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Pharaoh Thutmose IV: The Prince, The Prophecy, and The Empire

Discover the pivotal life of Pharaoh Thutmose IV. This guide reveals how a prince not in line for the throne used the famous Dream Stele and a "Sphinx prophecy" to secure his crown. Learn how his short but crucial reign ended generations of war with the Mitanni Empire, establishing the peace and prosperity that launched the "golden age" of his son, Amenhotep III. We cover his campaigns, his monuments, and his tomb (KV43).
  • Updated: November 14, 2025

The Prince in the Shadow: How a Dream Forged a Pharaoh

Imagine an ambitious young prince, not destined for the throne, asleep in the shadow of the Great Sphinx. This single moment—whether a divine vision or a political masterstroke—would define his life and forge his reign. This prince was Pharaoh Thutmose IV. He is more than just “the guy from the Dream Stele”; he is a pivotal, yet often overlooked, pharaoh of Egypt’s mighty 18th Dynasty. He inherited a warrior’s empire from his father. Then, through clever propaganda and groundbreaking diplomacy, he transformed it into the stable “golden age” that his famous son would inherit.

This guide covers the complete life of Pharaoh Thutmose IV: his uncertain path to the crown, the Sphinx prophecy he used to secure it, his decisive military campaigns, his revolutionary diplomatic triumphs, and his lasting legacy as the father of Amenhotep the Magnificent.

Key Takeaways

  • The “Irregular” King: Thutmose IV was not the original crown prince. He famously used the Dream Stele to legitimize his claim to the throne, claiming the Sphinx god personally chose him.
  • The Sphinx’s Patron: He was the first great restorer of the Great Sphinx, clearing the sand from its body and building a temple complex around it.
  • Diplomatic Pioneer: He ended generations of warfare with the rival Mitanni Empire (in Syria) by negotiating a historic peace treaty and a “diplomatic marriage.”
  • Father of a Golden Age: His short but stable reign created the peace and prosperity that led directly to the opulent “golden age” of his son, Amenhotep III.
  • His tomb is KV43 in the Valley of the Kings, and his mummy was found in the KV35 cache.
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The “Irregular” Prince: Early Life & Succession

The Prophecy; What the Dream Stele Actually Says

To understand the man, you must first understand his precarious position. His entire reign was built on overcoming one critical fact: he was not supposed to be king.

The Court of a Warrior King: Son of Amenhotep II

Pharaoh Thutmose IV grew up in the competitive, militaristic court of his father, the formidable Amenhotep II. Amenhotep II was a renowned athlete, a legendary archer, and a ruthless military commander who boasted of his physical prowess.

Thutmose IV clearly inherited this athletic spirit. He learned to be a master charioteer and hunter, as the Dream Stele itself boasts. He had to prove his worth in a court that valued strength and martial skill above all else.

The “Succession Problem”

Here is the central problem of his early life: Pharaoh Thutmose IV was not the eldest son. His older brother, Prince Amenhotep, was the designated Crown Prince and the official heir to the throne.

Suddenly, Prince Amenhotep disappears from all historical records, likely dying young. This event left a potential power vacuum. It meant Thutmose IV was now the likely heir, but he still needed to solidify his claim over any other ambitious brothers or court officials. He needed to prove why the gods favored him.

Ambition in the Desert

This is where his political genius emerged. As a young man, he saw that the Giza plateau was more than just an ancient cemetery. The cult of the Great Sphinx—worshipped as the god Horemakhet—was immensely popular. He understood that aligning himself with this ancient, revered god was the key to securing his future.

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The Sphinx’s Bargain: Securing the Throne

The Dream Stele of Thutmose IV; The Sphinx's Prophecy Explained

Facing this uncertain path to the crown, Pharaoh Thutmose IV turned to the ancient, mystical power of the Giza plateau. He centered his entire claim to the throne on a single, brilliant story—a divine prophecy from the Sphinx itself.

The Story: A Divine Mandate

We know this story because he had it carved for eternity on the Dream Stele, a massive granite slab he placed between the Sphinx’s paws.

The stele tells us that as a young prince, he fell asleep under the Sphinx’s head. The god Horemakhet (the Sphinx) spoke to him in a dream. The god complained that the sand of the desert choked his body. Then, Horemakhet made a direct bargain: “Clear my body,” the god promised, “and I will give you the crown.”

The Political Genius of the “Dream”

This story was not just a pious tale; it was a political masterstroke.

  • First, it completely bypassed any mortal claims to the throne. It didn’t matter what his father’s original succession plan was; Thutmose claimed a higher authority. A god had personally chosen him.
  • Second, it neutralized any rivals. How could any other prince or court official argue against a direct, public prophecy from one of Egypt’s most revered gods?

Fulfilling the Promise: The Great Restoration

As pharaoh, Thutmose IV made good on his “promise” immediately. He launched the first-ever large-scale, royal restoration of the Great Sphinx. His workers cleared the immense drifts of sand that had buried the statue for centuries. He also built a massive mud-brick enclosure wall to protect it from the desert. Finally, he established a new temple dedicated to Horemakhet, cementing his alliance with the Sphinx’s powerful priesthood.

Read the Full Story: For a complete translation and analysis of this incredible inscription, see our Definitive Guide to the Dream Stele.

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The Reign of Pharaoh Thutmose IV

Thutmose-IV-being-given-life-by-the-gods-Osiris-and-Anubis-The Reign of Pharaoh Thutmose IV

Once his divine right to rule was secured, Pharaoh Thutmose IV began his reign. Though it lasted for only about ten years (c. 1401–1391 BCE), he used this time effectively to pivot Egypt’s entire foreign policy from one of conquest to one of diplomacy and stability.

The Warrior Pharaoh: Military Campaigns

First, Thutmose IV had to prove his strength, just as his warrior father, Amenhotep II, had.

  • The Nubian Campaign (Year 8): His most significant military action. When a rebellion broke out in Wawat (Nubia/Sudan), Thutmose IV marched his army south with decisive speed. He crushed the rebellion quickly and returned with a massive haul of Nubian gold. He commemorated this victory on the Konosso Stele, an inscription carved near Aswan, which frames the campaign as a righteous act ordered by the gods.
  • Syria (The Naharin): He also led at least one campaign into Syria. However, unlike his father and grandfather who sought all-out war, Thutmose IV used this campaign more as a show of force. His ultimate goal was not conquest; it was to bring his greatest rival to the negotiating table.

A Groundbreaking Peace: Diplomacy with Mitanni

This is his most important and lasting achievement. For generations, Egypt and the Mitanni Empire (a powerful kingdom in northern Syria) had been bitter enemies. They constantly fought over territory and influence in the Levant.

Pharaoh Thutmose IV broke this endless cycle of war. He recognized that a stable border was more valuable than a contested one. In a revolutionary move, he initiated peace talks with the Mitanni king.

To seal this new alliance, he negotiated a “diplomatic marriage” and took a Mitanni princess as a royal wife. This treaty was a massive success. It ended the conflict, stabilized the entire Near East, and allowed trade and culture to flourish. This single diplomatic act created the lasting peace and prosperity that defined the “golden age” his son would soon inherit.

The Pious Builder: Monuments Across Egypt

Even in a short reign, Thutmose IV embarked on several significant building projects to honor the gods (and himself).

  • Giza Complex: As promised, he completed his massive restoration of the Sphinx, built its temple, and erected the enclosure walls.
  • Karnak Temple: He was also very active at the great temple of Karnak in Thebes. He built a beautiful “Festival Courtyard” and, most famously, he finally raised a colossal obelisk that his grandfather, Thutmose III, had quarried decades earlier. This single granite obelisk, standing over 100 feet tall, was the largest in Egypt. (Today, it stands in Rome, where it is known as the Lateran Obelisk).
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Death & The Afterlife (Tomb KV43)

Death & The Afterlife (Tomb KV43) Pharaoh Thutmose IV

Pharaoh Thutmose IV’s successful and stable reign was, however, very short. He died relatively young, likely in his early 30s, after ruling Egypt for only about ten years. This, of course, meant his “House of Eternity” had to be prepared.

The Tomb: KV43

His tomb, now known as KV43, lies in the main Valley of the Kings. The famous archaeologist Howard Carter (who would later discover Tutankhamun’s tomb) found it in 1903. As was common, ancient robbers had looted the tomb, likely in the New Kingdom itself.

Despite the robbery, Carter still found many significant items. These included parts of a beautifully decorated chariot (a fitting item for the royal hunter), fragments of his massive red-granite sarcophagus, and numerous faience vessels. The tomb’s layout, with its “dog-leg” turn and deep burial chamber, and its yellow-tinted “golden” wall paintings are a beautiful example of 18th Dynasty art.

The Mummy

The mummy of Pharaoh Thutmose IV

So, where was the body of Pharaoh Thutmose IV? Priests did not leave his mummy in his tomb. To protect it from the very robbers who ransacked KV43, they moved it.

We found his body much later in the KV35 “Mummy Cache.” This was a different tomb (belonging to his father, Amenhotep II) where New Kingdom priests hid the mummies of many great pharaohs for safety. His mummy confirms he died young. It also shows he was extremely emaciated, which has led to theories that he suffered from a severe, debilitating disease near the end of his life.

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The Pivot Pharaoh Who Paved a Golden Path

The Pivot Pharaoh Who Paved a Golden Path

Pharaoh Thutmose IV is the perfect example of a “pivot pharaoh.” He inherited a militaristic, conquest-focused empire from his father, Amenhotep II. Then, through his own political savvy (the Dream Stele) and groundbreaking diplomacy (the Mitanni peace), he skillfully stabilized that empire.

Ultimately, his short but effective reign was the crucial turning point. He created the unparalleled peace and prosperity that he bequeathed to his son, Amenhotep III. In doing so, Thutmose IV single-handedly set the stage for Egypt’s absolute “golden age.”

FAQs About Thutmose IV

The-Goddess-Hathor-giving-the-Ankh-to-the-deceased-king-FAQs About Thutmose IV

Here are the quick, direct answers to the most common questions about Pharaoh Thutmose IV.

Q: Who was Pharaoh Thutmose IV?

A: He was an 18th Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh (c. 1401–1391 BCE), the son of Amenhotep II and the father of Amenhotep III.

Q: Why is Thutmose IV famous?

A: He is most famous for the Dream Stele, an inscription he placed at the Great Sphinx. This stone tells a story of the Sphinx prophesying he would become king if he cleared the sand from its body.

Q: Was Thutmose IV the rightful heir to the throne?

A: No. His older brother, Prince Amenhotep, was the original Crown Prince. Thutmose IV was a younger son who used the Dream Stele’s prophecy to legitimize his claim after his brother’s death.

Q: What did Thutmose IV build?

A: He is famous for restoring the Great Sphinx and building its nearby temple. He also added to Karnak Temple, where he raised the massive “Soleb Obelisk,” the largest single obelisk in Egypt.

Q: Who was Thutmose IV’s son?

A: His son and successor was Amenhotep III, also known as “Amenhotep the Magnificent.” His father’s diplomatic efforts created the peace and wealth that led to Amenhotep III’s famously opulent “golden age.”

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