Introducing – Pharaoh Ahmose I

We begin with the first Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, Ahmose I, whose name means “Born of Iah.” He was the founder of the Eighteenth Dynasty.

Ahmose I was the son of Pharaoh Seqenenre Tao and the brother of the last Pharaoh of the Seventeenth Dynasty, King Kamose.

Ahmose grew up during a turbulent period in Ancient Egyptian history when Thebes rebelled against the Hyksos, the foreign rulers of Lower Egypt. When Ahmose was only seven, his father was killed. Three years later, his brother died under unknown circumstances after reigning for only three years. This death was a pivotal moment in Ahmose’s life.

Upon his brother’s death, Ahmose I ascended to the throne and became known as Neb-Pehty-Re, meaning “The Lord of Strength is Re.”

Pharaoh Ahmose was dedicated to fulfilling what his father had initiated during his reign. He successfully completed the conquest and expulsion of the Hyksos from the delta region, reinstating Theban rule over all of Egypt. Furthermore, he successfully reasserted Egyptian power over its former territories in Nubia and Canaan.

In addition to these military victories, Ahmose I undertook extensive efforts to rebuild the economy and bureaucracy of the nation. He reorganized the administration, reopened quarries, mines, and trade routes, and initiated massive construction projects on a scale not seen since the time of the Middle Kingdom.

These projects culminated in the construction of the last pyramid built by native Egyptian rulers. Ahmose’s reign laid the groundwork for the New Kingdom, during which Egyptian power reached its zenith. His reign is usually dated to the mid-16th century BC.