List of monarchs of Kush

This is an incomplete list for rulers with the title of Qore (king) or Kandake (queen) of the Kingdom of Kush. Some of the dates are only rough estimates. While the chronological list is well known only a few monarchs have definite dates. These include those leaders who also ruled Ancient Egypt and those who ruled during famous invasions or famous trade expeditions. The others are based on estimates made by Fritz Hintze. The estimates are based on the average length of the reigns, which were then shortened or lengthened based on the size and splendour of the monarch's tomb. The assumption being that monarchs who reigned longer had more time and resources to build their burial sites. An added complication is that in recent years there have been disputes as to which monarch belongs to which tomb.

From left to right, statues of the 7th century BC kings Tantamani, Taharqa, Senkamanisken, Tantamani, Aspelta, Anlamani and Senkamanisken. Now in the Kerma Museum.

Dates are definite and accurate for the Kushite rulers of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt, when Egypt was invaded and absorbed by the Kushite Empire. The dates also are certain for kings Aspelta, Arakamani, Nastasen, and for the Kandakes Shanakdakhete, Amanirenas, Amanishakheto, Amanitore, and Amanikhatashan.

The early part of the chronology is incomplete. The graves and pyramid burials in Sudan consist of remains of at least fourteen [1] monarchs of the Kushite Empire preceding Piankhi, the earliest tomb of which dates from about 1020 BCE. Two of these are known: Alara and Kashta, who immediately preceded Piankhi. It also is possible that another of the burials may have been of Aserkamani, who was living in 950 BCE and who carried out expeditions in Egypt and along the Mediterranean coast of North Africa.

Pre-Napatan period

Napatan period

The period starting with Kashta and ending with Malonaqen is sometimes called the Napatan period, during this period the seat of government and the royal palace are in Napata and Meroe is a provincial city. The kings and queens are buried in Nuri and El-Kurru.[2]

The numbering of the kings is based on László Török's The kingdom of Kush: handbook..

First phase

Kings of Nubia
Direct ancestors of the 25th dynasty
name of KingimagedateBurialQueen(s)
//King Alarac. 795 to 752 BCEKurru 9?Queen Kasaqa (Kurru 23)
1King Kashtac. 765–752 BCEKurru 8Queen Pebatjma (Kurru 7?)

Twenty-fifth dynasty of Egypt

King Piye invades Egypt and for seven decades the Nubians rule Egypt.

Kings of Nubia and Pharaohs of Egypt
name of KingimagedateBurialQueen(s)
2Pharaoh Piye (Piankhi)744-714 BCEKurru 17Queen Tabiry (Kurru 53)
Queen Abar (Nuri 53?)
Queen Khensa (Kurru 4)
Queen Peksater (Kurru 54)
Nefrukekashta (Kurru 52)
3Pharaoh Shebitku714-705 BCEKurru 15Queen Qalhata (Kurru 5)
Queen Mesbat
Queen Tabekenamun?
4Pharaoh Shabaka705–690 BCEKurru 18Queen Arty (Kurru 6)
5Pharaoh Taharqa690–664 BCENuri 1Queen Takahatenamun (Nuri 21?)
Queen Atakhebasken (Nuri 36)
Queen Naparaye (Kurru 3)
Queen Tabekenamun?
6Pharaoh Tantamani664–653 BCEKurru 16Queen Piankharty
Queen [..]salka
Queen Malaqaye? (Nuri 59)

Second phase

The Nubians no longer control Egypt. The Kings rule over Napata and Meroe as before the conquest of Egypt.

Kings of Nubia (Napata)
name of KingimagedateBurialQueen(s)
7King Atlanersa653–640 BCENuri 20?Queen Khaliset
Queen Malotaral (Nuri 41)
Queen Yeturow (Nuri 53)
Queen Peltasen
Queen Taba[..]
8King Senkamanisken640–620 BCENuri 3Queen Nasalsa (Nuri 24)
Queen Amanimalel? (Nuri 22?)
9King Anlamani620–600 BCENuri 6Queen Mediken ? (Nuri 27)
10King Aspelta600–580 BCENuri 8Queen Mediken? (Nuri 27)
Queen Henuttakhebit (Nuri 28)
Queen Asata (Nuri 42)
Queen Artaha (Nuri 58)
11King Aramatle-qo568–555 BCENuri 9Queen Atmataka (Nuri 55)
Queen Piankh-her
Queen Maletasen (Nuri 39)
Queen Amanitakaye (Nuri 26)
Queen Akhe(qa)? (Nuri 38)
12King Malonaqen555–542 BCENuri 5Queen Tagtal (nuri 45)

Meroitic period

First phase

The Kings ruled over Napata and Meroe. The seat of government and the royal palace are in Meroe. The Main temple of Amun is located in Napata, but the temple at Meroe is under construction. Kings and many queens are buried in Nuri, some queens are buried in Meroe, in the West Cemetery.[2]

Kings of Nubia (Meroe)
name of KingimagedateBurialQueen(s)
13King Analmaye542–538 BCENuri 18
14King Amaninatakilebte538–519 BCENuri 10
15King Karkamani519–510 BCENuri 7
16King Amaniastabarqa510–487 BCENuri 2
17King Siaspiqa487–468 BCE)Nuri 4Queen Piankhqew-qa? (Nuri 28)
18King Nasakhma468–463 BCENuri 8Queen Saka'aye? (Nuri 31)
19King Malewiebamani463–435 BCENuri 11
20King Talakhamani435–431 BCENuri 16
21King Amanineteyerike431–405 BCENuri 12Queen Atasamale?
22King Baskakeren405–404 BCENuri 17
23King Harsiotef404–369 BCENuri 13Queen Batahaliye
Queen Pelkha
24King (unknown Qore)369–350 BCEKurru 1
25King Akhraten350–335 BCENuri 14
26King Amanibakhi2nd half 4th century BCE??
27King Nastasen335–315 BCENuri 15Queen Sakhmakh (Nuri 56?)

Second phase

The seat of government and the royal palace are in Meroe. Kings and many queens are buried in Meroe, in the South Cemetery. Napata's only importance is the Amun Temple.[2]

Kings of Nubia (Meroe)
name of KingimagedateBurialQueen(s)
28King AktisanesEarly 3rd century BCEBarkal 11 or 14Kandake Alakhebasken
29King Aryamanifirst half 3rd century BCEBarkal 11 or 14
30King Kash(...)first half 3rd century BCEBarkal 15?
31King Piankhi-yerike-qafirst half 3rd century BCE??
32King Sabrakamanifirst half 3rd century BCEBarkal 7

Third phase

The seat of government and the royal palace are in Meroe. Kings are buried in Meroe, in the North Cemetery, and Queens in West Cemetery. Napata's only importance is the Amun Temple. Meroe flourishes and many building projects are undertaken.[2]

Kings of Nubia (Meroe)
name of KingimagedateBurialQueen(s)
33King Arakamani (Arkamani-qo, Ergamenês)270–260 BCEBeg. S 6
34King Amanislo260–250 BCEBeg. S 6
35King Amantekhamid-3rd century BCEBeg. S 4
36King Sheshep-ankh-en-Amun Setepenremid/late 3rd century BCE??
37King Arnekhamanimid/late 3rd century BCEBeg. N 53
38King Arqamani3rd/2nd century BCEBeg. N 7
39King Adikhalamani2nd century BCEBeg. N 9
40King [...]mr[...]t2nd century BCEBeg. N 8
41King (unknown Qore)2nd century BCEBeg. N 10
42Queen Shanakdakhetelate 2nd century BCEBeg. N 11
43King Tanyidamanilate 2nd century BCE
/early 1st century BCE
Beg. N 12?
44King Naqyrinsanearly 1st century BCEBeg. N 13
45King (unknown Qore)early 1st century BCEBeg. N 20
46King (unknown Qore)middle 1st century BCEBarkal 1 ?
47King Aqrakamanic. 29–25 BCE??
48King Teriteqasc. 29–25 BCEBarkal 2
49Queen Amanirenaslate 1st century BCEBarkal 4
50Queen Amanishakhetolate 1st century BCEBeg. N 6
51Queen Nawidemakearly 1st century CEBarkal 6?
52King Amanikhabalemiddle 1st century CEBeg. N 2?
53aKing Natakamanimid/late 1st century CEBeg. N 22Queen Amanitore (coregent)
53bQueen Amanitoremid/late 1st century CEBeg. N 1

Crown princes from the time of Natakamani and Amanitore

Fourth phase

Twilight of the Meroitic Culture. Kings are buried in Meroe, in the North Cemetery, and Queens in West Cemetery. In 350 CE Meroe is destroyed by Axum.[2]

List and dates from The Cambridge history of Africa, by J.D. Fage, and R.A. Oliver and from The kingdom of Kush: the Napatan and Meroitic empires, by Derek A. Welsby. The order in which the kings and queens ruled and dates are not consistent between authors. Approximate dates have been given.
Kings of Nubia (Meroe)
name of KingdateBurial
King Shorkaror1st century CEBeg. N 10
King Pisakar1st century CEBeg. N 15
King Amanitaraqide1st century CEBeg. N 16
King Amanitenmemide1st century CEBeg. N 17
Queen Amanikhatashan1st century CEBeg. N 18
King Teritnide1st century CEBeg. N 40
King Teqerideamani I1st/2nd centuryBeg. N 28
King Tamelerdeamani2nd centuryBeg. N 34 or 27
King Adeqatali2nd centuryBeg. N 41
King Takideamani2nd centuryBeg. N 29
King Tarekeniwal2nd centuryBeg. N 19
King Amanikhalika2nd centuryBeg. N 32
King Aritenyesbokhe2nd centuryBeg. N 30
King Amanikhareqerem2nd centuryBeg. N 37
King Teritedakhateyearly 3rd centuryBeg. N 38
King Aryesbokheearly 3rd centuryBeg. N 36
King Teqerideamani II3rd century??
Queen Maleqorobar?3rd centuryBeg. N 27
King Yesbokheamani?3rd centuryBeg. N 24
Queen Lakhideamani?4th centuryBeg. N 26

(Unknown sequence thereafter)

See also

References

  1. Kushite Kingdom Archived 2008-03-08 at the Wayback Machine by Brian Yare (14)
  2. Dows Dunham, Notes on the History of Kush 850 B. C.-A. D. 350, American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 50, No. 3 (July - September, 1946), pp. 378-388

Sources

  • Stewart, John (1989). African States and Rulers: An Encyclopedia of Native, Colonial, and Independent States and Rulers Past and Present. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. p. 395 Pages. ISBN 0-89950-390-X.
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