Was Nefertiti Smenkhkare's co regent

Answer 1

Nefertiti didn't disappear off the scene as quickly as some scholars believe. As Ankhetkheprure Neferneferuaten first appears when Nefertiti disappears. The feminine 'et' is the the name Ankh(et)kheprure, meaning it is a female. After, Akhenaten changed the religion, Nefertiti changed her name to Neferneferuaten. Smenkhkare was roughly 19 years old when he took the throne and was most likely of poor health, and his name appears very close to Ankhetkheprure Neferneferuaten's. His name is the masculine form meaning it is a male: Ankhkheprure (notice there is no 'et'), Smenkhkare Djeserkheperu. This could possibly mean Nefertiti was a co regent for her son or stepson, being nineteen, he was not Akhenaten's brother or uncle as thought, thus related though Akhenaten though marriage or blood and could be his son or son in law. Nefertiti did not die in the 17th year of Akhenaten's reign but lived right though Smenkhkare's short lived reign and reigned for two years after his reign and was probably a co regent for a young Tutankhaten. She probably died in Tutankhamun's reign. As Meritaten became Smenkhkare's 'Great Royal Wife' and her only husband was Smenkhkare, their child would have been Meritaten Tasherit. Smenkhkare and Nefertiti-Neferneferuaten were co reigning with Akhenaten later in his reign, thus Smenkhkare was a co-ruler and was training for being king. Smenkhkare thus being a son in law can't take the throne, thus had to be Akhenaten's oldest son, and with Nefertiti as his co-ruler would have to be his mother. Tutankhamun being the youngest son was not in line for the throne, and was not trained to be king. It wasn't until Nefertiti became his co regent, his training began. Nefertiti being his co regent as well, would also have to be his mother as well. Thus Akhenaten and Nefertiti married earlier than previously thought, had two sons: Smenkhkare and Tutankhaten or Tutankhamun and six daughters: Queen Meritaten (Smenkhkare's wife), Meketaten, Queen Ankhesenpaaten (Tutankhamun's wife, most likely they had three daughters: Ankhesenpaaten Tasherit, and two others that were stillborn), Neferneferuaten Tasherit, Neferneferure (she married a Babyilon prince), Setepenre and possibly another daughter who died infancy and is pictured in Meketaten's funeral. Kiya and Akhenaten had only one daughter, no sons.