4. Tutankhamen ruled over Egypt from the age of nine, leading the ancient kingdom to war and transforming its religious beliefs
Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen, or ‘King Tut’, is probably the most famous child ruler of all time. He ascended to the throne of Egypt in the year 1333 BC when he was aged just nine or 10. He reigned as the absolute ruler of all of Egypt for nine years until his untimely death in 1323. Since he died without a male heir, his demise sparked a crisis of succession – one of the reasons we know so much about this one ruler – and the reason for his death remains a mystery to this day. What cannot be doubted, however, is that Tutankhamen was one of the most powerful teenagers who ever lived.
Little is known about King Tut’s early life, and only a little more is known about his years in power. It is known, for example, that, upon assuming control of Egypt, he married his half-sister, Ankhesenamun. The couple tried to start a family, but both of their daughters were stillborn. However, historians are divided on the matter of whether King Tut was all-powerful or, due to his young age, relied on a close circle of advisors to rule. Either way, under him, Egyptian society changed significantly.
Under Tutankhamun, the worship of the god Aten was brought to an end. Instead, Tut ordered his people to worship Amun instead. The boy king oversaw numerous ambitious construction projects, mainly temples for the various gods and goddesses. Perhaps more importantly, he also worked hard to build bridges with Egypt’s neighboring kingdoms, though he was also ready to use force against them. Indeed, Egypt fought numerous battles during his brief reign, even if Tutankhamun’s physical weaknesses meant it’s unlikely he went to war himself.
Quite why Tut died before the age of 20 continues to be the source of much scholarly debate. Some argue that he died after a chariot accident, others maintain he was assassinated. Regardless, immediately after his death, Tutankhamen was venerated, and a cult grew up around him. His tomb, famously discovered in the 1920s, added to his legacy as one of Egypt’s greatest rulers, and one of the most important teenagers in world history.