Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt


The Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt is usually classified as the first Dynasty of the Ancient Egyptian Third Intermediate Period, lasting from 1077 BC to 943 BC.

History

After the reign of Ramesses III, a long, slow decline of royal power in Egypt followed. The pharaohs of the Twenty-first Dynasty ruled from Tanis, but were mostly active only in Lower Egypt, which they controlled. This dynasty is described as 'Tanite' because its political capital was based at Tanis. Meanwhile, the High Priests of Amun at Thebes effectively ruled Middle and Upper Egypt in all but name. The later Egyptian Priest Manetho of Sebennytos states in his Epitome on Egyptian royal history that "the 21st Dynasty of Egypt lasted for 130 years".

Pharaohs of the 21st Dynasty

PharaohImagePrenomen Horus-nameReignBurialConsortComments
Smendes / Nesbanebdjed IHedjkheperre SetepenreKanakhtmeryreseuser Amunkhepesheferseqamaat1077 - 1051 BCunknownTentamunOnly controlled Lower Egypt during his reign. Founder of the 21st Dynasty.
AmenemnisuNeferkare Heqawaset1051 - 1047 BCunknown
Psusennes I / Hor-Pasebakhaenniut IAkheperre SetepenamunKanakhtemdedamun Userfausekhaemwaset1047 - 998 BCNRT III, TanisMutnedjemet
Wiay
Precise length of reign unknown. Either 49 years or maximum 50 years.
AmenemopeUsermaatre Setepenamun1000 - 991 BCTanisManetho writes in his Epitome that Amenemope ruled Egypt for 9 years with first 2-3 years in co-regency with Psusennes I.
Osorkon the ElderAkheperre Setepenre991 - 985 BCunknownOsorkon the elder ruled Egypt for 6 years.
SiamunNetjerkheperre SetepenamunKanakhtmerymat Sameryenamunperemhauef985 - 966 BCunknownSiamun is believed to have ruled Egypt for 19 years. Egyptologists have amended Manetho's figure of 9 years for this king to 9 years based on a Year 17 known for him in the Karnak Priestly Annals
Psusennes II / Hor-Pasebakhaenniut IITitkheperure Setepenre966 - 943 BCunknown

Timeline of the 21st Dynasty


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DateFormat = yyyy
Period = from:-1077 till:-925
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
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from: -1077 till: -1051 color:PA text:"Smendes "
from: -1051 till: -1047 color:PA text:"Amenemnisu "
from: -1047 till: -998 color:PA text:"Psusennes I "
from: -1000 till: -991 color:PA text:"Amenemope "
from: -991 till: -985 color:PA text:"Osorkon the Elder "
from: -985 till: -966 color:PA text:"Siamun "
from: -966 till: -943 color:PA text:"Psusennes II "
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