Tutankhaten was the son of Akhenaten. When Akhenaten died, his brother, or perhaps mother, called, Smenkhkare, ruled for a short while, then died and the throne passed to Tutankhaten. Tutankhaten renounced the new religion of his father (probably because of powerful priests and advisers) and changed his name to Tutankhamun, or 'living image of the god Amun'.

Although he died young, Tutankhamun played an important part in Egyptian history.

His was the only grave to be discovered unlooted in the Valley of the Kings, and so his is the only example of the fabulous wealth buried with the pharaohs.

He also commanded many statues and sphinxes of himself, a few of which survive.

Tutankhamun was lucky in that the boundaries of the country were not attacked until the later years of his reign.

Tutankhamun died when he was between 17 and 19, but no one is certain how he died. Some think it was from natural causes, such as an infection, perhaps because of a wound received in battle. Some think he had a fatal accident, and some even think he was murdered. There is little evidence left for us to tell.