The last king of the Theban 17th Dynasty (c 1630-1540 BC) of Egypt, successor of Seqenenra Taa II (Seqenenre) (c 1560 BC) and predecessor of Ahmose I (1550-1525 BC), the first 18th Dynasty ruler. He started hostilities with the Hyksos, the west Semitic invaders who had seized part of Egypt in the 17th century BC. Following the death of his father, Seqenenre, Kamose became ruler of the southernmost third of Egypt. Most scholars agree that he did not rule for more than five years.