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Which king married his own sister?

Published in Ancient History 1 min read

Several ancient kings, particularly in ancient Egypt, married their sisters. Here's some information about specific rulers who practiced sibling marriage:

  • Ancient Egypt:

    • Senwosret I: This king, who reigned circa 1961 B.C. to 1917 B.C., married his sister Neferu.

    • Amenhotep I: He reigned circa 1525 B.C. to 1504 B.C. and married his sister Ahmose-Meritamun.

    • Ptolemaic Dynasty: In the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was of Macedonian Greek origin but ruled Egypt, sibling marriage was common among royalty. A famous example from this dynasty is Cleopatra VII. Although there is no record of her marrying a sibling, it was common within her family.

The practice of sibling marriage was often done to preserve the royal bloodline and maintain political power within the family. It was more common in some cultures than others, with ancient Egypt being a notable example.