Thutmose I and Thutmose III

Thutmose I and Thutmose III Their Policies in Asia and Nubia

Primary Sources • Thutmose I • Ahmose son of Abana • Ahmose Penekhbet • Tombos Stela • Turi, Viceroy of Nubia • Thutmose III • Annals • Gebel Barkel • Armant

Why invade Nubia and Asia? • Nubia • Gold and manpower. • Egypt had exploited Nubia for it’s resources since the O.K., Harkhuf led four expeditions into Nubia to procure goods. • Conquest of Lower Nubia and the building of forts between the first and second cataracts during M.K. • Pharaohs took back that Nubian’s slice of Egypt. • Asia • Egypt wanted a buffer zone for protection. • Control of trade goods which moved through Asia. • Cedar from Byblos was a primary import as well as chariots, horses and livestock.

Thutmose I moves into Nubia • Completed the conquest of the Kerma state. • Pushed up the Nile to Kurgus past that “inverted water which goes upstream in going downstream.” • Set up his Stele at Tombos in regnal year 2, 2nd month akhet day 15. In regnal year 3, 3rd month of peret, day 22, he returned to Egypt after the clearing of the canal of Senwosret III at the first cataract. • A total of 17 months that he spent crushing Kerma, not including the time before he set up the Tombos stela.

Thutmose I in Asia. • Asiatic Campaign has less evidence available • Attack upon Nahrin probably in his 4th or 5th regnal year. • Ahmose Penekhbet only mentions his list of captures. • Ahmose son of Abana tells of a great slaughter that Thutmose made among the enemy troops being marshalled at Nahrin. • Abydos stela tells that the sacred barge of Osiris was built of “new cedar from the best of the terraces” most likely imported from Byblos. • Not until the eighth campaign of Thutmose III that we learn of Thutmose I setting up a stela on the banks of the Euphrates river. • Gate inscription from Karnak details towns which brought tribute to Egypt.

Thutmose III, Megiddo campaign • After building up Egyptian forces, Thutmose III moves against the coalition which was forming at Megiddo to strike at Egypt under the leadership of the Lord of Kadesh. • Lays siege to Megiddo for 7 months after his daring surprise attack and takes back massive amounts of plunder. • Returns on tours of inspection • to receive tribute from the Asiatic rulers and to give the breath of life to those who were loyal. • To destroy the towns who were in a state of disobedience or rebellion • Considered this his greatest achievement and continues to tell everyone about it for years to follow.

Thutmose III, the Build up to the Euphrates Campaign • Sixth Campaign • Takes the children of the chiefs hostage and returns them to Egypt as replacements for their fathers should Pharaoh need them. • Seventh Campaign • Provisions Harbours on the coast of Asia in order to lend support and to defend key points of the Egyptian Asiatic Empire. The fields of Asia provide food for the garrisons. • Eighth Campaign • Invades Nahrin by dragging boats constructed at Byblos and taken overland by oxcart in order for his army to cross the Euphrates river. • Set up two Stela on the banks of the Euphrates, possibly dragging off a stela set up by a ruler of Mitanni.

Thutmose III in Nubia • During the co-reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose a fort was set up at Napata in order to supply Egypt with the wood of Kush. • Armant stela refers to a campaign in the region of Miu in order to seek out him who had rebelled against him (T3) in that land. • Year 50 Thutmose clears the canal of Senwosret after having slain his enemies in Nubia.

Nubian Control • King’s Son of Kush (viceroy) • Controlled Nubia in a similar fashion to Egypt. Turi was appointed by Thutmose I although he was not the first viceroy. • Responsible for bringing the taxes of Nubia to Egypt. The viceroy Nehi brought Thutmose III the tribute of the southern countries, consisting of gold, ivory, and ebony. • The impost of Kush and Wawat as noted in the Annals may have been brought to Egypt by the viceroy as well.

Asiatic Control • Minmose the high up. An important figure during the reign of Thutmose III. • “I taxed Upper Retjenu in silver, gold, lapis lazuli and all (kinds of) precious stones, chariots and horses without number, cattle and small livestock in their multitudes. I caused the chieftains of Retjenu to be aware of their yearly dues. I taxed the chieftains of the land of Nubia in fine gold in its raw state, in gold, ivory and ebony and many ships of dom-palm wood as yearly taxes…” • Asia was later also responsible for the provisioning of the Egyptian garrisons thereby making them self sustaining.

ASIA From Megiddo 2,503 slaves/captives, 924 chariots, 2,041 horses, 200 suits of armour, 1,929 cattle, 22,500 sheep/goats. Fifth Campaign 51 slaves, 470 jars of honey, 6,428 jars of wine, 616 cattle, 3,636 sheep/goats. Eighth Campaign 513 slaves, 260 horses, 45 deben of gold, 564 bulls, 5,323 sheep/goats, 828 jars of oil. NUBIA Kush and Wawat combined Year 34 554 +x deben of gold, 275 cattle, 74 slaves/hostages. Year 35 70+x deben of gold, slaves, cattle and the harvest of Nubia likewise. Year 38 2,944 +x deben of gold, 52 slaves, 373 cattle along with the harvest. Year 41 3,238 deben of gold, 21 slaves, 114+x cattle Some numbers from the Annals of Thutmose III

Thutmose I and Thutmose III