Senusret III
| Senusret III | |
|---|---|
| Sesostris III, Senwosret III | |
Heads of Senusret III from the British Museum
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| Pharaoh | |
| Reign | 1878 – 1839 BC (Twelfth Dynasty) |
| Predecessor | Senusret II |
| Successor | Amenemhat III |
| Consort | Meretseger, Neferthenut Khnemetneferhedjet II |
| Children | Amenemhat III, Khnemet, Menet, Mereret, Senetsenbetes, Sithathor (?) |
| Father | Senusret II |
| Mother | Khnemetneferhedjet I |
| Died | 1839 BC |
| Burial | 29°49′9″N 31°13′32″E / 29.81917°N 31.22556°E |
| Monuments | Buhen and Toshka |
Khakaure Senusret III (also written as Senwosret III or the hellenised form Sesostris III) was a pharaoh of Egypt. He ruled from 1878 BC to 1839 BC during a time of great power and prosperity, and was the fifth monarch of the Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom. He was a great pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty and is considered to be perhaps the most powerful Egyptian ruler of the dynasty. Consequently, he is regarded as one of the sources for the legend about Sesostris. His military campaigns gave rise to an era of peace and economic prosperity that reduced the power of regional rulers and led to a revival in craftwork, trade and urban development. Senusret III was one of the few kings who were deified and honored with a cult during their own lifetime.
Senusret III was the son of Senusret II and of Khenemetneferhedjet I also called Khenemetneferhedjet I Weret (the elder). Two wives of Senusret III are known for certain. These are Khenemetneferhedjet II and Neferthenut, both mainly known from their burials next to the pyramid of the king at Dahshur. Several daughters are known, although they are also just attested by the burials around the king's pyramid and their exact relation to the king is disputable. These include Sithathor, Menet, Senetsenebtysy and Meret. Amenemhat III was most likely a son of the king. Other sons are not known.
Senusret III cleared a navigable canal through the first cataract (this was different from the Canal of the Pharaohs, which Senusret III also apparently tried to build). He also relentlessly pushed his kingdom's expansion into Nubia (from 1866 to 1863 BC) where he erected massive river forts including Buhen, Semna and Toshka at Uronarti.
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Wikipedia