There have been many different
interpretations of Egypts'
"Dynasties" and the chronological order
of its rulers'. I
have tried to put together as much
detail as possible from a number of
different sources.
I have found that during the early
years of Egypts
history, many of the
rulers are not known or very little
information about them
exists. I would glady appreciate any
additional facts or
comments to add to this section.
THE ARCHAIC PERIOD
First Dynasty, c.3100-2890 b.c.
NARMER...
Aha... He may
have been the founder of
Memphis- The Capital City of Egypt in
ancient times. He
was also the first King to erect a tomb
at
Saggara.
Djer... It was on his mummified
arm, that the
earliest
surviving piece of royal jewelry was
discovered.
Djet...No info. available Den...He was the first
King to
use the title "He of the Sedge and
Bee". Adjib...No
info. available. Semerkhet...no info.
available. Qaa...no info.
available.
Second
Dynasty,c.2890-2686
b.c. Hetepsekhemwy...no info.
available. Nebra...no info.
available Ninetjer...no
info. available. Peribsen... He was buried
at
Abydos. Sekhemib...This may
be the Horus name of
Peribsen, or another unknown
ruler. Khasekham...Buried
at Abydos. Third
Dynasty,c.2686-2613
b.c. Netjerikhet.... He was the
builder of the step
pyramid but,
during the New Kingdom, visitors left
grafitti at the
site, which name King Djoser as its'
builder. A possible explanation for this
is that Djoser may have been the birth
name of
Netjerikhet. Sekhemkhet...His
tomb was also in the form
of a step pyramid, but it was never
completed. Sanakht... He was buried
at Saggara. OLD
KINGDOM Fourth Dynasty,
c2613-2494
b.c. Sneferu...He was the
first Pharoah to use a
"cartouche" and the first to build a
true pyramid. He
actually built three. One is located at
Meidum and 2 more are at
Dashur. Khufu... He is credited by
most Egyptologists as the
builder of the Great
Pyramid.Unfortunately, nothing from his
burial
survives, or has ever been
discovered.However, it is known that his
mother, the
Queen Hetepheres had her tomb robbed
shortly after she was
buried. Many of the remaining treasures
were reburied in ancient times
and rediscovered in 1925. They are now
on display in the
Cairo Museum in Egypt. Djedefra...He was the
eldest son
of Khufu. The first Pharoah to use the
title "Son of Ra".
He died before completing his own
pyramid at Abu Roash
(North o Giza). Khafra...He was the
second son of Khufu and
builder of the second pyramid at
Giza. Menkaura...He
built the third pyramid at Giza.
Although this pyramid is
smaller than the other two, it was
beautifully decorated
inside and it was once covered in a
casing of
granite. Shepsekaf...There is
no evidence of his
relationship to Khufu or his sons that
preceded him, but a
decree was discovered exempting his
temple of Menkauru
from any state dues, so their may have
been a
connection. Fifth
Dynasty,c.2494-2345
b.c. Userkaf, Sahura and
Neferirkara...These
were
triplets that ruled in sucession and
opened a new royal
blood line. They also built a number of
royal Sun-Temples
at Abusir which were all beautifully
decorated. Fragments
of these decorations still exist
today. Neuserra...No info.
available. Djedkara...He
ended the practice of building
Sun-Temples. Unas...He began
the custom of inscribing
the funerary texts within the chambers
of the
pyramids.
Teti...He may have been related
to Pepy I. Pepy I...He
left behind life size statues of himself
and his infant
son. Merenra...No info.
available. Pepy
II...He is
credited with ruling Egypt for 94 years!
There is some debate however, about
wether or not a
mistake was made in translating the
herectic script with
this information and he may have
actually ruled for 64
years. Either one is still an
accomplishment. During his
reign, he extended the borders of Egypt
both to the south
in Nubia, and the east in the
Sinai. Sixth and
Seventh Dynasties, c. 2345-2181
b.c. No
Accurate
information is available. Eighth
Dynasty, c.
2181-2130 b.c.
Kings list exists for
this
period. However, a royal exemption
decree was discovered that mentions the
name of King
Wadjkara.
There
is also a very small
pyramid from this dynasty of a
King,
Qakara. MIDDLE
KINGDOM
Ninth and Tenth
Dynasties, c. 2130-2040
b.c. These Dynasties were
ruled by Kings
that were
from Heracleopolis. Their tombs have
never been found and
very little information is known about
them. The only
official names known are two:
Meryibra Khety &
Merykara
Eleventh Dynasty,
c.
2130-1991
b.c. Sehertawwy
Intef... He ruled when Egypt was
split into 2 lands, Upper and lower, He
ruled only Upper
Egypt Wahankn
Intef...He also
ruled only Upper Egypt. His
tomb was rock cut and located in
Thebes. Nakhtnebtephefer
Intef...No Info.
available. Nebhepetra...He
achieved the unification of
Upper and Lower Egypt. He was buried in
a tomb located in
Thebes at Deir-el-Bahri, this tomb had a
terraced
temple built over it. Perhaps this gave
some inspiration
to Hatchepsut 600 years later when she
built her
temple at the same location. Sanhara...No info.
available Nebtawyra...His
name is only known from minor objects
discovered and from
a record of a quarrying expedition that
speaks of 2
"miracles" occurring. One of these
miracles was rain, and
the other of a gazelle that offered
itself for
sacrifice. Twelfth Dynasty, c.
1991-1782
b.c. Sehetepibra
(Amenemhat)...There is an
inscription discovered called "The
Instruction of
Amenermhat I" it is suppose to contain
the words spoken by
the King after his death to his son,
Senusret I in a
dream. In the dream, he describes an
attempt on his life
that occured at a time when his son was
not yet designated
hi heir. This may have been the first
reference to a
co-regency in which the Pharoahs' heir
reigned alongside
him to ensure a smooth
succession. Kheperkara (Senusret
I)...Son and successor of
Amenemhat. He completed
his
fathers' military campaign to subdue
lower
Nubia. Nubkaura
(Amenemhat
II)...He sent an expedition
to the exotic land of Punt to obtain
incense. His pyramid
complex is at Dahshur. At this complex,
jewelry of his 2
daughters, Princess Khnumet & Ita were
discovered in
1895. Khakheperra(Sensusret
II)...His pyramid was built
at Lahur, where an original uraeus from
his crown was
discovered along with other exquisite
jewelry that
belonged to his daughter, Princess
Sithathoriunet. Khakaura(Senusret
III)...He extended the
southern borders in Nubia by erecting a
number of
fortresses. In 1895, jewelry belonging
to his daughter,
Princess Sithathor and his Queen,
Mereret was
discovered. Maakherura(Amenemhat IV)
...Last King of the
twelfth dynasty. His burial has not been
located
yet. Sobekara(Sobekneferu)...Th
is was a Queen who
became
the last ruler of this dynasty. It is
assumed but not
proven that she became a Queen because
Amenemhat IV, died
without a male heir. Her tomb has never
been found.
Thirteenth
Dynasy, c. 1782-1674
b.c. Khutawyra
(Wegaf)...No info.
available. Sankhibra(Ameny Intef
Amenehat)...No info.
available. Auibra(Hor)...Only
ruled for a few months. His intact
burial was discovered
in a modest tomb at Dahshur at the
pyramid of Amenemhat
III. Sekhemra-Sewadjtawy(Sobekho
tep),Khasekhemra(N
eferhotep) and Khaneferra
(Sobekhotep)...These were
three bothers that ruled in
succesion. Merneferra (Ay)... Many of
his monuments
still survive today, both in Upper and
Lower
Egypt. Sekhemera-Sankhtawy(Iykhernofret)
...No info.
available. Fourteenth through
Seventeenth Dynasties,
c.1640 b.c to 1570 b.c.
During these
dynasties,
very few names and information exists.
It was a time
during Egypts' history that the Hyksos
were begining to
threaten their rule. One king however
does stand out due
to his mummy being discovered, Taa...He ruled during the
late 17th dynasty
and undertook a war against the Hyksos.
Studies of his
skull have shown an imprint of an axe of
the type used by
the Hyksos. NEW
KINGDOM Eighteenth Dynasty,
c. 1570 b.c. to 1320
b.c. Ahmose
I... He was the son of Taa and
completed his
fathers' victory at Avaris. Amenhotep I...He was the
founder and patron
deity of the Valley of the
Kings. Thutmose I...He did not
belong to the same
family as Ahmose I and Amenhotep I. How
he came to be heir
is unknown. He made extensive
restorations to the Amun
temple at Karnak during his reign.He was
the father of Hatshepsut. Thutmose II...He was the
stepbrother of Hatshepsut, reigned
briefly between Thutmose I and
Hatshepsut. Thutmose III...
He ruled as co-regent with his
stepmother, Hatshepsut. He was a very
young boy when he rose to the throne and
therefore this gave Hatshepsut the
opportunity to be appointed co-regent.
He stood in silence for many years,
however upon Hatshepsuts' death, he had
her name erased from history and become
the sole ruler of Egypt. He also went on
to conduct a number of successful
military campaigns to secure both the
northern and southern borders of
Egypt. Hatshepsut...The most
powereful and controversial Female ruler
of Egypt. See "Pharoahs and Queens for
more information. Amenhotep II...He
continued with his fathers' military
campaigns and was also an accomplished
archer. Thutmose
IV...He place a stela in between
the paws of the great Sphinx telling the
story of a dream he had while sleeping
beneath this monument. The story says
the Sphinx spoke to him and promised to
make him King of Egypt if he cleard the
sand engulfing him. Thutmose IV did as
he was asked and indeed became ruler of
Egypt. Amenhotep
III...He was fortunate to rule
Egypt at the height of her prosperity.
In letters written to foreign Kings, he
claimed that gold was as plentiful as
dust! He used this wealth to build and
restore a number of beautiful temples
and monuments throughout Egypt. Amenhotep IV... He
changed his name to Akhenaton and became
known as a heretic for trying to change
Egypts' religious beliefs. See "Pharoahs
and Queens for more information on this
controversial ruler. Smenkhare...Although he
was appointed heir to the throne by
Akhenaton and a number of portraits
exist depicting them in affectionate
poses, his true identity is unknown.
Some speculate the he was a homosexual
lover, others claim he was actually
Akhenatons royal wife, Nefertiti as she
ruled beside him. He only ruled for a
very short time, perhaps as little as a
year
Tutankhamun...The
discovery of his tomb and the wealth of
treasure it contained has made him the
most well known Egyptian Pharoah in its
history. Yet, he was nothing more than a
mere boy. See "Pharoahs and Queens" for
more information on this "boy
King". Ay...A senior member of te
royal court, who buried Tut and claimed
the throne. He died a short time
afterwards and did nothing significant
during his rule. Horemheb...He was a
powerful general in Tutankhamuns' army.
When he came in to power, he restored a
number of monuments and had both Tuts'
and Ays' names replaced with his
own. Ninteenth
Dynasty, c.1320-1200
b.c. Ramses I..He was not a member of
the royal family, but a military officer
in Horemhebs' army who was chosen to
succeed him to the throne. Seti I...He was a
poweful ruler of Egypt and led a number
of armies abroad to secure Egypts'
boundaries. His tomb is considered by
many to be the most beautiful. It is
adorned with lavishly decorated
paintings, and is also the deepest and
longest in the Valley of the Kings. He
was the father of Ramesses II and had
him appointed as co-regent during his
reign. Ramesses
II...Considered my many to be the most
powerful King in all of Egypts' history.
He ruled for over 60 years and fathered
over 100 children. See "Pharoahs and
Queens" for more information on this
mighty ruler..
