Ancient Civ. Pharaohs and other important people

Narmer/Menes

Possible amalgam figure, unified Egypt in 3100 BCE

Pepi II

End of Old Kingdom. Ruled 90 years, left no heirs, moved capital to Heliopolis (?) after increasing focus on Re as sun god, leads to 1st intermediate

Manetho

Historian, main source for others, possible propagandist

Josephus

Roman Historian, analyzed ruins

Mentuhotep II

Start of Middle. Reunified Egypt from Heracleopolis, takes Thebes, makes it his capital, claims line to old Pharaoh’s (unlikely), rules 51 years, expands borders, creates first standing army, improves irrigation and creates first resevoir, sends religious power towards Amon and away from Ra to decrease the cult’s power, makes Nomarch’s pharaoh appointed and non-hereditary

Mentuhotep IV

Middle. Rather inconsequential, replaced by Amenemhet I, his vizier, through possibly dubious means

Amenemhet I

Middle. Vizier for Mentuhotep IV, replaces him with is son Sesostris, takes him on as a co-regent, dies while he is away on a military expedition, founded Itj-towy, his new capital

Seqenenra (Ta’o)

2nd intermediate. Leader of Thebes/Egypt, begins to fight Apepi of Avaris (Hyksos) based on personal insult, dies violently to axe in the face, father of Kamose and Ahmos

Kamose

2nd intermediate. Son of Seqenera, continues war, has massive assault of Avaris, dies

Ahmose

2nd-New. Defeats and expels the Hyksos, conquer the north and Kushites/Nubians to the south, unifies Egypt

Amenhotep I

New, follows Ahmose. Secured Egypt, occupies oases as forward bases and takes them away from nomads

Thutmose I

New, follows Amenhotep I, Expanded territory to Nubian, Palestine, and Syria. Began programs of tribute and of taking sons, training them as Egyptian, and sending them back to their conquered areas to lead

Hatshepsut

New, regent of Thutmose III, was a woman, but obscured it in depictions (no breasts). Had a successful expedition to Punt. Erased from history by Thutmose III

Thutmose III

New, succeeds Hatshepsut, his regent. First great Warrior King. Leads expeditions to Megiddo (tiny cavern path and siege) and Joppa. Erases Hatshepsut. Creates a large standing army with all three branches.

Amenhotep II

New, followed Thutmose III, maintained power

Thutmose IV

New, followed Amenhotep II, maintained power

Amenhotep III

New, followed Thutmose IV, maintained power

Amenhotep IV

New, followed Amenhotep III. Changed name to Akhenhaton in love of the god Aten, the sun god. Moved capital to Armarna. Priests of Amon hate him and declare him a heretic, and he is erased from history

Tutankhamen

New, followed Akhenaton. Originally Tutankaton, changed name back to Amon centric to please angry cult. Generally a puppet, dies at 18. Tomb is found by Howard Carter in 1922 and defines modern Egyptian thoughts

Ramses II

New, battle of Kadesh, is ambushed and barely escapes, but claims victory, that he soloed the whole army. Start of massive propaganda surge. Continues building projects. Last great pharaoh

Nectanebo II

Decline. Follow Cambyses and Nectanebo I, last Egyptian pharaoh

Cambyses

Persian ruler. Drunk, violent, very unpopular

Alexander the great

Welcomed post Cambyses, leader of Greeks, starts Ptolemaic period

Ptolemy

Alexander’s general, forces Egypt into greatness. Starts long line of greek pharaohs

Cleopatra

Last pharaoh of Egypt, loses to Rome