Autobiography of Thutmosis III

An Imaginative, Posthumous Autobiography of Thutmosis III

by William Dunning
This sample creative writing assignment was completed in Dr. Vess's History 110 honors course during the Spring of 1995 at DeKalb College.

Thutmosis III: The Awakening

I hear a voice; a summons which I am powerless to resist. Who is he who dares to disturb the peaceful sleep of Thutmosis III, at rest these past thirty-five centuries? No doubt the restless spirit of Hatshepsut is somehow involved. No? Ah, a student from the twentieth century A.D. Delightful! Be still now, for I need a vehicle if I am to present my story in a satisfactory manor.
I am Thutmosis III, son of Thutmosis II, grandson of Thutmosis I, and Great King and pharaoh of the "Two Lands" and conquered principalities of Asia. I shall tell you with great truth the story of my rise to regality, my achievements as king, leader, warrior, and father.
I was born the only son to my father, Thutmosis II, who was married to his half-sister, Hatshepsut, probably the most shrewd, ambitious, and unscrupulous woman ever to stain this earth. My mother was a harem-girl named Isis. My father died suddenly --I have my own suspicions regarding his death-- when I was but a child of four, but before his death he contrived (knowing full well Hatshepsut's temper and ambition) to have me named as his chosen successor, Chosen-One of the Gods, ruler of the "Two Lands." In only the second year of my rule, 1502 B.C., Hatshepsut conspired, and succeeded, with the help of her vizier and chief advisors, to be crowned king with full pharaonic powers. She claimed divine birth, going so far as having temples built with inscriptions and scenes depicting the event, along with fictitious accounts of having been appointed by Thutmosis I. This fiendish woman even exhumed my grandfather's remains and reburied them in her own tomb. Even though I served as co- regent, it took me 20 years to rid Egypt of this despicable creature. I also married my half-sister, Hatshepsut's daughter, Neferure. She died prematurely leaving me with no offspring. It was, however, her death combined with the revolts in Asia and the death of her vizier which afforded me the opportunity to take over the throne. In my 22nd regnal year, 1482 B.C., Hatshepsut disappeared quite suddenly, and my army with which I had spent almost my entire youth as commander, leader, and general, helped to clear out the riff-raf left over from her reign. I was now sole master of Egypt. I was now no longer a child, but a fiercely energetic and capable leader of men. My first act was the destruction of Hatshepsut's memory. All statues of her were destroyed, her names and figures removed from the facades of temples as well. Such is how I came to be, as your history books tell, the greatest of all the Egyptian pharaohs. Now, let me speak of my reign.
My independent reign lasted for 32 years, during which time Egypt never new greater wealth and stability. My chief accomplishments include organizing a highly efficient, well-tuned internal bureaucracy as well as augmenting Egypt's wealth with the consolidation of Nubia and Sudan under my rule. I began a voracious building program, advanced our art and culture to unparalleled heights. As an ardent and discriminating patron of the arts, I even designed the furnishings for the temple of Amun. Indeed, I excelled as a general, administrator, and statesman as well as being an accomplished horseman, archer and probably the best all-around athlete of my time --even though I stood only 5 ft. 4 inches tall. Some of your books describe me as Napoleonic. However, I believe it would be more truthful to describe Napoleon as Thutmosidic. And let it be known that I was neither brutal, vain, temperamental, nor distasteful. My death came during my 54th year on the throne, March 17, 1450 B.C. My son, Amenophis II, born to my second wife and cousin, Meryetre Hatshepsut, took to the throne immediately. My son was a carbon-copy of myself in temperament as well as skill and wisdom. He was, however, much larger in stature, nearly 6 ft. tall, the largest of all the Thutmoside pharaohs.
Let me tell you now of my greatest memory. As you may or may not know, it is customary for a king to excel his contemporaries and royal predecessors in the field of sport -- hunting prowess, charioteering, and archery. These feats were as well publicized as our prowess as warriors and wisdom as statesmen. As my prime source of relaxation and relief from the pressures of kingly duties, my son and I often hunted together. In my time I slew 120 elephants and killed a rhinoceros with only one toss of my spear, so great was my arm. But my greatest memory came during a day of simple target practice. For the royal bowmen of the Eighteenth Dynasty, the usual target of wood or reed was replaced by a thick plate of copper fastened to a tall sturdy pole. In the presence of the whole army, I drove an arrow deeply into such a target, which I later set up in the temple of Amun as a sample of my prowess. I was, however, outdone by my son, the greatest archer of ancient times, who, riding in his chariot at full speed past a row of four copper plates, "a palm (three inches) in their thickness," and spaced about thirty-five feet apart, shot an arrow cleanly through each of them, "so that it came out and dropped to the ground." My greatest day, my proudest day. So as it is written, so let it be told. These personal records are sincere and free of embellishments --for there is no need.
My thanks to the vehicle; his body, inferior though it may be, has served my purposes well. Peace and long life to all --and now, sleep.