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Ahmose I, also spelt Amosis I, from the Egyptian iaHms, or "[[Iah]] is born". He was the founder of the [[18th Dynasty]], who completed the reunification of [[Egypt]] and the expulsion of the [[Hyksos]]. His reign is estimated to have been around 25 years, with approximate dates been c.1550 - 1500 BC, during which time he ended the [[Hyksos]] occupation, united the nobility, and laid the foundations for the period of Egypt's greatest period as a empire and bronze age super-power, securing strategic sites in Nubia and the Levant. He was also a great builder, active through the country and deep into Nubia, and constructed the last of the royal pyramid complex.

Ahmose I, also spelt Amosis I, from the Egyptian iaHms, or "[[Iah]] is born". An Egyptian Pharaoh, and founder of the [[18th Dynasty]], who completed the reunification of [[Egypt]] and the expulsion of the [[Hyksos]], ending the [[Second Intermediate period]], and beginning the [[New Kingdom]].  

 

His reign is estimated to have been around 25 years, with approximate dates been c.1550 - 1500 BC, during which time he ended the [[Hyksos]] occupation, united the nobility, and laid the foundations for the period of Egypt's greatest period as a empire, and bronze age super-power, securing strategic sites in Nubia and the Levant.  

 

He was also a great builder, active through the country and deep into Nubia, and constructed the last royal pyramid complex.

 

Ahmose was descended from the [[17th dynasty]] line of Theban rulers who ruled Upper [[Egypt]] during the [[Hyksos]] occupation, and a son of [[Ta'a II]], and ultimately from the dynastic matriarch, [[Tetisheri]], reverence for whom was shown throughout the early [[18th Dynasty]], and lived into the time of Ahmose's reign.

Ahmose was descended from the [[17th dynasty]] line of Theban rulers who ruled Upper [[Egypt]] during the [[Hyksos]] occupation, and a son of [[Ta'a II]], and ultimately from the dynastic matriarch, [[Tetisheri]], reverence for whom was shown throughout the early [[18th Dynasty]], and lived into the time of Ahmose's reign.

It used to be believed the his predecessor, [[Kamose]], was his elder brother, but the current view is this may be inaccurate, and that Kamose may have in fact been a brother of [[Ta'a II]], who came to the throne when [[Ta'a II]] was killed in battle, and Ahmose too young to effectively rule at such a critical time.  

It used to be believed the his predecessor, [[Kamose]], was his elder brother, but the current view is this may be inaccurate, and that Kamose was more likely been a brother of [[Ta'a II]], who came to the throne when [[Ta'a II]] was killed in battle, and Ahmose too young to effectively rule at such a critical time.  

He took [[Ahmose-Nefertari]], his sister, as his principal wife, and both she and his mother would be key figures during his reign, and prominent players in state affairs, being the first two holders of the post of [[God's Wife of Amun]]. [[Ahmose-Nefertari]] outlived Ahmose, and continued to play a part in the reign of their son, [[Amunhotep I]].

He took [[Ahmose-Nefertari]], his sister, as his principal wife, and both she and his mother would be key figures during his reign, and prominent players in state affairs, being the first two holders of the post of [[God's Wife of Amun]]. [[Ahmose-Nefertari]] outlived Ahmose, and continued to play a part in the reign of their son, [[Amunhotep I]].

== Early Campaigns ==

== Early Campaigns ==

We are left with a good account of some of the campaigns of Ahmose from the tomb of one of his military men, Ahmose, son of Ebana. Following his rise to the throne, there was a lull in the war, as the Hyksos also had a new ruler, [[Khamudi]], following the death of Apepi.  

We are left with a good account of some of the campaigns of Ahmose from the tomb of one of his military commanders, Ahmose, son of Ebana. Following his rise to the throne, there was a lull in the war, as the Hyksos also had a new ruler, [[Khamudi]], following the death of Apepi.  

When hostilities resumed, Ahmose bypassed the Hyksos stronghold of [[Avaris]], pressing north to [[Heliopolis]]. Within three months had had advanced from there to [[Tjaru]], the Egyptian border fortress on eastern edge of the Delta. The Hyksos were now essentially cut off from their homeland and only feasible route of retreat. This done, Ahmose made his move against Avaris itself.

When hostilities resumed, Ahmose bypassed the Hyksos stronghold of [[Avaris]], pressing north to [[Heliopolis]]. Within three months had had advanced to [[Tjaru]], the Egyptian border fortress on eastern edge of the Delta. The Hyksos were now essentially cut off from their homeland and only feasible route of retreat. This done, Ahmose made his move against Avaris itself.

The battle for Avaris appears to have been a drawn out affair, with the Egyptians having to adapt to new military technologies they had only recently adopted from the Hyksos, namely the [[chariot]] and the [[composite bow]].  

The battle for Avaris appears to have been a drawn out affair, with the Egyptians having to adapt to new military technologies they had only recently adopted from the Hyksos, namely the [[chariot]] and the [[composite bow]].  

Ahmose son of Ebana records the initial attack clash being naval, with him aboard the [[warship]] "Northerner" before a ground campaign conducted with chariots and on foot, before two more naval campaigns, and a final land campaign "to the south of this town".

Ahmose son of Ebana records the initial clash being naval, with him aboard the [[warship]] "Northerner" before a ground campaign conducted with chariots and on foot, before two more naval campaigns, and a final land campaign "to the south of this town".

Classical sources say the battle ended with a negotiated settlement upon which the Hyksos would leave Egypt, but the exact situation is unknown for certain. In either case, the Egyptian exploited the situation to the full, as event post-unification attest. Egypt was now essentially unified, but not yet at peace.

Classical sources say the war itself ended with a negotiated settlement upon which the Hyksos would leave Egypt, but the exact situation is unknown for certain. In either case, the Egyptian exploited the situation to the full, as event post-unification attest. Egypt was now essentially unified, but not yet at peace.

== Post Re-unification ==

== Post Re-unification ==

Following the Hyksos expansion, Ahmose pressed southward into [[Nubia]], where local cheifs had sided with the Hyksos as part of a an earlier Hyksos initiative to defeat the 17th Dynasty Upper Egyptian state by forcing the rulers to fight on two fronts simultaneously. The exact order of events here is unclear, and it is possible Ahmose was forced to do just this, as (possibly) at the same time his armies also advanced out into the [[Levant]], engaging in three year siege of [[Sharuhen]], which was ultimately captured. The Nubian campaign was also successful.

Following the Hyksos expulsion, Ahmose pressed southward into [[Nubia]], where local cheifs had sided with the Hyksos as part of a an earlier Hyksos initiative to defeat the 17th Dynasty Upper Egyptian state by forcing the rulers to fight on two fronts simultaneously. The exact order of events here is unclear, and it is possible Ahmose was forced to do just this, as (possibly) at the same time his armies also advanced out into the [[Levant]], engaging in three year siege of [[Sharuhen]], which was ultimately captured. The Nubian campaign was also successful.

Possibly immediately following this, two dissident groups emerge, one under [[Aata]], in the south, and possibly again a Nubian, and an Egyptian group led by a dissident named [[Tetian]], whom Bourriau argues may well have been leading a group of northern minor Princes, who had served the Hyksos and now feared for their position. Ahmose son of Ebana writes tellingly of the seriousness with which Ahmose regarded this rebellion:

Possibly immediately following this, two dissident groups emerge, one under [[Aata]], in the south, and possibly again a Nubian, and an Egyptian group led by a dissident named [[Tetian]], whom Bourriau argues may well have been leading a group of northern minor Princes, who had served the Hyksos and now feared for their position. Ahmose son of Ebana writes tellingly of the seriousness with which Ahmose regarded this rebellion: