TUTKHEPERRE SHOSHENQ

'King Tutkheperre' or 'Tutkheperra Shoshenq' is an obscure Third Intermediate Period Libyan king whose existence was previously unknown. However, a recent GM 203(2004) pp.65-71 German language article by Eva R. Lange on a newly discovered stone block from the Temple of Bubastis which bears his rare royal prenomen, now confirms his existence beyond doubt.
This king was first found mentioned in an ostraca discovered at Abydos by Émile Amélineau (1850-1915) in his 19th Century excavations there. The ostraca is now located in the Louvre Museum and was examined by M. A. Bonheme in a 1995 paper titled "'Les Chechanquides: Qui, Combien?'" According to Bonheme, the ostraca contains the name ''Tutkheperre [...]Amun| (Shoshenq MeryAmun)|'' written in black ink on it and was discovered among votive deposits of various dates, starting from the New Kingdom onwards near the First Dynasty 'Tomb of Osiris' at Abydos. The ostraca evidence was not considered conclusive evidence for this king's existence since the writer was assumed to have mistakenly written the small bird or chick symbol for TUT instead of the Red Crown symbol for HEDJ, as in king Hedjkheperre Shoshenq I.
However in her recent paper, Lange notes that the name Tutkheperre cannot be a mistake for "Tjetkheperre", Psusennes II's prenomen, because their hieroglyphic symbols are completely different. (GM 204, p.68) Lange's article now proves that this king is indeed genuine and distinct from Shoshenq I or Psusennes II. It examines an architectural fragment from the Great Temple of Bubastis which mentions his unique prenomen and nomen: 'Tutkheperre Shoshenq'. There can be no mistake here because these stone blocks were created by professionally trained royal Artisans who would not mistakenly transcribe something as important as a king's throne name onto a royal monument or temple. Tutkheperre Shoshenq's reign was probably brief: perhaps 6 to 9 Months or 1 Year at the most since he is completely unattested beyond these 2 documents.
Karl Jansen-Winkeln surmises in a footnote at the conclusion of Lange's paper that this new king should be dated to the first half of the 22nd Dynasty because his rule is attested in both Lower and Upper Egypt. This is a logical deduction because Shoshenq III of the 22nd Dynasty lost effective control over Upper Egypt in his 8th Year with the accession of Pedubast I at Thebes. Secondly, Lange notes that Tutkheperre Shoshenq is documented at the Temple of Bubastis where other early Dynasty 22 monarchs such as Osorkon I and Osorkon II are well known for their building projects there. Thus, he should be placed somewhere between these 2 kings.
While his precise location in the framework of the 22nd Dynasty is unknown, he may be one of the unknown "3 Kings"--apart from Shoshenq II--who ruled Egypt between Osorkon I and Takelot I, as Manetho's Epitome states. He cannot intervene between Shoshenq I to Osorkon I because Osorkon I certainly succeeded his father, while it's a bit more difficult to locate him between Takelot I and Osorkon II since Osorkon II buried/reburied his father. This leaves a short interregnum of a few years in the transition between Osorkon I to Takelot I. Several short-lived kings could plausibly fit in this transition period such as Shoshenq II at 2-3 Years and Tutkheperre Shoshenq because Takelot I was a minor son of Osorkon I by Queen Tashedkhons, who was a lesser Wife of the king. Takelot I may thus have had to wait a while before assuming the throne in favour of other higher ranking royal family members.

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References

References

★ Émile Amélineau, 'Les nouvelles fouilles d'Abydos 1897-1898' (fl), 147.

★ M. A. Bonheme, Les Chechanquides: Qui, Combien?, BSFE 134(1995), pp.53-54.

★ Eva R. Lange, Ein Neuer König Schoschenk in Bubastis, GM 203(2004), pp.65-71.