Overview:

Dynasty: 18 Reign: 1504 - 1450 BC Egyptian king of the 18th dynasty often regarded as the greatest of the rulers of ancient Egypt.

Biography:

Thutmose III officially became king as a child but his step-mother and co-regent, Hatshepsut soon took over as King. It is not known precisely what Thutmose was doing in the years his step-mother was running the kingdom. His later years suggest he spent most of the time with the army because he is considered one of the greatest warrior kings. Hatshepsut hadn't been able to sustain Egypt's military control during her reign. As a result, Syria and Lebanon stopped paying tribute and even provincial princes of Egypt began to follow the dictates of Mitanna - a powerful kingdom in it's own right. After her death, Thutmose set about changing the temples and monuments she had had built for herself. By the second year he began a series of military campaigns to re-assert Egypt's control and to expand it's borders. According to the stele of Thutmose III, over 350 cities fell to the Egyptians under his rule. There is little doubt that his numerous campaigns were extremely successful. He has in fact been referred to as the "Napolean of ancient Egypt" because of his military expansion.

Principal Battles:	Megiddo (1479 b.c.)

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