Portrayed by some authors as a rather sickly king constantly overshadowed by his queen, a future king of Egypt, Hatshepsut (there does seem to be very little evidence, if any, to support this assumption. It probably has more to do with the standard theory of Hatshepsut of being the 'first wicked stepmother' in history!). However, little remains from the reign of Tuthmosis II; he did mount at least military campaign against the Asiatics and entered Syria with the Egyptian army. Another campaign is also recorded in this reign - a campaign into Nubia, although this campaign is recorded as being fought by his commanders in the name of Tuthmosis II. Building work of Tuthmosis II He built mainly at the temple of Amun, Karnak - here he began work on pylon IX, two statues in front of this pylon are of Tuthmosis II. Several chambers were also decorated by Tuthmosis II and Hatshepsut - in some cases the decoration of Tuthmosis II has been usurped by Hatshepsut.

Queens of Tuthmosis II
Hatshepsut (his Chief Queen and half-sister),
Isis (probably not of royal blood, possibly a woman from his harem) who bore a daughter Neferu-re (the eldest child, she was not live much longer than her 16th year (Senmut, courtier of Hatshespsut, was named as Keeper of Her Palace), her title is given as 'Lady of Both Lands, Princess of the North and South') and a son; Tuthmosis III (declared heir to the throne before the death of Tutmosis II).

Other information from the reign of Tuthmosis II comes from the royal architect Ineni (the same Ineni who orginally thought of burying Tuthmosis I in the Valley of the Kings). Ineni would remain in favour in royal circles for a little while longer - he also records how he was highly thought of by the King Hatshepsut.

The tomb of Tuthmosis II

Although not positively identified, there is a tomb in the Valley of the Kings that remains favourite for the tomb of Tuthmosis II. KV42 has an oval or cartouche-shaped burial chamber (similar in shape to the shape of tombs under Tuthmosis III), and holds a sarcophagus - however the tomb itself is unfinished without decoration, the sarcophagus is unpolished and undecorated. A burial is known to have been placed within KV42, pots and other burials items have been found - does the unfinished appearance indicate an untimely death of Tuthmosis II hastily buried? No other tomb has yet to be discovered which may be identified with him. His mummy and coffin was found within the mummy cache of TT320.