by Luke Stark

Created on: July 03, 2008   Last Updated: July 04, 2008

Amenhotep IV came to power c. 1353 BC, after the death of his father Amenhotep III. This period in Egyptian Pharaonic history has caused much debate amongst scholars of today. The debate revolves around the possible co-regency of Amenhotep III and Amenhotep IV. One believer in this co-regency is Cyril Aldred, who argues furiously that there must have been a co-regency based on twelfth dynasty rulers who all ruled with their sons, a kind of introduction and showing the rulers-to-be, how to govern. Such examples are the Pharaoh's Ammenemes I to the III. There is also apparent evidence from Amarna that Amenhotep III had in fact lived there for a while. This comes from the work of John Pendlebury, who excavated at Amarna. The evidence comes in the form of two fragments of pottery, with dockets of Years 28 and 30 written upon them. These dates according to Aldred must have referred to a longer reign than that of Akhenaten, who did not found Akhetaten before regnal Year 5 and died in Year 17'. However, to the writer of this work, the problem of a co-regency is not in question, and so this will be left to one side, and the assumption that Amenhotep IV became King after his father's death will be used.

When Amenhotep IV came to the throne, it appears that it was due to the death of an older brother, Prince Tuthmosis. Even though he was thrust into this position, Amenhotep surely would have been groomed in the ways of a Pharaoh and how to rule. He would have learnt statecraft in settling the affairs of Memphis and Lower Egypt, using the aid of their high officials. He would certainly have been groomed in international relations, and the affairs of Egypt's neighbours, and probably how to govern the empire. So when Amenhotep came to the throne, he found the empire was still large and powerful, foreign ambassadors often paying their respects and baring gifts. There had been internal problems early in his reign within Nubia, but these had been dealt with by Amenhotep IV, and the viceroy of Kush. Letters between Pharaoh and vassal states continued, and even increased, as many of the letters seem to come from the period of Amenhotep IV's reign. The empire seemed to be at relative peace, the accord with Mitanni remained, and of course Mitanni acted as a buffer state between Egypt and the soon-to-be powerful Hittites. The empire did not change greatly in the first years of, the reign of Amenhotep IV, there was little expansion. It is perhaps this fact that there was no real change that we should be concerned with, for example the apparent pacifism of the soon to be Akhenaten. But also the change in diplomatic relations between the empire and her neighbours is a great concern, as will be shown in other areas of discussion.

There are many concerns with the reign of Amenhotep, particularly his inexperience or even lack of judgement when dealing with foreign nations, particularly the Hittites. Indeed, it seems that Hatti was one of the main reasons behind Egypt's decline in imperial sovereignty. Just before the accession to the throne of Amenhotep IV, the fortunes of Hatti, turned with the coming to power of a new King, Suppiluliumas I' . This new King brought in an age of change and disorder for Egypt, as a war between Hatti and Mitanni seemed inevitable. Egypt's vassal states and borders were threatened by this war and, inevitably the Pharaoh was drawn into the turbulent politics of the region; and that Pharaoh was fated to be Akhenaten' . Firstly, we need to discuss the new religion of Amenhotep IV, which occurred first, and whether or not this had any kind of effect on the empire and the decline of Egyptian sovereignty.

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