Pharaoh Siptah (Merenptah)

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When Sety II died , after a reign of almost six full years , his only son Saptah (1194-1188 B . C) succeeded him . However , Saptah was not a son of Sety II's principal Queen , Tausret . Instead , he had been born to him by a Syrian concubine called Sutailja . More importantly , he was only a young boy who suffered from an atrophied leg . His stepmother , Tausret , therefore remained 'Great Royal Wife' and acted as regent . She was not the only power behind the throne , as there was a powerful official called Bay , described as the 'Chancellor of the Entire Land' who was himself a Syrian . He appears to have been the true ruler of the country at this date . He is depicted several times with Saptah and Tausret and in some inscriptions he even claims that it was he who 'established the king on the throne of his father' .