15 Ancient Kings Whose Names Were Erased From History
Some ancient kings were deliberately erased from history, leaving only fragments of their reigns and mysteries about their lives.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Throughout history, rulers have been removed from records due to political, religious, or personal conflicts. Monuments, inscriptions, and official documents were sometimes destroyed or altered to hide their existence. Despite this, archaeological discoveries and surviving texts occasionally reveal traces of these forgotten kings.
1. 1. Akhenaten, Egypt
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Akhenaten attempted to replace Egypt’s traditional religion with the worship of Aten. After his death, many monuments and inscriptions bearing his name were destroyed. His successors sought to restore the old gods and erase his influence. Modern archaeology has reconstructed much of his story from scattered evidence.
2. 2. Tutankhamun’s Co-Regents
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Some co-regents or minor pharaohs during Tutankhamun’s era were intentionally erased. Temples and tomb inscriptions were defaced. Little is known about their reigns. Researchers rely on fragmentary artifacts to piece together their existence.
3. 3. Horemheb, Egypt
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Horemheb erased traces of previous pharaohs, including Akhenaten’s successors. He wanted to legitimize his rule and restore traditional practices. Many inscriptions were altered or removed. Today, historians identify him through surviving military and tomb records.
4. 4. Smenkhkare, Egypt
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Smenkhkare ruled briefly and left few records. Later pharaohs intentionally minimized his presence. Tomb inscriptions were defaced to hide his reign. His name survives mainly in fragmented texts and artifacts.
5. 5. Neferefre, Egypt
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Neferefre ruled for a short period in the Fifth Dynasty. Little evidence of his rule remains due to later erasures. Tomb inscriptions were partially destroyed. Archaeologists reconstruct his story from scattered monuments and records.
6. 6. Ptolemy XIII, Egypt
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Ptolemy XIII was removed from some official records after his defeat by Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. His monuments and statues were altered or destroyed. Ancient historians often minimized his role. Modern study relies on foreign accounts and surviving inscriptions.
7. 7. Darius the Short-Lived, Persia
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Certain Persian rulers, like Darius the Short-Lived, were eliminated from royal lists. Their brief reigns made them politically inconvenient. Monuments and inscriptions were destroyed. Evidence of their rule is preserved only in minor references.
8. 8. Cambyses II’s Rival, Persia
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A rival to Cambyses II was deliberately erased in royal chronicles. Persian kings sometimes removed opponents from history. Coins, inscriptions, and documents were altered. Archaeologists now rely on fragmented sources to confirm their existence.
9. 9. Sheshonq III’s Minor Successors, Egypt
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Sheshonq III’s minor successors were largely omitted from official king lists. Temples and records were defaced to legitimize the dominant line. Little remains of their reigns. Some inscriptions hint at their brief rule.
10. 10. Gilgamesh’s Historical Counterparts, Mesopotamia
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While famous in myth, historical kings like Gilgamesh may have been obscured. Their actual names and deeds were sometimes erased in political revisions. Archaeological evidence is sparse. Much of their story is reconstructed from legend and tablets.
11. 11. Qin Dynasty Princes, China
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Some princes in the Qin Dynasty were removed from records after political purges. Monuments and family records were destroyed. Their names were omitted from official histories. Only fragments reveal their existence.
12. 12. Emperors of the Later Han Dynasty, China
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Minor emperors who fell out of favor were often erased from records. Histories were rewritten by succeeding rulers. Tombs and inscriptions were defaced. Scholars rely on fragments and commentaries for information.
13. 13. Roman Usurpers
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Roman usurpers or failed claimants were often subjected to “damnatio memoriae,” erasing their names from inscriptions and coins. Their images were destroyed from public monuments. Only fragmentary evidence survives. These rulers remain obscure despite historical references.
14. 14. The Forgotten Kings of Ur, Mesopotamia
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Several kings of Ur are missing from standard king lists. Archaeological evidence shows their reigns existed. Later scribes omitted them for political reasons. Modern archaeology uncovers their traces through artifacts and inscriptions.
15. 15. The Obscured Pharaohs of the Second Intermediate Period, Egypt
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Several rulers during Egypt’s Second Intermediate Period were deliberately removed from history. Political instability led to erasures from monuments and lists. Little documentation survives. Archaeologists reconstruct their reigns using fragmentary evidence and foreign records.