The above stamp from Nigeria shows Queen Nefertari on the Left and Rameses II (also spelled Ramses and Ramessess) aka Ramses the Great on the right. It was put out by UNESCO to help save the monument from the flooding that would have destroyed it.

But we are here to talk about Ramses. Before being named Pharaoh, Ramses, as a teenager, had ten sons and almost as many daughters. He has 6 to 8 main wives and many dozens of lesser wives and concubines. He is believed to have fathered at least 80 sons and 60 daughters.

All of this was planned. He wanted to build a dynasty around his bloodline. He gave all his male heirs important positions while training his first 12 sons to succeed him.

Things didn’t quite work out as planned. He outlived all his sons. His 13th son, Merenptah, did take over the throne but the Ramses dynasty was extinct in 150 years.

If you think 80 sons and 60 daughters is impressive. Wait until you see the stamp and story of Genghis Khan!