Which pharaoh married his own daughter?

Ramses the Great and the Tradition of Royal Incest

One of the most striking customs in ancient Egyptian royalty was the practice of incest among the ruling class, a tradition most famously upheld by Ramses the Great. Historical evidence confirms that Ramses married at least two of his daughters—Bintanath and Meritamen—who were elevated to the status of Great Royal Wives. This was not an act of scandal in the eyes of the time, but rather a calculated move to preserve divine bloodlines and consolidate power within the royal family.

Royal incest was deeply rooted in Egyptian mythology. The gods, such as Osiris and Isis, were believed to be siblings and spouses, setting a divine precedent for human rulers. By marrying their daughters or sisters, pharaohs reinforced their god-like status and ensured the purity of their lineage. Ramses, one of Egypt’s most powerful and longest-reigning kings, used this practice to strengthen his authority and maintain control over the throne.

Although of Greek origin, the Ptolemies adopted many Egyptian customs, including royal incest. The most famous example is Cleopatra VII, who married both of her younger brothers—first Ptolemy XIII and later Ptolemy XIV—following tradition to secure her rule. This 275-year dynasty saw sibling marriage become standard, mirroring the earlier pharaonic model.

While modern sensibilities may recoil at the idea, in ancient Egypt, such unions were not about personal desire but about politics, religion, and legitimacy. For rulers like Ramses and the Ptolemies, marrying within the family was less about love and more about preserving the sacred aura of kingship. It was a strategy as old as the pharaohs themselves—one that blurred the lines between mortal rule and divine right.