Fall of the House of Ramesses, Book 2: Seti

by Max Overton

  Ramose nodded sombrely. "Death penalty for sure." Suddenly he grinned, displaying a toothless mouth. "Mind you, they'd only be depriving you of a year of life at best."

  "Speak for yourself, you old fool," Nekhen retorted. "I'll see you in your tomb yet."

  The old men sat in silence for a time, listening to the life of the village, to the women chattering as they worked and the children playing. Shadows of the western cliffs crept over them and the heat of the day drained away like water in sand.

  Nekhen stirred again and muttered, "What about it, though? Userkhe...someone was crowned king and hasn't died. What does that make the other man? Is he really king or not?"

  "That's a question for the priests," Kenhirkhopeshef said. "I wouldn't ask them if you value your life though."

  "Or for soldiers," Ramose said. "Anyone can be king if he has a large enough army backing him up."

  "I was a soldier once," Anek said.

  "Nonsense," Nekhen jeered. "You're making up stories."

  "I was," Anek declared. "Years ago, when my father Pepi was a sculptor here in the village..."

  "I remember Pepi," Kenhirkhopeshef murmured. "He was a good man."

  "...I joined up and was in the Re legion with Usermaatre when he went up to Kadesh to sign the peace treaty with the Hatti. That was in the king's...oh, nineteenth or twentieth year, I think.

  "Twenty-first."

  "Twenty-first it was, thank you Scribe. Well, I didn't see much action, nor earn myself gold of valour, but I seen the power the generals and commanders wielded. One of them could become king if he had a mind to."

  "May those days never come again," Kenhirkhopeshef said. "Before my time, but I remember my grandfather talking of the times after the fall of the Heretic when a throne was there for the taking by any general with an army at his back." He shook his head slowly. "Bad times."

  "Yes, but we're not talking about generals and armies," Nekhen said. "We've got two brothers, both sons of a king and now both crowned as king and hating each other. What's going to happen?"

  "What's going to happen is we get on with our work and leave the running of the kingdoms to our betters," Kenhirkhopeshef said. "Let the kings and priests and nobles get on with it. We know how to dig rock, work it, carve stone and keep records. Be satisfied with that."

  There was a bit of grumbling and muttering, but the old men shrugged and bowed to the pronouncements of their old scribe. Dusk approached and the work teams from the Great Place returned, tired and dusty. They filed through the gate and separated, each to his own home where wives and daughters brought them fresh water to bathe in, clean garments to change into, and a pot of beer to enjoy while they prepared the evening meal. The old men dispersed too, tottering on bent legs to join their families and seek the solace of the hearth fire, a hot meal and their bed as Nut spread her star-studded body over the Great Field and the village of the Servants of the Place of Truth.

  Chapter 26

  Year 2 of Userkheperure Seti

  Year 1 of Menmire Amenmesse

  "Withdrawn all the way up to Men-nefer, my spies tell me," Sethi said. "He could see how it was here in Ta Shemau, every man's hand against him and only two legions to support him."

  "So what now?" Tjaty Khaemter asked.

  "Now we consolidate power in Waset, recruit more men and train them up. That'll take the best part of a year, then we march north and oust the pretender from his throne."

  "Too long," Amenmesse said from his position by the window, where he stared out at the gardens below. Somewhere in the shrubbery a bird called, its long-drawn-out cry mournful in the gathering dusk. More faintly he could hear the coughing roar of a big cat in the menagerie and the answering screams of the monkeys. It put him in mind of his days as King's Son of Kush, down in Napata, and he felt a twinge of nostalgia for simpler days. He sighed and turned back to face the other two men.

  "I can't wait a year. Every day I delay tells people that I accept my brother has a claim to the throne. If it is mine by right, as I claim, then I should wrest it from his grasp immediately."

  "We're not ready," Sethi said. He saw a flash of anger in Amenmesse's eyes and added, "Son of Re."

  "I can't wait a year," Amenmesse repeated. "Find a way to bring it forward. Three months at the outside, but I want some action taken before that."

  "What sort of action, Majesty?" Khaemter said.

  Sethi opened his mouth and then glanced at his king. Amenmesse nodded. "Go ahead, Sethi. I'm sure you have ideas."

  "Yes, Son of Re," Sethi said. "Show the people that support for your brother is ill advised. Go through the cities, not just Waset, but all the cities and towns of Ta Shemau, and hang a few supporters in each one. Make the people afraid so they don't dare oppose me."

  "I'm not sure fear is the best way to rule," Khaemter objected.

  "I agree. I'm the rightful king," Amenmesse said. "I should be loved and respected, not feared."

  "Time enough to gain their love and respect when you've settled the whole country under your rulership, Son of Re. Let them fear you first and then they'll be so grateful when you offer them crumbs they'll think they're at a feast."

  "Some people like Neferronpet deserved to die," Amenmesse said. "But I don't like the wholesale slaughter of others."

  "Would you rather forgive them and then find they're plotting to bring back Seti?"

  "Of course not, but...I suppose you're right."

  "Trust me in this, Son of Re. A swift purge of the main dissidents and we can re-establish Ma'at throughout Kemet."

  Amenmesse visibly vacillated and then shrugged. "Do what you must."

  "There are other ways to bring the people in line," Khaemter said. "I'm not saying Lord Sethi shouldn't act against dissidents and traitors, just that that need not be all we do to win the hearts of loyal men."

  "What are you suggesting?" the king asked.

  "Men always need the gods and honouring them has ever been popular. Build shrines, build temples, erect stelae, and make sure the king's name is prominent on them all."

  "That's expensive," Amenmesse muttered.

  "What is that to you now, Son of Re?" Khaemter asked. "You own the gold mines of Kush and all their output. You can afford anything you desire."

  "And there are a large number of inscriptions already in place that honour Seti," Sethi added. "It is a relatively cheap and easy job to have his name chiselled off and your name carved in its place."

  "All of which gets your name known to all your subjects without having to kill people," Khaemter finished.

  "I like it," Amenmesse said. "I've already given the command to stop work on my brother's tomb and start mine. It will be a simple matter to extend that to monuments and temples."

  "I'll have the documents drawn up by the scribes."

  "And what of my army? I'm going to need several legions of well-trained men if I am to be victorious."

  "That is possible too, with enough gold," Sethi said. "With your permission I'll offer a bounty for every man who joins up. I imagine that'll bring in hundreds, maybe even thousands, from the villages and towns. I can have recruiting officers spin a pretty yarn about the possibilities of loot once we invade Ta Mehu."

  Amenmesse frowned. "The northern kingdom is mine too. I don't want to take possession of a ruined land."

  "I'll make sure the recruiters don't lay it on too thick," Sethi assured the king. "Besides, once we win we can always deny them the opportunity to loot." He laughed. "It'll be too late for the men to change their minds about fighting then."

  "And there are plenty of good men in Kush," Khaemter said. "We had to work within a tight budget before, but now that you have the gold mines and the royal herds at your disposal, we can entice many more tribesmen. They do love their cattle."

  "Men alone aren't enough. They have to be trained."

  "I have a handful of experienced officers. It will take time but I think we can get three, maybe four legions."

  "Within three
months?" Amenmesse asked. "I have to invade Ta Mehu and rid myself of my troublesome brother once and for all."

  "I'll try, Son of Re."

  "Do more than try."

  Khaemter and Sethi set off on their separate expeditions within days. Sethi was accompanied by a large squad of Medjay and the dregs of the Amun legion, and cruised slowly upriver. They stopped at every village, town and city, made sure the mayor or local governor swore an oath to Menmire Amenmesse, and then proceeded to round up every person of any note who had openly or covertly supported the previous king known as Seti.

  Sethi paraded the captured traitors before the assembled populace, harangued them all concerning the need for everyone to support the only true king of Kemet, and then proceeded to execute the supporters of Seti. Hesitantly at first, and then with increasing enthusiasm, the townsfolk betrayed their neighbours, and if several were motivated by reasons other than loyalty to the new king, Sethi was not going to argue. His terror millstone needed traitors to grind, and the overwhelming message was to be loyal to Menmire Amenmesse or die.

  The executed traitors had their wealth confiscated and a fee paid to the accusers, so many rich men died solely because others envied them their wealth. With wealth confiscated, the families of the accused found themselves without the means to bury their dead, and Sethi relieved them of the necessity by having the bodies thrown in the river. So many men floated down the dark green waters that people in Waset were sure some great battle had been fought in the south. As Sethi and his men pursued their bloody course down the length of Ta Shemau to the borders of Kush, they left behind fear and loathing, but also a population cowed and tractable.

  Khaemter's mission was more welcome. He toured the towns and villages, seeking out the areas that were the poorest or suffering from localised hunger and offered the men a way out. He cajoled and encouraged, painting a wonderful picture of the riches that were to be had by signing up for one of Menmire's legions. Men made their mark, swearing an oath in front of a priest and receiving a promissory token redeemable for a bag of grain and a copper piece in the capital city. A few would join in every village and more in the towns, and Khaemter and his officers would march on to the next town with the men they had gathered, to find some more. When a hundred men had joined, he sent them off to Waset under the control of officers, for them to start their training.

  By the time Khaemter had made his way up the river all the way to Kush, he had sent nearly a full legion of conscripts back to be trained and was feeling very pleased with himself. He left instructions with Commander Tarkahe at the garrison at Abu to scour the countryside for more men, and then took to the road once more with a small cadre of officers to talk to the Kushite tribes.

  When Khaemter had marched north with Amenmesse, he had given up the position of King's Son of Kush that Baenre Merenptah had settled on him, leaving the governance of the province in the hands of his deputy, a capable man called Setuy. This Setuy was a commoner, but had risen to become a king's scribe and fan-bearer on the king's right. If he was confirmed in his position, he would become one of the most powerful men in Kemet. This was one of the things Khaemter wanted to see for himself before recommending his protégé to Menmire Amenmesse.

  "Welcome, my lord Khaemter," Setuy said, greeting his visitor in the middle of the audience room floor. "The news reached me that you had been made Tjaty of the South."

  Setuy was uncertain who held the greater rank between the two of them, so he had decided he would be standing beside the viceregal throne when Khaemter arrived. If he was sitting when Khaemter entered and stood to greet him, he was granting the other man a higher status, and if he remained seated, it might be seen as an insult. Setuy knew he could not afford to make an enemy of the Tjaty.

  The next question of protocol was seating. If he sat back down on the throne he was again claiming the higher rank, letting Khaemter sit on it gave him the status, and even sitting on two chairs nearby made him look weak and vacillating. Instead, he had a servant announce that a meal was served on one of the shaded balconies of the palace. The two men walked together through the broad doorway to partake of a light meal.

  "I did not think to see you so soon, my lord Khaemter," Setuy said. "I thought your duties in Waset would keep you busy."

  "I'm sure your spies gave you ample warning of my arrival." Khaemter helped himself to a selection of fresh fruits he had missed since moving north to Kemet. "And my duties as Tjaty entail more than just the city of Waset."

  "Of course...but in Kush? The province is under my control."

  "I made you Viceroy when I left," Khaemter said sharply. "I will also be the one to recommend to Menmire whether you be kept on in this position."

  "To Menmire? But Userkheperure is king of Kemet. He appointed you and you appointed me."

  "And I can dismiss you if I see fit."

  Setuy sighed inwardly. Khaemter had at last made their relative positions clear. "Then how may I be of assistance, Tjaty Khaemter?"

  "You have heard that Messuwy, son of Baenre, has made himself king in the south? He is now Menmire Amenmesse."

  "Yes."

  "What then is your understanding of the situation in Kemet? Explain it that I might see if you grasp the nuances."

  Setuy busied himself with his food while he considered his answer. He bit into a fig and winced as a seed caught a tender spot in a cracked tooth. "Userkheperure Seti was crowned at Waset last year and rules from Men-nefer in Ta Mehu," he said. "Then this year, as you say, Menmire Amenmesse was likewise crowned in Waset and rules from that city." He picked up a fragment of bread and rolled it between finger and thumb. "It is my understanding that neither king desires to rule over just one kingdom but wants to extend his rule over both, ousting the other from power. This is a situation that upsets the Ma'at of the kingdoms as it sets southerner against northerner."

  "Is one king more legitimate than the other?"

  "My lord Khaemter!" Setuy looked around in some alarm to see if any of the omnipresent servants were within earshot. None were, but he lowered his voice anyway. "If it were anyone but you, my lord, I would arrest them for voicing such a thought."

  "Why? It is a reasonable question. Expand on that thought, King's Son of Kush."

  Setuy dismissed the servants and walked across to the edge of the balcony, looking over to check if there were any listeners in the shrubbery. He saw Khaemter's sneering smile and flushed. "Menmire Amenmesse is the elder son of King Baenre and under normal circumstances one would expect him to inherit the throne. It is well known there was...uh...friction between father and son, and he was sent to Kush to keep him out of the way. His half-brother Userkheperure Seti is the younger son but managed to secure the position of Crown Prince, perhaps by staying close to his father and insinuating himself into his good graces. Whatever the reason, he became king on the death of Baenre. It was entirely legal and proper."

  "You don't know the reason Seti Meryenptah inherited instead of Messuwy?"

  The Viceroy shook his head. "You do?"

  "Yes. The old king Usermaatre Ramesses had a favourite son called Khaemwaset whom he wanted to inherit. The favourite son died and Merenptah became the Crown Prince. Merenptah had married Khaemwaset's daughter Isetnofret and had a son called Seti, while Merenptah's previous wife Takhat had borne him Messuwy. The old king still wanted Khaemwaset to inherit through his children, so he made Merenptah promise to make Seti Meryenptah his heir, rather than Messuwy. The position of Deputy King's Son of Kush was given to Messuwy as a sop."

  Setuy whistled and nodded thoughtfully. "That explains a lot. If Merenptah swore an oath then he had no choice but to make Seti Meryenptah his heir. By any standard he is legitimate."

  "Are you saying Menmire Amenmesse is not?" Khaemter asked, his face and voice expressionless.

  Sweat beaded on Setuy's brow as he realised the trap he had fallen into. "No, my lord, of course not."

  "Then what are you saying? If Seti Meryenptah is a legitimate king,
then how can Amenmesse be one too?"

  "My lord, I..." Setuy flushed and looked away, visibly distraught.

  Khaemter regarded his former deputy with mild amusement, waiting for the man to reach some conclusion. When he saw it was not coming, he prompted, "The priest perhaps?"

  "My lord?"

  "Who conveys the blessing of the gods onto the king when he is crowned?"

  "The Hem-netjer of Amun?" Setuy asked.

  "Precisely. And who is the Hem-netjer of Amun?"

  "Roma-Rui?"

  "Indeed. Roma-Rui crowned Amenmesse in a formal ceremony in Waset this year. What of Seti Meryenptah? Who crowned him?"

  Setuy frowned. "Er, Roma-Rui?"

  "No, it was Second Prophet Bakenkhons, who Seti raised to the position of Hem-netjer after he dismissed Roma-Rui."

  "But..." Setuy thought about what he had been told. "But no man can dismiss the Hem-netjer of Amun, not even a king and...and Seti Meryenptah was not even a king when he did so."

  "Therefore?"

  "Seti Meryenptah's coronation was illegitimate. Amenmesse is truly king."

  "That being so, what will you do?" Khaemter asked.

  "Do, my lord? My duty, I suppose."

  "Of course, but what is your duty?"

  "To obey the king and...and his Tjaty."

  "You accept my authority over you as mouthpiece of King Menmire Amenmesse?"

  "Yes, my lord. Command me."

  "You are ordered to raise and equip an army from among the Kushite tribes. I want three legions within three months."

  Setuy went pale. "M...my lord, th...that is im...impossible," he stuttered. "I have neither men nor gold."

  "The king has released the production of the royal gold mines into my keeping, and Kush is full of men. Use your imagination, Setuy. I want three legions in three months. Produce them and the king will confirm you as King's Son of Kush."

  Chapter 27

  Tausret speaks:

  We should have killed Messuwy when we had the chance, but now he has had the audacity to crown himself king, as if that farce of a coronation has any true worth. He is a fool if he thinks people will support him. The only reason he has succeeded so far is that he stole the king's gold while down in Kush and has bought the loyalty of venal men. Messuwy has upset the Ma'at of Kemet, and the gods will surely not allow him to continue his destructive course for long.