopatra was a Greek, a Ptolemy, who usurped the crown in the days of Alexander. In fact it is doubtful she ever ruled as pharaoh and it was her brother who was the ruler. She is famous as the mistress, first, of Julius Caesar and then Mark Anthony and like both of them died a painful death

Like Makere, Princess Isis had also taken two lovers. One was Lord Nesamen and the other Captain Userhet who she successively raised to become responsible for the entire No Amen command. Fortunately for both of them having achieved the position as pharaoh, Hepnere Thutmose was pleased his two wives now never troubled him, content to enjoy his harem of young men graciously given him by his mother, Princess Mutnofret, even ignoring his mother’s request to expose the infidelities of his two wives.

In was in this atmosphere that the young Menperre Thomas was raised, and which effected his future life.

It was during these years that a critical rebellion by the northern princes, supported by Princess Mutnofret occurred and for which she was brought to trial after it had failed. Furious at her son Hepnere’s attitude, she attempted to establish herself as Regent over her son and rule the country in his place. When the rebellion failed Mutnofret was banished from court to eventually die on her estate devoid of any power. Just as Makere’s mother, Queen Aahmes Hent Temehu failed to gain power for herself whilst Makere Hatshepsut, already crowned pharaoh by her father, Thutmose I, became little more than the Great God’s Wife.

Again all these events greatly effected Menperre Thomas during these formative years. He quickly realised his mother, Isis, was trying hard to establish him as the future pharaoh after Hepnere Thutmose died whilst Makere was trying to prevent this happening. For that reason Isis placed her son in the Temple of Iset Esset (known today as the Karnack Temple of Egypt). Like previous men hoping to become pharaoh, Menperre Thutmose became one of its Lector Priests. We shall begin the storey of his life at that time nearly three thousand years ago

*     *     *   *     *     *   *     *     *   *     *     *   *     *     *   *

His mother’s affair with the very masculine Captain Userhet was of course known to Menperre. In fact it was this man who instilled in him a great desire to become involved in military matters and later train to become an efficient military officer, even to command an army to conquer new lands for his country. However first, his mother was determined her son should become pharaoh, ensured his life followed exactly as would any Pharaoh of Egypt should be trained.

First he must learn fully about religious matters and so as a previous priestess of Amen Re she insisted he must become a Lector Priest in their temple of Iset Esset which today we know as the Karnack Temple. Menperre, in spite of this strong wish to prove his ability as a commander of armies accepted his mother wish that he must first prepare himself as would any future pharaoh for such an important life.

Princess Isis spoke to her son, Menperre you must apply yourself to learn all about religious beliefs, important when they make you pharaoh. Menperre was not convinced and replied, Mother, I know you believe I should attain this great privilege and someday wear the Double Crown – but it is most unlikely – Makere will in time bear a son with far greater right to assume the crown. Because I love you I will attend to my studies but please do not consider I shall ever aspire to such an exalted office.

Isis persisted, You must never stop believing it will happen. The Second Prophet, Neferhotep, is my friend ever since I was a priestess in the temple. In spite of the fact his father, Lord Amoto lost his position as Vizier of this land due to his sale of chariots to Israel, both Neferhotep and his brother Neferweben were not implicated and so retain their positions. They are both very powerful men who believe you should become their future pharaoh, disgusted that Okkere Thutmose (Thutmose I) made Makere Hatshepsut his Joint Pharaoh. How can any woman aspire to a position which only a man should hold. So please remember later you must reward them with far more important positions. – So, son, listen carefully to their advice –work hard in the temple for you will need these men’s help when your time arrives.

Since the death of Okkere Thutmose (Thutmose I) to avoid civil war the Vizier Amoto had set up a Council of Notables on which both Aahmes Hent Temehu and Princess Mutnofret, the rivals for supremacy, were represented, together with the High Priest Parennefer, the Chief Justice Ptahmose and several uncommitted nobles. This had resulted in Amoto as Chairman virtually ruling the land for many years.

Now with Amoto dismissed for his crime and then Princess Mutnofret was removed having been sentenced for her involvement in the northern rebellion. However, as we shall see, Aahmes was herself exiled to her estate for attempting to establish herself as Regent to her daughter, Makere Hatshepsut. This ingenious plan to usurp a magnificent obelisk with is inscription indented to proclaim Hepnere Thutmose and cleverly replacing it proclaiming Makere Hatshepsut as the sole and only Pharaoh had failed. (This obelisk today stands in the Temple of Karnack eventually erected many years later when in fact Makere Hatshepsut was the undisputed Sole Pharaoh of Egypt)

It seemed Makere knew nothing of her mother’s plans and it was she who ensured its failure, for her mother disgusted that her daughter had fallen in love with Senmut, a person born as a peasant, arranged for his death whilst the obelisks were being made. Once Makere discovered her mother tried to eliminate her lover she denounced her mother, without consulting her husband, the pharaoh, ordered her trusted Captain Ahmose Pen Nekheb to place Egypt under military control and exiled her mother to her own estate near No Amen. At that point the Council of Notables no longer existed.

With this upheaval Princess Isis determined to further her plans for her son had instigated her own party of supporting notables, which included Neferhotep as Second Prophet, his brother Neferweben as Mayor of No Amen (Luxor), as well as Nesamen and Prince Hadad of Edom, so gradually this became an important power in the country. So installing her son as a lector priest was all part of her plan.

This then was the situation when Menperre Thutmose entered the temple of Iset Esset as a young man.

2.

So Menperre quickly installed himself in the temple. Though he had met both Neferweben and Neferhotep at court in the past he hardly knew them. However he now met Neferhotep every day and received special instruction as required by future pharaoh. In fact Menperre enjoyed his work and quickly became very popular with his fellow priests, who of course knew of his importance. It seems that probably the most important event was when Neferhotep took Menperre to his brother, Nerferweben’s home to meet his family.

This event, unknown to either at that time, was in the distant future to lead to a very important mutual friendship including Menperre’s love affair with Neferweben’s daughter, Nebet-yuney, who was later to become his secondary wife. For Neferweben during his father, Amoto’s term of office, had himself been very involved in the affairs of state and was both a very intelligent, and very ambitious man. So he cultivated Menperre, broadening his knowledge of how the country was run. In fact overtime it blossomed into a very lasting and very important friendship. Menperre came to know the family very well and enjoyed meeting Nebet-yuney, every visit he made there.

Neither did his sojourn in the temple prove wasteful. He found his colleague priests frankly disliked their pharaoh, Hepnere Thutmose. Hepnere had shown himself to be both vein and unreliable ignoring his duties as pharaoh for a sensual life with his young male harem. They quickly discovered Menperre’s desire to assume this elevated position and would do anything to support him in this quest.

An occasion occurred at one of the annual celebrations known as the Festival of Opet. It should be known that the events which follow really did happen as stated and are well documented in our known history of Egypt just as described below.

The Royal personages of Hepnere Thutmose, seated on his throne, with his Premier Wife Makere Hatshepsut seated on a lesser throne next him followed by a seated Menperre Thutmose. As was expected the statue of their Primer God Amen Re was carried on several temple priests shoulders entered and proceeded towards the assembled important personages. It should have continued until it was in front of pharaoh where it should bow showing abeyance to the Living God.

Before this the statue appeared to have gone mad and deviated from a straight line. It now veered chaotically and then at last stopped opposite Menperre to whom the statue did abeyance bowing to him several times. Of course it was probability a simply foolish prank so that they could support his claim to become the next pharaoh. This foolish gesture was to created chaos. Hepnere considered this to be an effrontery to his parsonage. He rose in a rage shouting that the festival had ended and immediately returned on his barge to his palace of Opet demanding all important officials and particularly the High Priest Parennefer accompanied him.

There, now in anger at what he considered as an insult to himself, the Living God, and showing that day the signs of future instability. He immediately blamed High Priest Parennefer accusing him of complete disloyalty to his pharaoh. In fact it was most unlikely that Parennefer would have considered such a foolish act. If anyone was to blame besides the priests who committed the offence, it most likely that Neferhotep along with Princess Isis who were the culprits.

Since Parennefer could not give any satisfactory explanation of what had happened, insanely Hepnere dismissed Parennefer as High Priest exiling him for life to a mortuary temple in Kush (Nubia) which simply stunned the entire assembly. Then suddenly Hepnere realized what he had done and must appoint a new High Priest. The logical choice was the present Second Prophet, Neferhotep, and may have been the real reason for the event. Unable to think quickly Hepnere irrationally appointed Queen Aahmes trusted advisor Hapuseneb as the new High Priest. Already since his mistress’ exile Hapuseneb had allied himself with her daughter, Makere Hatshepsut, and so Hepnere was appointing a man possibly dangerous to himself. A certain gain for the Makere faction in the court and a possible future enemy for Hepnere. This showed just how unstable Hepnere Thutmose had become.

This event polarized the situation and was to create the subsequent conflict between the supporters of Makere Hatshepsut and those of Princess Isis, leading to serious repercussions in the future for Egypt.

3.

Menperre’s opinion of Makere Hatshepsut were divided. Being a deeply religious person he was appalled when her father made her Joint Pharaoh. Amen Re was a very masculine god, so how could a woman become the Living God. He knew this was also the opinion of Neferhotep. Her position now was not as a pharaoh but rightly as the Great Gods Wife.

Yet he had been surprised that when her mother tried to establish Makere as Sole Pharaoh she had acted decisively as a pharaoh – Makere not even consulting her husband – placed the country under military control and had her mother arrested. So defeating the plot which would have made her Sole Pharaoh and destroying any power of her husband, who was the son of a secondary wife, Princess Isis. Menperre considered Makere had acted decisively even though if allowed to happen would have greatly increased her own position. It seemed she placed the future of Egypt was more important then herself.

Although he was appalled at the idea of a woman becoming the Living God and the insults he received from her in public, he tendered to blame her father Okkere Thutmose for doing this as the Living Pharaoh at that time. Throughout his life Menperre always regarded Makere Hatshepsut as merely the Great Gods wife of her husband , and he believed as his own father, Hepnere Thutmose. As a female she naturally only wanted peace at any price and robbed Egypt of its chance to become the greatest country in the Middle East.

However Menperre still felt she should never had been given the power to act this way. Now one of her strongest supporters had been made High Priest whereas this position should have been given to the Second Prophet Neferhotep. Menperre felt he could no longer stay as a lector priest in the temple. After all his desire was to become a very proficient military commander and if he should become Pharaoh, extend the boundaries of his country. With Neferhotep’s permission he left the temple and went to live once again with his mother.

So once again he came to know his mother’s lover Captain Userhet, the commander of the No Amen Garrison, who was a frequent visitor. The later was delighted to encourage Menperre’s interest in all military affairs. It seemed at this time it was necessary to renew the terms of the Triple Alliance of Tyre, Israel and Egypt which had been established by Thutmose I. So representatives of both Tyre and Israel came to No Amen for this purpose. Makere Hatshepsut was very anxious that the Alliance should be renewed as her promise to her beloved father when he made her Joint Pharaoh was to maintain peace in the middle east, to enable Egypt to recover financially by trade. She had promised him to try to do this so that the country might recover from the great costs in defeating the Amu and renovation necessary due to the battles.

Unfortunately her husband Hepnere considered this was a waste of time and left her to conduct the negotiations, which once again gave her some power. But Princess Isis, Prince Hadad and Captain Userhet were opposed to the Triple Alliance considering it restricted Egypt from becoming the most powerful country in the area.

Captain Userhet was complaining to Menperre at the cost of this conference and the great demands on his soldiers to ensure security to all their guests. Lord Menperre there is no longer any need for this alliance. – Egypt now can become a very strong force in this world. We should use this power to destroy countries like Israel and Tyre and make them vassals, and pay tributes to us. Why should we spend our money on maintaining the security of Israel?

Menperre agreed with him, You are right – why that man Solomon is demanding at this moment that we give him part of our possessions in Retinue simply for part of the dowry when he married Princess Nefrubity. That marriage should never have occurred. Princess Nefrubity was the full sister of Hepnere Thutmose, Pharaoh.

Now Userhet laid his hand on Menperre’s shoulders, My Lord when you become pharaoh you must build up the size of our armies, destroy this Triple Alliance, then invade and seize as much land as possible in Retinue. Strip these counties of their wealth and give Egypt an empire, taking away their valuable possessions to pay for this invasion. You then, will truly be a conquering pharaoh, leading Egypt to victory.

Menperre laughed loudly, Userhet I would love to do this. I hate this man Solomon – his people were once our slaves – it’s time we made them all slaves again. I believe I even hate even more that man Senmut, Makere Hatshepsut’s adviser – why he is a peasant and was lucky to become even a web priest of Amen Re. — Egypt must regain its dominance in the world – But Userhet – what chance if any have I got of becoming pharaoh?

Now Userhet showed clearly his plans for achieving this. Nesamen and others are demanding at the conference, at the demand of Hepnere, that we should increase greatly the size of my No Amen garrison, for our pharaoh is insisting this for his own security after the recent troubles with the northern princes. – Once we have sufficient strength we can use this to enforce our domination over Hatshepsut and the other foolish members of the court. – and you – Lord master will be our leader and true overall commander – I shall take my orders from you.

Menperre smiled. He knew what a strong and decisive man was Userhet. – Then realized how wonderful it would be to use his own army to achieve all his ambitions. In fact it would not be long before a chance occurred.

The Triple Alliance was confirmed and renewed and the No Amen garrison almost doubled in size. Certainly Makere Hatshepsut was opposed to this but got no assistance from her husband. However Captain Ahmose Pen Mekheb foresaw these dangers. Though he could not stop it, he fortunately, on the grounds of its necessity in responding quickly to any problems in Retinue, got everyone to agree to the establishment of a Rapid Deployment Force of chariots at Qoseir on the Red Sea coast. However his force was less than hundred miles from No Amen and if necessary could be used to counter the size of the No Amen garrison. – This was to be extremely useful in the near future and a danger to any ambitions Menperre possessed of becoming pharaoh.

4.

So the Triple Alliance had been renewed and for a number of future years. The fact that this had been achieved was, undoubtedly, entirely due to Makere Hatshepsut’s brilliant diplomatic skills. She had no difficulties with Tyre – but it was very difficult to get the Israel delegates to agree. She received no help from her husband who did not understand its importance to Egypt and after originally meeting the delegates left Makere to deal with the problems. He considered the conference was a waste of time and money. He had never liked other countries except Egypt, failing to see how for its security it was very necessary.

However it seemed that during her discussions with Israel they showed her a plague of King Solomon. Evidently his strong masculine appearance so different from Egyptian men with a bearded face quite startled her emotions. She had before this event considered Solomon an enigma. Makere was well aware of his demands concerning the conclusion of the dowry when her step-sister, Princess Nefrubity went to Israel to become one of Solomon’s wives, demanding lands in Retinue from Egypt as they had failed complete the dowry after the marriage. This action had alarmed her for her for it seemed he might use force and was threatening Egypt to achieve his ends. Makere knew peace was essential so Egypt could recover financially.

However Makere had been in frequent correspondence with her step-sister ever since Nefrubity traveled to Israel to be married. From these letters she seem to see a very different and considerate man. There was no doubt at this time, in spite of Solomon’s several wives, that there was some very kind and a loving relationship between them. Recently due to Nefrubity’s explanation of her relationship with the Queen of Egypt, that he responded as would any one to a sister-in-law. A genuine family relationship.

She had been amused when Nefrubity informed her that her husband found it difficult to pronounce Makere’s name and she was told he had decided to call her his Queen Shwa—a derivation of his mother’s name of Sheba. This action of kindness and friendliness was the exact opposite of his forceful demands concerning the dowry. It amused Makere and why she now considered him an enigma. She now knew just how much she would like to meet him and discover what sort of man he really was. Of course this was quite impossible at present.

It was certain that Makere’s brilliance in concluding satisfactory the new terms of the Triple Alliance had surprised everyone in the court and established her as being very much more that just the Great Gods Wife. It had also shown everyone how inept was their own pharaoh, now beginning to fear his outbursts and his obvious hatred of women.

There seem to be no doubt but that Hepnere Thutmose was slowly going mad and becoming a very dangerous man. His hatred of all women was so intense that when one poor servant woman accidentally strayed into his apartments he had used his whip on her causing her death. – It seemed Makere would need to be careful whenever she had need to visit him. Fortunately this was at present very rare

Of course Menperre Thutmose was annoyed that the Triple Alliance had been renewed. He had no time for either Israel or Solomon and agreed with Userhet that Israel should be conquered and forced to pay tribute to Egypt, whilst the alliance actually cost Egypt a great deal of money. Yet he felt this was not for Egypt’s benefit but simply to make Israel more secure. Still there was nothing he could do to change this so he decided to enjoy himself and to increase his growing friendship with both Neferweben and his family. He was a frequent visitor to that house and came to like Neferweben’s daughter, Nebet-yuney, very much, believing he was falling in love with her. It seemed that she too had developed a very great affection to him.

He discussed with Neferweben Userhet’s ideas of using the No Amen garrison to take power as soon as the present pharaoh, Hepnere died believing however, they would receive good warning whilst he was ill. They both agreed they should plan for that occasion for they felt that Hepnere was already a very sick man. However, in case of failure, both Neferweben and Neferhotep should appear not to be involved in the attempt, leaving him able to help them escape. However they both realized that Makere Hatshepsut would still be a crowned pharaoh, so some means must be considered of how to neutralize her. Menperre explained he would take charge of this and his method amused both of them.

Now there was nothing more they could do until the chance occurred. Meantime they cleverly arranged how to persuade Hepnere to appoint Neferweben as the new vizier, even though this was fiercely objected to by Makere. So Menperre decided he would increase his friendship with both Neferweben’s son, Reckmire and his very pretty daughter, Nebet-yuney.

5.

There was no doubt but that Nebet-yuney was attracted to Menperre and until now Menperre had rarely indulged himself with girl friends of any kind. He rarely had the opportunity to develop such friendships. However now he realised just how beautiful she was. Also there was no mistaking Nebet’s interest in himself so decided to capitalize on this fact. Nebet provided him with the excuse.

You are a strange man,, Nebet remarked. It seems you have little interest in women. – Father tells me you have not as yet found any girl friends to amuse you. Menperre laughed but not unkindly and replied, My dear – I just have not had the time to find such a girl – why do you mention this – do you think you might become such a one who might interest me?

Nebet was quite shocked at his question and somewhat embarrassed replied, Oh! No! That is – I was merely making a comment. Again he laughed, Nebet I have never had the time to develop such conquests. – In any case if I were to become pharaoh I should have first to marry the Sacred Heiress of Amen Re – and she would become my premier wife. – So it would be unfair to ask any other woman to marry me – for she would later only become one of my secondary wives.

Not to be out done Nebet continued, But supposing you did not become pharaoh, surely you might be considering you might one day want such a wife. Menperre could see where her questions were leading so he kindly added, But that would be unfair. – If I should marry then later became pharaoh, since I should have to also marry the heiress, my first wife would automatically be lowered to the position of a secondary wife, no matter how much I might love her.

There was silence for a moment and Nebet felt she must add, But there must be many women who would be willing to make that sacrifice, if she truly love him. Menperre realised she was inferring and that she might be willing to make such a sacrifice. He decided not to enquire further on this fact but at least Menperre now knew that Nebet-yuney thought sufficiently about him that if offered the chance she would be a woman willing to take this option – even to become his secondary wife – and he admitted to himself that she would be the type of woman he could learn to love.

Time passed and Hepnere became even more unstable. It was important that many high court officials were able to meet him, if only to get his sanction as Pharaoh to proceed with the government of the country. Soon these people became terrified in meeting him, as he often flew into a rage and were in fear of their lives. It seemed that Makere as his wife might be one who might meet him without fear and realizing how important this