Biographies Online

Although Thutmose was the son of a nonroyal mother, he strengthened his claim to the throne by marrying his predecessor's daughter, probably some time before his accession. He also possibly was associated with his predecessor as coregent for an unspecified period, as is attested by a chapel found at Thebes. On his accession day, he communicated his new titulary and coronation in a letter to the viceroy of Nubia.

In his second year Thutmose led a riverborne expedition deep into Nubia, beyond his predecessor's frontier. As shown by inscriptions carved along the way, he thrust past the Fourth Nile Cataract and set up a new boundary at Kanisa Kurgus. The venture is attested by the biographies of two Upper Egyptians who were among the forces that made the campaign. One reason for the deep thrust into Nubia was the land's rich gold deposits, which were intensely exploited during the 18th dynasty. Another motivation was the fact that a hostile Kushite kingdom, centred near the Third Cataract, had seriously menaced Egypt during the 17th dynasty.

After his Nubian war Thutmose penetrated to the Euphrates River in the vicinity of Carchemish in Syria as he continued the pursuit of the Hyksos, Asiatic invaders who had recently dominated Egypt. One of the texts from Nubia states that already before the Syrian foray, Thutmose claimed the Euphrates as his border. Although no evidence of earlier campaigns survives, the Nubian text implies that deep penetration of Syria had already occurred.

Within Egypt, Thutmose thoroughly renovated the Middle Kingdom temple of Amon at Thebes. He erected an enclosure wall and two pylons at the western end, with a small pillared hall in between. Two obelisks were added in front of the outer pylon. Thutmose created the axial temple, which became standard for the New Kingdom.

Two crown princes predeceased the king. One had become commander of the armies and was assigned to Memphis, near modern Cairo, which in the New Kingdom became a military operations centre. Thutmose set the example for later kings, who likewise assigned their crown princes to Memphis, where they were schooled in the military arts.

Thutmose also was the first king to cut his tomb in the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings at Thebes, probably to obtain greater security for it. It was also he who built the cemetery workers' village at Dayr al-Madīnah, in western Thebes, and who probably completed the organization of the necropolis staff begun by his predecessor. The length of Thutmose's reign is still uncertain, and his highest attested date is year nine.