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Origins. Pharaoh Ramses I making an offering before Osiris, Allard Pierson Museum. Originally called Pa-ra-mes-su, Ramesses I was of non-royal birth, being born into a noble military family from the Nile Delta region, perhaps near the former Hyksos capital of Avaris. He was a son of a troop commander called Seti.
Ramses I was the founder of the 19th dynasty of ancient Egypt. He became the coregent of Horemheb, the last king of the 18th dynasty, who died without an heir. Already of advanced age upon ascending the throne, Ramses reigned about one year and four months with his son Seti I as coregent.
Ramses I was born into a common Egyptian family during the mid-14th century B.C. His father, Seti, was a well-known military troop commander in northern Egypt. His wife, Sitre, was also the child of a military man. Although the world would come to know him as Ramses I, his birth name was Paramessu.
Ramesses I completed the Second Pylon of the Temple of Amun at Karnak which had been initiated by Horemheb and placed a stele at Wadi Halfa. He also began a temple and chapel at Abydos which were completed by his son Seti.
Rameses I was born in the mid-14th century B.C. His home lay near Avaris, a town in northern Egypt situated on the far side of the great fan-like Nile Delta from where Alexandria sits today (see...
Ramesses II ruled the Nile Valley and the wider Egyptian empire from 1279 to 1213 B.C., one of the longest reigns in pharaonic history. He was a cultural innovator, a relentless self-promoter, and an astute diplomat—the peace treaty signed after the Battle of Kadesh was the first in recorded history.
The New Kingdom of Egypt reached the zenith of its power under Seti I and Ramesses II ("The Great"), who campaigned vigorously against the Libyans and the Hittites. The city of Kadesh was first captured by Seti I, who decided to concede it to Muwatalli of Hatti in an informal peace treaty between Egypt and Hatti.
