Thutmose I
Thutmose I never called himself Son of the King. This absence suggests he was born into a non-royal family to a woman named Senseneb and an unknown father. Some scholars speculate his father might have been Amenhotep I, but no definitive proof exists. His mother Senseneb was not from a royal line and may have served as a lesser wife or concubine of Amenhotep. Thutmose married Queen Ahmose, who held the title Great Royal Wife. She was likely the daughter of Ahmose I and sister of Amenhotep I, though she was never explicitly called king's daughter. Historians debate whether she was actually Thutmose's sister. If related to Amenhotep, her marriage to Thutmose would guarantee succession. However, evidence contradicts this theory. An alabaster bark built at Karnak associates Amenhotep's name with Thutmose's name well before Amenhotep's death. Additionally, Thutmose's first-born son with Ahmose, Amenmose, was apparently born long before Thutmose's coronation. He appears on a stela from Thutmose's fourth regnal year hunting near Memphis. Amenmose later became great army-commander of his father before dying no later than Thutmose's own death in his 12th regnal year. Thutmose had another son Wadjmose and two daughters Hatshepsut and Nefrubity by Ahmose. Wadjmose died before his father while Nefrubity died as an infant. Thutmose also had one son by his other wife Mutnofret, who was likely a daughter of Ahmose I and sister of Amenhotep I. This son succeeded him as Thutmose II, whom Thutmose I married to his daughter Hatshepsut.
Upon Thutmose's coronation, Nubia rebelled against Egyptian rule. According to the tomb autobiography of Ahmose son of Ebana, Thutmose traveled up the Nile and fought personally killing the Nubian king. After victory he had the Nubian king's body hung from the prow of his ship before returning to Thebes. He led a second expedition against Nubia in his third year. During this campaign he ordered the canal at the first cataract dredged to facilitate easier travel upstream from Egypt to Nubia. This helped integrate Nubia into the Egyptian empire. The expedition is mentioned in two separate inscriptions by the king's son Thure. In the second year of Thutmose's reign the king cut a stele at Tombos recording that he built a fortress near the third cataract. This permanently extended the Egyptian military presence which had previously stopped at Buhen at the second cataract. Thutmose faced another rebellion by Nubia in his fourth year. His influence expanded even farther south as an inscription dated to his reign has been found as far south as Kurgus south of the fourth cataract. He inscribed a large tableau on the Hagar el-Merwa quartz outcrop 40 meters long and 50 meters wide located 1200 meters from the Nile atop several local inscriptions. This marks the furthest south the Egyptian presence is attested. During his reign he initiated projects that effectively ended Nubian independence for 500 years. He enlarged a temple to Sesostris III and Khnum opposite the Nile from Semna. Records exist of specific religious rites the viceroy of El-Kab was to have performed in temples in Nubia in proxy for the king. He also appointed a man called Turi to the position of viceroy of Kush known as King's Son of Cush. With a civilian representative of the king permanently established in Nubia, Nubia did not dare revolt as often as it had and was easily controlled by future Egyptian kings.
Thutmose campaigned deep into the Levant pushing Egypt's borders farther than ever before. The conquest of Megiddo was commemorated in reliefs at Karnak depicting conquered cities and their rulers as captives. Each city appeared as a bound figure with arms bound behind back explicitly identified as Syrian. In accompanying scenes Thutmose III is portrayed grasping kneeling Asiatics by the hair and in the act of smiting with his mace while deities present various Syrian towns in fetters to the king reinforcing imagery of physical domination and submission. Rulers were required to provide hostages and engage in dynastic submission. Many a Syrian king's daughter was received into the harem of the pharaoh reinforcing Egyptian control through elite incorporation and marriage politics. Textual sources from the time of Thutmose I include references to Retenu Naharin and land of Mitanni. The last is believed to be first historical reference to that kingdom. Many Levantine sites were destroyed in middle of 16th century B.C. These destructions have often been attributed to military campaigns of Thutmose I or predecessor Amenhotep I. As many as 20 sites in Levant suffered destruction at this time. For example fiery destruction of Stratum XVIII at Gezer has been assigned to second half of 16th century BCE time of Amenhotep I and Thutmose I based on pottery and scarabs discovered in destruction debris. It does not appear Egyptians aim at this stage was to control area permanently because they established no permanent presence in area. This happened later during 18th dynasty.
Thutmose organized great building projects during his reign including many temples and tombs but greatest projects were at Temple of Karnak under supervision architect Ineni. Before Thutmose Karnak probably consisted only long road to central platform with number shrines for solar bark along side road. Thutmose was first king to drastically enlarge temple. He had fifth pylon built along temple main road along with wall around inner sanctuary and two flagpoles to flank gateway. Outside this he built fourth pylon and another enclosure wall. Between pylons four and five he had hypostyle hall constructed with columns made cedar wood. This type structure common in ancient Egyptian temples supposedly represents papyrus marsh Egyptian symbol creation. Along edge of room he built colossal statues each one alternating wearing crown Upper Egypt and crown Lower Egypt. Finally outside fourth pylon he erected four more flagpoles and two obelisks though one which now has fallen was not inscribed until Thutmose III inscribed it about 50 years later. Cedar columns in Thutmose I's hypostyle hall replaced with stone columns by Thutmose III but at least northernmost two replaced by Thutmose I himself. Hatshepsut also erected two of her own obelisks inside Thutmose I's hypostyle hall. In addition to Karnak Thutmose I also built statues Ennead at Abydos buildings Armant Ombos el-Hiba Memphis Edfu minor expansions buildings Nubia Semna Buhen Aniba Quban.
Common questions
Who were the parents of Thutmose I?
Thutmose I was born into a non-royal family to a woman named Senseneb and an unknown father. Some scholars speculate his father might have been Amenhotep I, but no definitive proof exists.
When did Thutmose I reign as Pharaoh?
Thutmose I reigned from approximately 1506 BC until 1493 BC during the third year of his rule he led a second expedition against Nubia. He died in his 12th regnal year after which his son Thutmose II succeeded him.
Where did Thutmose I expand Egyptian territory?
Thutmose I expanded Egyptian influence south to Kurgus near the fourth cataract and north into the Levant reaching Megiddo. His inscriptions mark the furthest south the Egyptian presence is attested at Hagar el-Merwa quartz outcrop 1200 meters from the Nile.
Why did Thutmose I build temples at Karnak?
Thutmose I initiated projects that effectively ended Nubian independence for 500 years and enlarged the Temple of Sesostris III and Khnum opposite the Nile from Semna. He was the first king to drastically enlarge the temple at Karnak under the supervision of architect Ineni.
How many children did Thutmose I have with Queen Ahmose?
Thutmose I had four children with Queen Ahmose including two sons Amenmose and Wadjmose who both died before their father and two daughters Hatshepsut and Nefrubity. Nefrubity died as an infant while Hatshepsut later became queen.