Role as Father of 'Ramesses The Great'
Seti I and Raesses II standing in front of 'The Kings List.'
One of Seti I’s roles was to prove that his
bloodline were appropriate rulers of Egypt. In ensuring continued support for the 19th Dynasty Pharaohs and securing his son's future as Pharaoh, Seti prepared Ramesses II for leadership from a young age. In the early years of his reign Ramesses II was appointed ‘Commander in Chief’ of the army and when he was around 15 years of age he became actively involved in his father’s military campaigns. Soon after, in around year 7 of Seti’s reign, Ramesses was made his father’s co-regent.
An inscription from the temple of Seti I at Abydos provides Seti's rationale for appointing Ramesses as his co-regent:
bloodline were appropriate rulers of Egypt. In ensuring continued support for the 19th Dynasty Pharaohs and securing his son's future as Pharaoh, Seti prepared Ramesses II for leadership from a young age. In the early years of his reign Ramesses II was appointed ‘Commander in Chief’ of the army and when he was around 15 years of age he became actively involved in his father’s military campaigns. Soon after, in around year 7 of Seti’s reign, Ramesses was made his father’s co-regent.
An inscription from the temple of Seti I at Abydos provides Seti's rationale for appointing Ramesses as his co-regent:
“When my father appeared to the populace, I being just a youth in his embrace, he spoke (thus) concerning me: ‘Cause him to appear as King, that I may see his beauty while I yet live!’