by Max Overton
That day came on the twenty-second day of the fourth month of Akhet. Tausret led the procession into the valley of Ta-sekhet-ma'at, to the dark mouth of the rock-cut tomb that had been prepared for the king. It stood near Tausret's own tomb and opposite the one that had been prepared for his uncle Bay. The burial party studiously avoided looking at Bay's tomb, pretending it was not there. The man's body had been lost anyway, but nobody could think what to do with the tomb itself. No doubt some other king would claim it, chisel off all references to the son of Amenmesse and replace them with his own holy names.
The burial of Siptah was short and straightforward. Tausret opened the lips of the dead king's Ka statue, made the necessary offerings, and departed. The priests offered up their prayers and then sealed the tomb. As the party wound its dusty way back down the valley, few people gave a thought to the young boy now consigned to history, but all thought of the days to come.
Tausret met with the priests of Amun and Tjaty Hori to make the last arrangements for the coronation the next day. There were a lot of details to finalise, and there were several arguments over the phrasing of the prayers and priestly pronouncements.
"But those are the words I would use for crowning a king," said Hori, Hem-netjer of Amun. "You are a woman...a Queen."
"Exactly right," Tausret said. "I am a Queen, but tomorrow I become a king. Those are the words that must be used."
"It would not be proper."
"It has been done before," Tjaty Hori said. "Look up the temple scrolls for the forms used in the coronation of Maatkare Hatshepsut when she became king."
Hem-netjer Hori muttered some more but gave in, saying he could perhaps adapt the forms. Tjaty Hori had another matter that gave him some concern.
"When your father Baenre Merenptah was crowned, nobody among the people knew the correct forms as there was hardly anyone living who could remember the coronation of your illustrious grandfather Usermaatre Ramesses. It was a grand event and elicited much rejoicing. Then only a few years later there came the coronation of Userkheperure Seti, then quickly that of Menmire Amenmesse and his son Akhenre Siptah. Now there is to be another." Hori bowed his head. "Forgive me, Lady Tausret, but the people are tired of continued coronations. They desire stability above all else, and I fear they will not display much enthusiasm for tomorrow's events."
"Then I shall have to make sure this is the last coronation they see for a generation," Tausret said with a smile. "A period of stability will be good for everyone."
"And who will be your heir?" Hem-netjer Hori asked. "Continuity is very important."
"There is no one," Tjaty Hori said. "Unless you turn to a lesser relation of Usermaatre."
"I am old," Tausret admitted, "but not too old. I still have my monthly courses. I intend to marry and produce an heir of my own loins."
"With whom?" Hem-netjer Hori asked sharply. "A Queen...or a King...cannot choose just anyone. Your consort must be noble at the very least, preferably royal..." A horrified expression crossed the High Priest's face. "I hope Your Majesty is not contemplating a foreign marriage."
"Not foreign; no. As to whom, well, you will have to wait upon my decision. Nothing has been planned yet, nor the subject broached with the intended recipient." Tausret slashed the air with a hand, signifying an end to the discussion. "For now, concentrate on the coronation."
The next day dawned and, as in every coronation in recent years, Tausret waited outside the Great Temple of Amun dressed only in a plain linen dress, waiting for the priests to call her into the holy precinct. Most of the ceremonies would be the same, but some were different, as she was a woman. Though she had no difficulty with being naked in the right circumstances, she balked at the idea of stripping off in the Holy Lake and being bathed by men in the guise of gods. She would remain clothed during that aspect of the ceremony and change into dry clothing behind a screen of priestesses of Mut, Auset, and Tefnut. Then she would advance into Amun's House for the presentation to the god.
Everything went according to plan, and despite the priests' misgivings as ordaining a woman as King, the god Amun accepted her and the priests presented her to the people, calling out her royal names as they placed the varied crowns of Kemet on her head. They chose names that reflected her desire for peace and stability, but also her known attributes as a warrior against the enemies of Kemet.
"Let Heru empower you," called the first priest. "Your name in Heru shall be Kanakht Merymaat, Strong Bull, Beloved of Maat."
"Nekhabet and Wadjet name you also," the second priest said. "Your name of Nebty shall be Geregkemet Wafkhasut--Founder of Kemet, who vanquishes foreign lands."
"The gods recognise you as their daughter on earth," said the third. "Heru Nebu names you Kanakht Merymaat Nebanemnisutmiitum— Strong bull, beloved of Maat, Lord beautiful of kingship, like Atum."
"Nesut-byt--King of Ta Mehu and Ta Shemau, North and South," cried the fourth priest. "Sitre Meryamun--Daughter of Re, beloved of Amun."
"Sit-Re--Daughter of Re," the fifth priest said. "Tausret Setepenmut--Mighty Lady, chosen of Mut."
The Tjaty of the South had used his influence in the city to encourage the crowds out with the promise of food and drink for everyone, and Tausret's formal procession through the streets of Waset to the old eastern palace was beset by cheering crowds. She had intended to take a ferry to the western shore and sleep in the western palace, but after seeing the enthusiasm of the populace, she decided to remain in the city.
Almost every noble in Ta Shemau, and a great many from Ta Mehu were there to kneel before their new king and swear allegiance in the sight of their peers, and those that could not make the sometimes arduous journey for reasons of health, sent a proxy to make the oath on their behalf. After the nobles came the officials, overseers, merchants of the city and army officers, each bowing to the throne and the female king who sat upon it. They hailed her as Hereditary Princess, Great of Praises, Lady Sweet of Love, Mistress of Ta Mehu and Ta Shemau, King's Great Wife, Lady of the Two Lands, God's Wife of Amun.
There were, however, a few exceptions and these elicited much comment.
"Where is Ramesses, Commander of the Amun legion?" Tjaty Hori asked. "Let him step forth and offer his allegiance."
There was a pause, during which heads turned and people searched the crowded throne room for the young man.
"He is not here," the Captain of the Palace Guard reported.
"If he is sick, then let his proxy give the oath."
"He is not sick, and neither does he nominate a proxy."
The crowd muttered and several turned to stare at General Setnakhte, who stood to one side.
Hori followed the direction of the stares and beckoned Setnakhte. "Where is your son? Does he have good reason for not being here?"
"I ordered him not to attend," Setnakhte said.
"Why? It is his duty to swear allegiance to the new king."
Setnakhte took a deep breath and turned to regard Tausret on the throne. "Lady, I..."
"Address the king in the proper manner," Hori snapped.
Setnakhte frowned. "I recognise Queen Tausret, Great Wife of Userkheperure Seti and God's Wife of Amun, who was once Regent and mother of the legitimate heir, Seti-Merenptah, but I do not see a king."
"How dare you!" Ament came out from his position behind the throne and strode toward Setnakhte.
"Wait, Ament." Tausret waved him back and looked at the southern general with interest. "General Setnakhte, you stand high in my regard, as you were in my husband's regard, and for that I would hear you. Do I understand you right? You refuse to acknowledge me as king?"
"That is so, Lady Tausret."
"And your reason?"
"Lady, the line of succession is clear. Usermaatre Ramesses to Baenre Merenptah to Userkheperure Seti, to his young son Seti-Merenptah. I never recognised the legitimacy of the one called Menmire Amenmesse, nor his son Akhenre Siptah. I withheld my allegiance from the pretender and his son and I withhold it from you.
"
"But why, Setnakhte? I am daughter of Baenre and wife to Userkheperure. My son Seti-Merenptah was snatched from me, but they are all of my family. Why do you exclude me?"
"The line descends from father to son, not to daughter. I recognise and bend my knee to you as Great Wife, as God's Wife of Amun, and as Regent--even as Regent to the false king Akhenre--but a woman cannot be King of Kemet."
"Many would say she can. It has been done before."
"Times have changed, Lady. And anyway--I cannot."
Tausret looked calmly at Setnakhte, ignoring the hisses and angry stares of the nobles and courtiers. "What would you have me do, General Setnakhte?"
"Step down from the Regency, for there is no one to be regent over. Retire to your estates and leave Kemet to its legitimate male successor."
"That's just the point, you fool," Ament growled. "There is no male successor. No one to...by the gods, you are talking about yourself. You would aim so high?"
Setnakhte shrugged. "Kemet could do a lot worse. I am a son of Usermaatre and I have a grown son and heir."
Cries of 'Treason' and 'Arrest him' arose on all sides, but Setnakhte ignored them all.
"Well, Lady? Will you step down?"
Tausret shook her head gently. "I think not. I am already crowned and anointed and to step down and let others fight for the throne would be to consign Kemet to bloody warfare once more. I will not do it...I cannot do it."
"You must arrest him, Majesty," Tjaty Hori said. "You cannot allow this rebellion to go unpunished."
"Well, Setnakhte? Will you bow to me as king, or will you plunge the Kingdoms into civil war again?"
"I cannot bow to you as king, Lady Tausret."
"Then you do not leave me much choice. I must have you arrested. Ament..."
"Hold!"
Setnakhte turned to see his son Ramesses pushing through the crowd with a detachment of the Amun legion.
"You will not arrest my father," Ramesses declared.
"Will you also declare yourself a traitor?" Hori demanded.
"Never a traitor to Kemet or the true king," Ramesses said. "Come, father, there is nothing more to be said here."
"You should not have come," Setnakhte murmured. "Did I not order you to stay away?"
Ramesses smiled. "Indeed you did, father, and no doubt you will think up a suitable punishment for my disobedience, but for now I suggest we get ourselves far from here."
Setnakhte nodded and started toward the doors, the Amun soldiers forming a guard around him.
"You declare yourselves traitors, and your lives and lands are forfeit. Why do you insist on engendering another civil war?" Ament asked.
General Setnakhte turned back and Ramesses paused. "You mistake me, Ament," Setnakhte said. "I would give my life for Kemet, but not for a woman who should not be on its throne. I will not start a war, but if one is forced on me, I will finish it."
"You would be crushed..."
"Not in the south. Amun and Mut will follow me."
"Two legions. King Sitre Tausret can call on ten from the north."
Setnakhte nodded. "That is with the gods."
He turned to leave and Ament roared with rage. He grabbed a spear from one of the soldiers and threw his arm back to hurl it at Setnakhte's back.
"Stop, Ament!" Tausret cried. "Let them go."
With a great effort, Ament aborted his throw and the spear clattered harmlessly to the tiled floor. He snarled his rage and disappointment and turned, pushing through the crowds to leave through a side door.
"Call the Council," Tausret said to Hori. "We must decide what this means for Kemet."
Hori started issuing orders to clear the throne room and then sent out runners to call in those Council members who were not in attendance, including Northern Tjaty Mentu who, though having come down to Waset, had been indisposed for much of the time. After a few moments' consideration, he summoned Setnakhte and Ramesses as they were also on the Council, but they did not respond. Within the hour, the King's Council met in the lesser throne room to face the first crisis of the new reign.
"That was a mistake," Ament said bluntly by way of an opening statement. "If you had let me strike him down an hour ago, we would not need this meeting."
"Moderate your language, Commander," Hem-netjer Hori said. "This is the king you are speaking to."
"I speak as I see it," Ament replied. "The king knows I have only her good at heart. The biggest mistake was only bringing down a few men and putting ourselves in the hand of Amun..."
Hem-netjer Hori leapt to his feet. "How dare you? Amun favours the king."
"Your pardon, priest. What I meant to say was the Amun legion. If we had brought the Set legion down with us, that traitor would not have dared to do anything."
"What's done is done," Tausret said quietly. "For good or ill, I did not want blood shed on my coronation day, so now advise me. Where do we go from here?"
"With respect, Majesty," Tjaty Hori said. "We must act fast to prevent the south rising against you. Setnakhte is popular in Ta Shemau."
"Doesn't matter how popular he is down here," Tjaty Mentu said. "The north can raise enough legions to crush him."
"And that is exactly what I do not want," Tausret commented. "I want to restore the Ma'at of Kemet, not rip it asunder once more."
"If you will not spill blood today, you must be prepared to spill it tomorrow," General Iurudef said. "Setnakhte has already started to withdraw the Amun legion from Waset and the Mut legion is in Ta-senet. By tomorrow, he will be beyond the reach of your hand."
"Send me down to Ta-senet alone then," Ament said. "I will rid you of Setnakhte...and Ramesses too."
"I seem to remember your last foray into the south as an assassin was not too successful," Mentu commented. "Perhaps we should leave this to the legions."
"I agree," Tjaty Hori said. "How soon could you have say...four legions down here, General?"
"A month...maybe a month and a half."
"No. I will not take the path of violence until I am forced to it."
"Majesty, Setnakhte may force you to it sooner than you think."
"Perhaps not," Tausret said. "Setnakhte declared he would not start a war."
"You would trust him?" Ament growled.
"He could have ended it once and for all today, but he did not. He has command of the whole Amun legion and his son commands the Mut legion. If he had chosen to, he could have overwhelmed the small force I brought with me and ended my rule at one stroke. He refrained from violence, so I will do likewise."
"It is never a sign of strength to leave an enemy unscathed behind you," Hori said.
"Another mistake," Ament muttered.
"Enough. I have made my decision. I will return to Men-nefer and endeavour to rule well so Setnakhte has no reason to openly take up arms against me. Meanwhile, Hori will allow the Amun legion back into Waset and will try and persuade Setnakhte to accept my rule. I do not want a civil war and I will not start one. Setnakhte has said he will not start one either, so if both parties keep to their words, we should have peace."
Chapter 41
Year 1 (6) Sitre Meryamun Tausret
Sitre Tausret returned to Men-nefer aboard the royal barge a few days after her coronation, and stopped at every city and temple on the way downriver to enact a copy of the ceremonies so that every person could see that she truly was the new king. Whenever a Governor had a Window of Appearances in his palace, she would speak to the assembled people and assure them that days of peace were there to stay. She stressed her reign was a continuation of the reign of her husband Userkheperure Seti, and that is why she dated her rule from his death. The listeners were reminded that she had effectively ruled the nation since then, though her title had been regent. That was now at an end, she said, and Kemet could look to prosperous and peaceful years ahead.
She ordered bread and meat be distributed in each city so the people could celebrate, but though they ate the food readily enough, the
people were apprehensive and half-heartedly cheered Tausret as she left the city. By the time the barge reached Men-nefer, she was thoroughly despondent and wished more than ever that she had someone close in whom she could confide. There was Ament, of course, an old friend she had met as a girl and who had supported her readily enough over the years, but he was not the same as a husband. For the first time, she looked at him as a man rather than just as a friend and loyal servant.
Tjaty Mentu came to Tausret's private apartments in answer to her summons and every servant was dismissed. Tausret paced in silence for a while, watched by Mentu, who grew more worried as time passed. At last, she spoke, though hesitantly.
"You remember we spoke before my coronation, of who would be my heir?"
"I do, Majesty. Have you reached a decision?"
"There is no one truly acceptable but..." Tausret hesitated again. "There is another possibility. I could yet bear a son of my own body to inherit the throne."
Mentu nodded. "We spoke of this too, Majesty, and I asked you if you were considering a foreign prince. You denied it then--have you changed your mind?"
"No, not a foreign prince but rather a man born in Kemet, loyal to the House of Ramesses and who has served it for many years."
"Does this man have a name, Majesty?"
"Ament."
"Ament? Commander Ament of the Set legion?"
"Yes."
"Majesty, he is a commoner and...and the son of a mere fisherman."
"Even the great Usermaatre Ramesses had a commoner for a grandfather--Paramessu son of Judge Seti. He was a soldier, like Ament, yet he went on to become a great king."
"Majesty...you are surely not contemplating raising him to the throne? Such an action would certainly precipitate the civil war you seek to avoid. Your great-great-grandfather Menpehtyre Ramesses arose to power within a time of civil war and if there was another such time it would not be Ament who became king. General Setnakhte, for one, who barely tolerates your presence on the throne, would march on Men-nefer with his legions and...and I fear he would not be the only one to do so."