Introducing Thutmose I

Thutmose I was the third Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty of Egypt. He ascended to the throne following the death of his predecessor, Amenhotep I.

During his reign, Thutmose I campaigned extensively into the Levant and Nubia, expanding the borders of Egypt further than they had ever been. He commissioned the construction of numerous temples across Egypt and established a tomb for himself in the Valley of the Kings. He is the first known king to have taken this action, although it is possible that Amenhotep I preceded him.

Detail from Thutmoses I sarcophagus donated by his daughter Hatshepsut

Thutmose I was succeeded by his son, Thutmose II, who was subsequently succeeded by his sister, Hatshepsut. Thutmose I’s reign is generally dated from 1506 to 1493 BC, according to most scholars.

There has been speculation that Thutmose I’s father was Amenhotep I. His mother, Senseneb, who was of non-royal parentage, may have been a minor wife or concubine. Queen Ahmose, the Great Royal Wife of Thutmose I, is believed to have been the daughter of Ahmose I and the sister of Amenhotep I. However, as she was never referred to as the “king’s daughter,” this theory remains disputed. Some historians suggest that she may have been Thutmose’s own sister.

If Queen Ahmose was indeed related to Amenhotep, it could be presumed that she married Thutmose to secure succession. However, this theory has been refuted for two reasons. Firstly, an alabaster bark built at Karnak during Amenhotep’s reign associates his name with Thutmose’s, well before Amenhotep’s death.

Military Campaigns

Upon Thutmose’s coronation, Nubia instigated a rebellion against Egyptian rule. According to the tomb autobiography of Ahmose, son of Abana, Thutmose led an expedition up the Nile and personally killed the Nubian king in the ensuing battle. An overall timeline of his military campaigns are as follows:

• Thutmose I’s military campaigns began immediately after his coronation around 1506 BC, with his first Nubian campaign marking his initial military action as pharaoh.

• This was followed by a second Nubian campaign in his third regnal year, where he ordered the dredging of the canal at the first cataract. The early part of his reign also saw a campaign in Syria, potentially in his second year. Mid-16th century BC witnessed the destruction of numerous Levantine sites, likely part of Thutmose’s campaigns against the Hyksos.

• Another Nubian rebellion in his fourth year led to further southward expansion of Egyptian influence and strategic administrative changes in Nubia.

His military campaigns were significant, particularly in Nubia and Syria, where he extended Egyptian influence. In Nubia, his campaigns quelled initial rebellions and extended Egyptian influence southwards, integrating the region into the Egyptian empire and significantly reducing its independence for centuries. His involvement in the Levant and Syria marked the farthest northern campaign of an Egyptian ruler at the time, encountering different cultures and geographical features like the Euphrates. These campaigns, marked by both military prowess and strategic diplomacy, led to temporary allegiance from local princes. The destruction of Levantine sites during this period is attributed to either Thutmose I or his predecessor, aiming to diminish Hyksos influence rather than establish permanent control. Additionally, Thutmose’s administrative and religious measures in Nubia, including the appointment of a viceroy and enhancement of religious sites, effectively maintained Egyptian dominance and stabilized the region.

Death and Burial

Thutmose I’s burial journey is marked by several transitions, starting with his initial interment in tomb KV38 in the Valley of the Kings, followed by a reburial alongside his daughter Hatshepsut in KV20. The discovery and clearance of these tombs, particularly by Howard Carter, unveiled significant artifacts including sarcophagi and inscriptions. Thutmose III later relocated Thutmose I to KV38, which was subsequently plundered. The mummy identified as Thutmose I, found in the Deir el-Bahri Cache, presented characteristics of an aged, strong individual. However, controversies regarding its identity arose, with later studies suggesting it might not be Thutmose I due to inconsistencies in age and cause of death. The mummy’s relocation to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in 2021 continues to be a subject of historical and archaeological debate.

Thutmose I’s mummy was discovered in the Deir el-Bahri Cache, a hidden repository that contained the remains of various rulers from the 18th and 19th dynasties. This significant find, revealed in 1881, included mummies of notable pharaohs such as Ahmose I, Amenhotep I, and Thutmose II, among others. Egyptologist Gaston Maspero, based on familial resemblance and embalming techniques, initially identified one of the mummies, labeled as #5283, as Thutmose I. The mummy showed signs of being an individual of advanced age at the time of death, with physical traits like worn teeth, a bald head, and a muscular build, suggesting a life of vigor and strength. Moreover, a genetic study pointed to the mummy belonging to haplogroup L, which is predominantly found in regions outside of Egypt, namely India, adding another layer of intrigue to its origins.

However, this identification has been mired in controversy. Doubts were raised about the mummy being Thutmose I, particularly when contrasting the physical and circumstantial evidence with historical records of the pharaoh’s life and reign. In 2007, Dr. Zahi Hawass announced that the mummy previously thought to be Thutmose I was more likely a younger man, estimated to be about thirty years old at the time of his death, which was caused by an arrow wound to the chest. This revelation was significant, as it contradicted the expectation of Thutmose I’s mummy being that of an older, more seasoned ruler. Furthermore, this discovery brought into question the entire narrative of Thutmose I’s final resting place.