The Pharaoh's Palace. Grovel Before the Divine Ruler of Egypt!

The spine of the officer went cold for a second. He was wondering if the man sitting in front of him had supernatural powers to read his mind and anger. But he was smiling inside to know that Pharaoh's knowledge about the history of Eastern Roman Empire was cloudy, since Egyptians never rebelled successfully against the mighty Roman Legions.

He bows again and speaks -"Noble sire, we are grateful that you accept. I wish to point out that Provincia Aegyptus never managed to rebel against us, it was snatched away by the barbarians that both Romans and Egyptians hate. It was during the 7th century, when the two-hundred year long war with the Sassanid Empire had totally drained both nations. The Eastern Roman Empire was being overstretched with territories conquered by Imperator Justinianus Augustus, and the Sassanids were also crushingly weak by then. Both empires had ran out of enough men to defend the homelands, and were barely able to fight. In 632, these rotten Arabs took the opportunity and captured Dioecesis Orientis from Antioch to Jerusalem. They then attacked Provincia Aegyptus itself, as your noble court historians might point out. They massacred everyone they found in these lands, and then they went on to annihilate entire Sassanid Empire which put forward little resistance against the Arabs. This is how Roman Empire lost the possession of Aegyptus. Thus, you see, there is a common enemy we might find.

For the agreement and the embassy building, we are again eternally grateful." The officer bows even lower, and then speaks again after getting back up -"We will transport those Mummies back to Provincia Italia where they will be given a proper burial in Roman fashion. We humbly request for some porters to help in transporting them, and they will be returned once their work is done. If you wish, Noble Sire, His Imperial Majesty can commission a group of skilled architects to Memphis to aid in the construction of the embassy. You may have already heard about the proficiency of Roman architects and skills of Roman builders. Romans are and have always been the masters of construction and engineering. You only have to nod, sire."

He again waits patiently for a response.

OOC: did you read my alternate history of the Newer Kingdom of Egypt? After Augustus died, native Egyptians led by a secret group of priests of Horus assassinated the prefect and drove the legions out. Tiberius didn't want to send more troops and supplies to re-conquer Egypt, so he agreed that Egypt could pay tribute and remain independent. As for the Sassanids, even though I didn't include them in the alternate history, they, and Palmyra for that matter, tried to get Egypt to ally with them in their wars against Rome. Egypt's priests predicted the Romans would triumph (which they did) over them and so Egypt remained neutral although they were threatened with invasions to stop the tribute. Please don't change my alternate history. Thanks.

IC: "Your request of porters is, of course, accepted. The faster we get those fake mummies out of Egypt, the better," the Pharaoh states. "I will allow a few Roman architects to arrive here and use their skills and talents on the embassy, but Egyptian builders are superior above all others. Have you seen the Pyramids and Sphinxes at nearby Giza? They have stood over two-millennia! And the Great Lighthouse: just because it was designed by some Greeks, it was built by native Egyptian sweat and blood! We have recently repaired it from the damages caused by the Arabs. And my morturary temple is being planned as we speak. It is going to be larger than any other temple and one of the greatest structures along the Nile. With my increasing dominion and new trade lanes, we will have the resources to do so." He pauses. "I am rambling. I'll cease now." The Pharaoh rises from his throne. "Guards. You may show these Romans out, unless they have anything else to say further?"

The officer bows as the Pharaoh rises, and speaks - "We thank you for the porters. Thus, our diplomacy is concluded. We are not particularly interested in those mummies either, since it is better to bury them in far superior Roman fashion than cruelly mummify them like your people do. Three months from today, a ship will arrive at the port of Alexandria with the porters, and five of our fine architects. Farewell and good health to you, sire!"

And he bows and backs off with his aides. They then accompany the guards to the stables outside the city where their horses were kept. They all mount their horses, give a slight wave to the guards, and then ride off in the same way they came in, holding high the flag of IMPERIVM ROMANVM.

OOC: That may well be the case of your alternate history, mate. I am not trying to change it, but in my alternate history, all went historically until 410 AD when Romans defeated the Vandals and Goths, although they lost their empire they still retained the city.

Queen Amunet Gives Birth to a New Son!

Hwt-Hr (Hathor), Goddess of Love, Fertility and Childbirth.

In the early summer of 1483, Queen Amunet the Eighth was ready to give birth to another child. Contractions started in the evening of a cool summer night and she was led by her servants to the birthing room of the palace. She sank into the silk cushions of the birthing chair as servants drew curtains over the archway. Pharaoh Ankhor waited intently outside, impatient for news. Statues of Bes and Taweret were placed around the birthing chair and an amulet of Hathor was placed on Amunet’s brow. Servants cooled the queen with palm fans and wet towels as the contractions increased.

A priestess chanted: “make the heart of the deliverer strong, and keep alive the one that is coming…” She placed a beautifully carved ivory crescent-shaped wand upon the abdomen of Amunet. The wand’s magic would protect the mother and child it was believed, but a midwife rushed in to assist with the birth anyway.

Ankhor paced around like a caged lion beforethe drawn curtains of the archway. He heard his wife’s cries of labor and then, eventually, as the sun started rise in the east, he heard the cries of a child. When one of the servants came through the curtains he immediately asked: “Is it a boy or a girl?!”

“You have a strong and healthy son, my lord,” she said. “And you can see him now,” she gestured toward the curtains.

The Pharaoh rushed in and saw his wife leaning back in the chair, exhausted, with a baby boy in her arms. Even though she was extremely tired, Amunet managed to raise her head and smile at her brother and husband. She handed him the child while he asked quietly, “What shall we name him?”

“I like the name ‘Kamose’,” Amunet murmured. “‘To carry’ it means. He carries a great burden to grow up to be like his great father and lead Egypt just as well as you."

Ankhor laughed softly. “Indeed he does,” he said as he coddled his son.

A week later a party was planned at the Pharaoh’s Palace and Pharaoh Ankhor invited ambassadors from friendly foreign lands to come and attend. The ambassadors could congratulate the Pharaoh and Queen for the continuation of the royal family and bring gifts for the child.

Memphis, Capital of the Newer Kingdom of Egypt!

Memphis is known in ancient Egyptian as “Men-nefer” which means “enduring and beautiful”.

The expansion of the capital of Kemet, also known as “The Black Land” (in reference to the fertile black soil along the Nile) or “Egypt,” into a magnificent metropolis is completed! Men-nefer is located along the west bank of the Nile south of Giza. It is in a strategic position to unite Upper and Lower Egypt and so was chosen to be the capital of Egypt long ago. It was founded by Pharaoh Narmer, who was the first Pharaoh to unite the two lands of Egypt, around 3000BCE. Seventy to eighty thousand people currently reside here.

As one approaches Men-nefer they will see its glorious white walls being bathed in sunlight. Skilled archers patrol these walls with hawk-like eyes. Its two huge gateways will be open and inviting for travelers and visitors, and closed and impenetrable for enemies and invaders. Its stone paved streets are laid out in an easily navigable grid pattern. Hundreds of palm trees and fountains are scattered throughout the city to give people a break from the heat. The city’s port along the Nile, called Peru-nefer, is always bustling with activity and is home to many craftsmen and merchants.

The largest structure rising up from the center of the metropolis is the Hout-ka-Ptah, or Great Temple of Ptah. It is dedicated to the god of craftsmen and metal-workers, Ptah, who has been the patron deity of Men-nefer for thousands of years. The Great Temple is like a mini-city within the city for just priests and the royal family, with its own large white walls around it and many statues of sphinxes and past pharaohs within courtyards surrounded by large and colorful hypostyle halls. The next largest structure is the Pharaoh’s Palace, which most people are familiar with, and it is located in the far north of the city. To the south of the Hout-ka-Ptah are the temples to Sekhmet and Hathor, who are the same goddess but different forms of her. Sekhmet is the fierce lioness goddess who carries out Ra’s punishments to people. Hathor is the lovely cow goddess who Sekhmet was turned into by Ra when he felt remorse.

Besides temples and the palace, there are many other buildings throughout the city. Military academies for instructing Egypt’s greatest generals, intellectual academies to instruct Egypt’s greatest scholars, barracks for training Egypt’s finest warriors, public baths for promoting health among the citizenry, victory steles commemorating the Pharaoh’s great victories, the Banner Bearer’s Guild Headquarters which allow Egyptian armies to march quicker and attack multiple areas at once, granaries for storing large amounts of food in case of bad crop yield or siege, blacksmiths and foundries for equipping and arming Egypt’s fine warriors, markets for increasing Egypt’s commerce and wealth, and chariot/horse racetracks for the people’s entertainment. No doubt that when a foreign ambassador meets the Pharaoh, the Pharaoh will say, “Welcome to one of the greatest cities in the world, foreigner!” with a huge smug smile on his face.

The almighty Pharaoh has decreed that a list of all the important settlements of the Land of the Riverbank be compiled by his talented scribes. The Pharaoh is a wise ruler and his dominion now encompasses all of Egypt and he wants to make sure that all of his children are looked after. With styluses dipped in ink in hand and scrolls of papyrus lovingly prepared, the scribes completed this significant project within a few months. These men and women were rewarded graciously by their lord and master. Here you travelers may find some of their recordings:

Important Cities of Egypt in 1489CE
Orange names mean ancient Egyptian. Green names mean Arabic. Names in parenthesis mean common English name for them.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Men-nefer (Memphis). Founded: ~3000BCE by native Egyptians. Patron God: Ptah. Location: west bank of the Nile and is about 40km south of the Delta. Nome: 1^st. Population: 80,600. Notes: capital of the Newer Kingdom of Egypt. It is the residence of the true Pharaoh and the Royal Family and is the greatest city in Egypt. It is also one of the greatest cities in the world! The Banner Bearer’s Guild Headquarters was built here.

al-Qahirah (Cairo). Founded: 969CE by Arabs. Patron God: Allah. Location: east bank of the Nile and is about 30km south ofthe Delta. Nome: 1^st. Population: 4,100. Notes: was capital of the Arab Egyptian Sultanate before it was sacked by Pharaoh Ankhor III in 1481CE. It is slowly recovering although it mostly remains a good source of stone for Egyptian building projects.

el-Giza. Founded: ? BCE by native Egyptians. Patron God: Anubis. Location: east bank of the Nile at the base of the Delta. Nome:1^st. Population: 2,600. Notes: a small little town next to a huge famous ancient Egyptian necropolis. Has awesome view of the pyramids!

Ra-Katit (Alexandria). Founded: 331BCE by ancient Greek settlers and native Egyptians. Patron God: Osiris. Location: at the mouth of the far west branch of the Nile in the Delta. Nome: 2^nd. Population: 50,400. Notes: it’s Egypt’s main port city. Its Egyptian name means “that which is built up”. It is the third greatest city in Egypt. It has the Pharaos Lighthouse world wonder within its harbor.

Tanta. Founded: 1276CE by Arab Egyptians. Patron God: Allah. Location: at the center of the Nile Delta about 100km north of Men-nefer. Nome: 2^nd. Population: 4,900. Notes: was sacked by Pharaoh Ankhor III in 1480CE. It has a well-known university within its walls and is slowly recovering. It is also the main center for cotton processing and clothes production.

Zau (Sais). Founded: ? BCE by native Egyptians. Patron Goddess: Neith. Location: 90km east-south-east of Ra-Katit in the Nile Delta. Nome: 2^nd. Population: 8,300. Notes: was once the capital of the Libyan princes who ruled Egypt in the 900sBCE. It has a major medical school within its walls.

Djanet (Tanis). Founded: ~1040BCE by nativeEgyptians. Patron God: Amun-Ra. Location: 70km east-north-east of Tanta near Lake Manzala in the Nile Delta. Nome: 2^nd. Population: 3,300. Notes:it was founded to replace Pi-Ramesses to the south-east when that city startedto declined due to the branch of the Nile it was on changing course away from it. Djanet was abandoned in the 500sCE and its people moved north to found Tennis, a port city. In 1485CE, Pharaoh Ankhor III ordered his labor force to build massive levees to block nearby Lake Manzala’s inundation from completely drowning Tanis’ ruins and re-founded it. The new town has now become a major textile manufacturing center.

Per-Bastet (Bubastis). Founded: ? BCE by native Egyptians. Patron Goddess: Bastet (my favorite goddess!). Location: about 55km south-west of Djanet in the Nile Delta. Nome: 1^st. Population: 7,300. Notes: its name means “House of Bastet.” This city is dedicated to Bastet, the feline protection goddess, and awesome festivals are held here in her honor. The city declined a little during the Persian invasions and Arab invasions, but has bounced back rapidly as Egyptians love cats and like to party. Egyptians are wise people for it.

Hwt-nen-nesu (Heracleopolis). Founded: ~2200sBCE by native Egyptians. Patron God: Heryshaf. Location: west bank of the Nile 75km south of Men-nefer. Nome: 1^st. Population: 9,100. Notes: its Egyptian name means “house of the royal child”. It flourished during the Ptolemaic Dynasty as the center of a cult of Heracles where it got its Greek name.

Khmum (Hermopolis). Founded: ? BCE by native Egyptians. Patron God: Thoth. Location: west bank of the Nile about 120km south of Hwt-nen-nesu. Nome: 3^rd. Population: 10,000. Notes: its name means “eight-town”. Stupid Greeks thought Thoth was related to Hermes and that’s how it got its Greek name. The city was badly damaged during the Arab invasions, but “Pharaoh” Hekhemmut XI restored it in 1484 and Pharaoh AnkhorIII populated it in 1489.

Akhetaten (Amarna). Founded: ~1353BCE by native Egyptians. Patron God: Aten. Location: east bank of the Nile about 25km south-east of Khmum. Nome: 1^st. Population: 6,300. Notes: was founded by the weird pharaoh, Akhenaten I. Its name means “Horizon of the Aten”. His new religion, the worship of one god, Aten, was deemed heresy by the polytheistic Egyptians after his death but has continued to survive in this city. The city was sacked by Pharaoh Ankhor III in 1487 and the main temple to the Aten obliterated.

Khent-min (Akhmim). Founded: ? BCE by native Egyptians. Patron God: Min. Location: east bank of the Nile 100km south-east of Akhetaten. Nome: 3^rd. Population: 8,900. Notes:

Abdju (Abydos). Founded: ~3000sBCE. Patron God and Goddess: Osiris and Isis. Location: west bank of the Nile about 155km south-east of Akhetaten. Nome: 3^rd. Population: 12,300. Notes: its name means “the hill of the symbol”. It’s one of the most sacred and religious cities in Egypt.

Waset (Thebes/Luxor). Founded: ~3200BCE by native Egyptians. Patron God: Amun-Ra. Location: east bank of the Nile about 75km south-west of Abdju. Nome: 3^rd. Population: 60,300. Notes: was capital of Egypt for a few hundred years off and on throughout its history. Recently it has been the capital of the rebellious Upper Egyptian state under “Pharaoh” Hekhemmut XI. It is the second greatest city in Egypt.

Wetjeset-hor (Edfu). Founded: 3000sBCE by native Egyptians. Patron God: Horus. Location: west bank of the Nile 50km south of Waset. Nome: 3^rd. Population: 12,400. Notes: this city is famous for the Behdet, or the Temple of Horus, that was built by the Ptolemaics in the 100sBCE.

Swentet (Aswan). Founded: 3000sBCE by native Egyptians. Patron Goddess: Swentet. Location: east bank of the Nile at the first cataract, or rapids, of the river 100km south of Waset. Nome: 3^rd. Population: 8,100. Notes: the famous stone quarries of Egypt that furnish most of its construction projects are in the vicinity of this city. It is also a heavily fortified settlement as it is near the southern border of Egypt proper.

Ambassador of Ragusa fills the required actions to enter a meeting with pharaoh to deliver his message:

"We've seen the Egyptians land in Cyprus, which saddens our king greatly to see more Greeks and Roman lands slip from his grasp.

Therefore, he wishes to know if Egyptians have any further plans to invade such regions. The western part of the Agean world, as well as Crete itself are in the despots aims. And how about the Garamantine/Tripolian coastline?

The despot wishes no wars, which is why he wants to discuss these matters."

Queen Amunet lets the Illyrian ambassador in and listens to his lord's concerns. "Greeks and Egyptians have always been friends. Why is it so bad that Greeks pass under our fair and wise rule? Our wealth becomes their wealth. Our mighty armies and fleets protect their lands from aggressors, namely the Venetians."

A servant comes bearing glasses of wine and beer and offers them to the foreigner and to his mistress. The queen sips at a glass of wine and continues: "However, we only wish to extend our divine rule over the islands of Cyprus and Crete. Rhodes will remain under Bahrain rule and the rest of the Aegean Islands are to go to our noble ally, the League of Avador. As for North Africa, the Land of the Riverbank shall definitely establish its dominion as far west as Cyrenaica. We have made no claims to Tripolitania or Garamantine, so you people are free to send forces and establish colonies there if you like. If Crete is in your sphere of influence, perhaps we can agree to split it between our nations? Although I would prefer the entirety of the Island of the Bow to come within Egypt's dominion.

Egypt wishes no wars against her important trading partners. I am glad you have come to speak about these matters. Is there anything else further you would like to say?" the beautiful Egyptian queen inquires.

"Very well then, your proposal to divide Crete sounds fair.

Does the islands given to Avador include Euboia and Naxos? We've noticed Avador expanding beyond the lands which they have claimed to be part of their realm, which puzzles our king as well.

The Despot wishes as little war as possible. We have already made pacts concerning division of territory in the past with other countries, but of course sometimes war is inevitable, and realms that are immovably in the way have to be destroyed. Egypt is more than safe from such a situation, and we prefer to solve border disputes through pacts rather than outright war."

"Shall we agree to Egypt having rule over the eastern half of the island, and to Illyria the western half?" the queen asks the Illyrian as a scribe comes forward to write up a treaty concerning Crete.

"It has been awhile since we have communicated to our allies from the north." Amunet turns to another servant, "I want an ambassador sent to Constantinople to inquire about the state of our friends there." The servant bows and leaves. "I believe the League has claimed all of the islands of the Aegean except Crete. You will have to talk to them about those islands you mentioned. It is not of our concern unless war is declared on Avador, then we will stand by them and crush their enemies beneath the wheels of our chariots!

Nations seizing lands out of there so-called 'claims' does not surprise me," Queen Amunet says wisely. "Things change. Situations arise. Nothing is permanent in this world, though we strive to make it permanent. I'm sure there is a reason for Avador taking lands outside of its claims."

"It is agreed then. We take the western part and you have the eastern part of the island.

The despot will take his chances and go for Euboia and Naxos. Maybe it will give Avador a reason to enter negotiations. However, if the League was to be the aggressor, what stance would Egypt take in that situation?

And another thing: What will be the fate of Antioch?"

The Egyptian scribe finishes writing two copies of the treaty that divides Crete between the Egyptians and Illyrians. He gives both pieces of papyrus to his queen for her to sign and then to the Illyrian ambassador for him to sign. "What is your interest in Antioch?" Queen Amunet raises an eyebrow. "It is in the Levant and we have declared to the world that the Newer Kingdom of Egypt shall reclaim its old empire. That means we shall conquer the entire Levantine coast with our numerous armies, including the great trading city of Antioch! Egypt has made treaties with Avador, Gandhara, and Bahrain that divides the entire Middle East between the four of us. If any other nation moves in the Middle East, they will surely stir up the wrath of one of those nations... I suggest to your lord that if he had plans to establish dominion over any part of the Middle East, to abandon them."

1510CE. A tragedy! While riding an African elephant along the Nile, and greeting and talking to his subjects, Pharaoh Ankhor III of the 39th dynasty was flung off his beast when it was frightened by something. The Pharaoh’s old bones of fifty-four years unfortunately broke against some rocks and his ka left for the underworld. His body was taken back to Memphis and mummified well. Priests performed the “opening of the mouth” ceremony to release his ba which would then unite with the ka and form the Akh. Being the host of Horus and a good ruler to his people, Ankhor will surely pass through all the gates of death without trouble, successfully survive the “Weighing of the Heart” judgment, and be with Osiris, God of the Underworld and overseer of Paradise.

The entire royal family comes to Egypt’s capital to attend the ceremony. A great procession, nearly a hundred miles long, stretched out across the desert sands. All dressed in black linens and musicians played trumpets mournfully and mourners wailed. The mummy’s coffin had been exquisitely carved by the greatest craftsmen in all the land and gold was laid over it and jewels and lapis lazuli were embedded into it. The work of art that contained the deceased Pharaoh's body was now buried under Ankhor’s massive mortuary temple to the south of Memphis on the west bank of the Nile along with a horde of gold and jeweled artifacts from the Pharaoh’s life inluding his mighty war chariot.

Crown Prince Kamose was then made the new Pharaoh by priests of Horus and is now known as Pharaoh Kamose IVX of the 39th dynasty. He was given all the regalia of the true ruler of Egypt: the Pschent (or “Double-Crown”), the crook, and the flail. The God of Justice and War then enters him and once again Egypt’s divine ruler is alive! His cousin and wife, Nefertari, was made Queen Nefertari IXX of the 39th dynasty. Together they made the Pharaoh’s Palace their abode and seated themselves in the two golden thrones. Queen Amunet VIII retires to a lovely villa and wishes Nefertari good luck.

OOC: I have also updated the original post with new information.

"Excuse us, but why is the Pharaoh taking that should obviously appear to be in Despots claims, without even consenting about this with the Despot?" Says the freshly arrived Illyrian ambassador.

"Welcome! Welcome!" Wah Cheops says to the Illyrian ambassador. A servant comes up with platters of bread and cups of fine Egyptian beer and offers them to the foreigner. "Our divine lord and master has left with an army to subjugate Kyrenaica," the old bald Egyptian continues. "But I can answer your questions. As you know, the Land of the Riverbank has new rulers and unlike our previous ones, they wish to see all of Crete under Egypt's dominion. Young Kamose figures that if we took a territory in Illyria's claims, you would be more willing to give us western Crete.

We were planning on consulting you only if southern Thessaly fell to our might. If it does we would send an ambassador to negotiate a territory exchange. If it doesn't then nothing happens. It should be no big issue..." Wah smiles. "Would you be interested in taking a tour of our magnificent capital? Men-nefer is one of the greatest cities in the world."

I need help against the Hungarians , noble lords! Can you give me an advice at least?

Khu Heru welcomes the ambassador from the lands of Illyria. A servant offers the Barbarian platters filled with dates and mugs of wine and beer. Khu says that he will see if the Queen is willing to meet with you and passes through the soft curtains in a large marble archway. He returns and states that Queen Nefertari XIX of the 39th dynasty is willing to see the representative of the Barbarians of the East. Khu leads the man into the Golden Throne Room before disappearing into the shadows.

After the Queen heard the ambassador’s message she shook her head. “We are not interested in starting another war among the great powers. The Land of the Riverbank seeks peace, for peace brings trade and prosperity. Please travel to the conference being held in Venice, Italy, where my noble Ambassador Ahmose has presented a great map and is inviting other ambassadors from the major powers to attend (here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/group.php?gmid=194182&do=discuss#gmessage194182 ).

But before you go, shall we confirm our proposed trade agreements? Egypt offers cotton, rice, and sugar. In return we seek iron, timber, and fish. Would this be acceptable?"

Trade should be accepted as the Queen promises to stop the conflict with the Hungarians who desire to attack our lands.