Ay vs Queen Seondeok of Silla

Ay ascended the throne after the death of Tutankhamun, whom he had served as vizier. As an elderly man with no direct royal lineage, his accession was unusual and likely involved political maneuvering. He married Tutankhamun's widow, Ankhesenamun, to legitimize his claim, though this marriage was brief.

Ay continued the restoration of traditional Egyptian religion begun under Tutankhamun, reversing the Amarna period's Atenist reforms. He restored temples, reinstated the priesthood of Amun, and issued decrees reaffirming the old gods. This policy helped stabilize the country after the religious upheaval of Akhenaten's reign.

Ay built his tomb (WV23) in the Western Valley of the Kings, a departure from the main valley. The tomb was decorated with scenes showing Ay as pharaoh, including his coronation and interactions with gods. It was later usurped by Horemheb, who erased Ay's name and images, reflecting the damnatio memoriae against him.

After Ay's death, his successor Horemheb systematically erased Ay's name and images from monuments, a practice known as damnatio memoriae. Horemheb claimed credit for Ay's achievements and portrayed himself as the direct successor of Tutankhamun, effectively writing Ay out of official history.

Seondeok ascended the throne as the first reigning queen of Silla, following her father King Jinpyeong's death without a male heir. Her accession challenged traditional gender norms and established a precedent for female leadership in Korean history.

Queen Seondeok ordered the construction of Cheomseongdae, an astronomical observatory in Gyeongju. The stone structure was used for observing stars and predicting celestial events, reflecting Silla's advanced scientific knowledge and the queen's interest in astronomy.

Seondeok sent envoys to the Tang court, establishing a formal alliance. This diplomatic move secured Chinese support against Silla's rivals, Baekje and Goguryeo, and laid the groundwork for the later Silla-Tang alliance that unified Korea.

Seondeok sponsored the construction of several Buddhist temples, including Bunhwangsa and Yeongmyosa. She also supported the creation of Buddhist art and scriptures, contributing to the flourishing of Buddhist culture in Silla during her reign.

Seondeok faced a rebellion led by General Bidam, who opposed female rule. The queen's forces, led by General Kim Yushin, crushed the revolt. This victory solidified her authority and demonstrated the effectiveness of the Hwarang military system.