Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt
The Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt (notated Dynasty XXI, alternatively 21st Dynasty or Dynasty 21) is usually classified as the first Dynasty of the Ancient Egyptian Third Intermediate Period, lasting from 1069 BC to 945 BC.
Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt | |||||||||
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1069 BC–945 BC | |||||||||
Gold funerary mask of pharaoh Psusennes I | |||||||||
Capital | Tanis | ||||||||
Common languages | Egyptian language | ||||||||
Religion | Ancient Egyptian Religion | ||||||||
Government | Absolute monarchy | ||||||||
Historical era | Iron Age | ||||||||
• Established | 1069 BC | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 945 BC | ||||||||
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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".[1]
Pharaohs of the 21st Dynasty
Pharaoh | Image | Throne name / Prenomen | Reign | Burial | Consort(s) | Comments |
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Smendes / Nesbanebdjed I | Hedjkheperre Setepenre | 1077 - 1051 BC | unknown | Tentamun | Only controlled Lower Egypt during his reign. Founder of the 21st Dynasty. | |
Amenemnisu | Neferkare Heqawaset | 1051 - 1047 BC | unknown | |||
Psusennes I / Hor-Pasebakhaenniut I | Akheperre Setepenamun | 1047 - 1001 BC | NRT III, Tanis | Mutnedjemet Wiay |
Precise length of reign unknown. Either 41 or 46 years. | |
Amenemope | Usermaatre Setepenamun | 1001 - 992 BC | Tanis | |||
Osorkon the Elder | Akheperre Setepenre | 992 - 986 BC | unknown | |||
Siamun | Netjerkheperre Setepenamun | 986 - 967 BC | unknown | |||
Psusennes II / Hor-Pasebakhaenniut II | Titkheperure Setepenre | 967 - 943 BC | unknown |
Timeline of the 21st Dynasty
Footnotes
Periods and Dynasties of Ancient Egypt |
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All years are BC |
See also: List of Pharaohs by Period and Dynasty Periodization of Ancient Egypt |
- Kenneth A. Kitchen, The Third Intermediate Period in Egypt (1100–650 BC), 3rd edition, 1986, Warminster: Aris & Phillips Ltd, p.531
Further reading
- Jaroslav Černý, Studies in the Chronology of the Twenty-First Dynasty, JEA 32 (1946), 24-30