The Burial of Thutmose IV

“The falcon has flown to heaven and Nebmaatra Amenhotep Ruler of Thebes is arisen in his place.” Such was the announcement for every New Kingdom monarch. Prince Amenhotep succeeded to the throne at his father's death, sometime around 1391 B.C., the latter's reign having been rounded out by scholars to ten years. As mentioned previously, there is evidence that Thutmose IV had made some plans or an attempt at having a jubilee festival, and Melinda Hartwig has suggested that he deified himself, both of which seem at best premature in such a short reign. Had he become mortally ill, or was he fatally wounded in battle? In this case, a quickly planned fete or self-deification might have been hoped to revive him. Obviously, it was futile.

Like Senwosret in Sinuhe's tale, if our Amenhotep was viceroy of Nubia, he must have returned urgently to Memphis, or at least Thebes, to secure his transition to the throne. There is no evidence that he had rivals, but even Senwosret, despite having been named years earlier as his father's coregent, worked under Amenemhet's orders, suggesting a de facto secondary status. At word of the old man's death, Senwosret rushed back to the capital to officially claim the seat and crowns already due him.