Ramesses III

Usermaatre Meryamun Ramesses III was the second Pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty in Ancient Egypt. Some scholars date his reign from 26 March 1185 to 15 April 1154 BC, and he is considered to be the last pharaoh of the New Kingdom to have wielded substantial power. His long reign saw the decline of Egyptian political and economic power, linked to a series of invasions and internal economic problems that also plagued pharaohs before him. This coincided with a decline in the cultural sphere of Ancient Egypt. The defensive strategy of Ramesses III was able to slow down Egypt's decline, though it meant that his successors had a weaker military. He has also been described as a "warrior Pharaoh" due to his strong military strategies. At the Battle of the Delta and Battle of Djahy his armies defeated the invaders known as "the Sea Peoples", who had caused destruction in other civilizations and empires. He was able to save Egypt from collapsing at the time when many other empires fell during the Late Bronze Age; however, the damage of the invasions took a toll on Egypt. Rameses III constructed one of the largest mortuary temples of western Thebes, now called Medinet Habu. He was assassinated in the Harem conspiracy led by his secondary wife Tiye and her eldest son Pentawere. This ultimately caused a succession crisis which further accelerated the decline of Ancient Egypt. He was succeeded by his son and designated successor Ramesses IV, although many of his other sons would rule later.