Pharaoh

Pharaoh is a title used to refer to the kings (of godly status) in ancient Egypt. See History of Egypt. See also monarch. The term derives from the words pr-o, meaning Great House. It was not commonly used by the Egyptians themselves to refer to their monarchs, but is frequently used by modern historians due to its use in the Bible, especially the Book of Exodus.

Note well; the dates given must be regarded in most instances as approximate. Dating systems for Egyptian studies are quite various, depending on how they are constructed and what assumptions are used. What is presented below is one such interpretation, but it is assuredly not the only one.

Archaic Period[?]

Predynastic: Lower Egypt

The Black Land, consisting of the northern Nile and the Delta.

Name	Comments	Dates
Tiu[?]	-	?
Thesh[?]	-	?
Hsekiu[?]	-	?
Wazner[?]	-	c. 3050 ?

Predynastic: Upper Egypt

The Red Land, consisting of the southern Nile and the deserts.

Name	Comments	Dates
Ro[?]	-	?
"Scorpion of Egypt[?]"	-	c. 3150
Narmer[?]	-	c. 3050

First Dynasty[?]

Name	Comments	Dates
Hor-Aha	Menes in earlier lists	c. 3050 BCE
Djer[?]	-	57 years
Merneith[?]	Regent for Djet	-
Djet[?]	-	-
Den[?]	-	14 to 20 years
Anedjib[?]	-	26 years
Semerkhet[?]	-	9 to 18 years
Qa'a[?]	-	2916 ?-2890

Second Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Hotepsekhemwy[?]	-	2890- ?
Raneb[?]	-	39 years
Nynetjer[?]	-	47 years
Seth-Peribsen[?]	-	17 years
Khasekhemy[?]	-	? -2686

OLD KINGDOM[?]

Third Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Sanakhte[?]	-	2686-2668
Djoser	Commissioned the Step Pyramid[?] designed by Imhotep	2668-2649
Sekhemkhet[?]	-	2649-2643
Khaba[?]	-	2643-2637
Huni[?]	-	2637-2613

Fourth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Sneferu[?]	Built two pyramids, incl. the "bent pyramid"	2613-2589
Khufu (Cheops)	Commissioned one of the Great Pyramids at Giza	2589-2566
Djedefre[?]	-	2566-2558
Khafre (Chephren)	-	2558-2532
Menkaure (Mycerinus)	-	2532-2504
Shepseskaf[?]	-	2504-2500
Dedefptah[?]	-	2500-2498

Fifth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Userkaf[?]	-	2498-2491
Sahure[?]	-	2487-2477
Neferirkare Kakai[?]	-	2477-2467
Shepseskare Isi[?]	-	2467-2460
Neferefre[?]	-	2460-2453
Nyuserre Ini[?]	-	2453-2422
Menkauhor Kaiu[?]	-	2422-2414
Djedkare Isesi[?]	-	2414-2375
Unas	-	2375-2345

Sixth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Teti[?]	-	2345-2333
Userkare[?]	-	2333-2332
Pepi I Meryre[?]	-	2332-2283
Merenre Nemtyemsaf[?]	-	2283-2278
Pepi II Neferkare[?]	-	2278-2184
Merenre Antyemsaf II[?]	-	2184
Netjerykare[?]	-	2184-2183
Menkare[?]	-	2183-2181

FIRST INTERMEDIATE PERIOD[?]

Seventh Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Neferkare I[?]	-	2181- ?
Neferkare Neby[?]	-	?
Djedure Shemai[?]	-	?
Neferkare Khendu[?]	-	?
Neferkamin[?]	-	?
Nykare[?]	-	?
Neferkare Tereru[?]	-	?
Neferkahor[?]	-	? -2173

Eighth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Wadjkare Pepysonbe[?]	-	2173-2169
Neferkamin Anu[?]	-	2169-2167
Qakare Ibi	-	2167-2163
Neferkare II[?]	-	2163-2162
Neferkauhor Kapuibi[?]	-	2162-2161
Neferirkare[?]	-	2161-2160

Ninth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Meryibre Khety[?] (Achthoes I)	-	2160- ?
--- [?]	-	?
Neferkare III[?]	-	?
Nebkaure (Acthoes II)[?]	-	?
Setut[?]	-	?
---	-	?
Mery---[?]	-	?
---	-	?
H---[?]	-	?
---	-	?
---	-	?
---	-	?
User---[?]	-	? -2130

Tenth Dynasty

A local dynasty ruling Upper (South) Egypt.

Name	Comments	Dates
Meryhathor[?]	-	2130- ?
Neferkare IV[?]	-	?
Wankare[?](Acthoes III)	-	?
Merykare[?]	-	?
---	-	? -2040

Eleventh Dynasty

A local dynasty beginning in Lower (North) Egypt.

Name	Comments	Dates
Intef I[?]	-	2134-2117
Intef II[?]	-	2117-2069
Intef III[?]	-	2069-2060
Nebhetepre Mentuhotep I[?]	Gained all Egypt 2040, Middle Kingdom begins.	2060-2010
Sankhkare Mentuhotep II[?]	-	2010-1998
Nebtawyre Mentuhotep III[?]	-	1997-1991

THE MIDDLE KINGDOM[?]

Twelfth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Amenemhet I[?]	-	1991-1962
Senusret I[?](Sesostris I)	-	1971-1926
Amenemhet II[?]	-	1929-1895
Senusret II[?](Sesostris II)	-	1897-1878
Senusret III[?](Sesostris III)	-	1878-1841
Amenemhet III[?]	-	1842-1797
Amenemhet IV[?]	-	1798-1786
Sobeknefru[?]	A rare female ruler.	1785-1782

SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD[?]

Thirteenth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Sobkhotep I[?]	-	1786- ? (5+ yrs.)
Senbuef[?]	-	3 or more yrs.
Sehetepibre[?]	-	c. 1770-1769
Ameny Intef IV (Amenemhet V[?])	-	? -1760
Amu Sihornerjheryotef[?]	-	?
Renseneb[?]	-	4 mo. in c. 1760
Hor[?]	-	c. 1760
Sobekhotep II (Amenemhet VI[?])	-	c. 1750
Ugaf[?]	-	2 years
Senusret IV[?]	-	?
Khendjer[?]	-	4 yrs, incl. c. 1747
Semenkhkare[?]	-	?
Sobekemsaf I[?]	-	?
Sobekhotep III[?]	-td>	c. 1745
Neferhotep I[?]	-	1741-1730
Sobekhotep IV[?]	-	1730-1720
Merneferre Ai	-	c. 1720
Neferhotep II[?]	-	?
Dudimose I[?]	-	c. 1674
Dudimose II[?]	-	?
Senebmiu[?]	-	?
Mentuhotep V[?]	-	?
Senaayeb[?]	-	?

Fourteenth Dynasty

A local group in the eastern Delta, at Xois (Avaris)

Name	Comments	Dates
Nehesy[?]	-	c. 1705
Khakherewre ?[?]	-	?
Nebefawre[?]	-	c. 1704
Sehebre ?[?]	-	?
Merdjefare[?]	-	c. 1699
Sewadjkare ?[?]	-	?
Nebdjefare[?]	-	c. 1694
Webenre ?[?]	-	?
?	-	?
---djefare ?[?]	-	?
---webenre[?]	-	c. 1690

The source provides an additional 25 names, some fragmented, and no dates. None are attested to elsewhere, and all are of very dubious provenance.

Fifteenth (Hyksos) Dynasty

Desert Bedouins who emerged out of the Fertile Crescent to establish a short-lived governance over much of the Nile.

Name	Comments	Dates
Sheshi[?]	Ruled either 1 or 3 years	1674- ?
Yakubher[?]	-	8 years
Khyan[?]	-	?
Apepi I[?]	-	40 years or more
Apepi II[?]	-	?
Khamudy[?]	-	? -1567

Sixteenth Dynasty (Pelusium)

A local group situated on Sinai's north coast

Name	Comments	Dates
Anather[?]	-	1663- ?
Yakobaam[?]	-	?

Some sources include as many as six more names (Semqen, Khauserre, Seket, Ahetepre, Amu, and Nebkhepeshre (Apepi III)) - none are attested to elsewhere. This group seems to have disappeared entirely by 1555 BC.

Seventeenth Dynasty

Located in Upper (southern) Egypt

Name	Comments	Dates
Rehotep[?]	-	1650- ?
Intef V the Elder[?]	-	3 years
Intef VI[?]	-	?
Sobekemsaf II[?]	-	16 years
Thuty[?]	-	1 year
Mentuhotep VI[?]	-	1 year
Nebiryerawet I[?]	-	6 years
Nebiryerawet II[?]	-	?
Semenmedjatre[?]	-	?
Seuserenre[?]	-	12 years
Shedwast[?]	-	?
Intef VII[?]	-	3 or more years
Senakhtenre[?]	-	?
Tao I the Elder[?]	-	c. 1633
Tao II the Brave[?]	-	c. 1574
Kamose[?]	-	1573-1570

NEW KINGDOM[?]

Eighteenth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Ahmose, Ahmosis I	Successor to Kamose, above.	1570-1546
Amenhotep I[?]	-	1551-1524
Djehutymes I (Tuthmosis I[?])	-	1525-1518
Djehutymes II (Tuthmosis II[?])	-	1518-1504
Djehutymes III (Tuthmosis III)	-	1503-1450
Hatshepsut	A rare female ruler	1498-1483
Amenhotep II[?]	-	1453-1419
Djehutymes IV (Tuthmosis IV[?])	-	1419-1386
Amenhotep III	-	1386-1349
Amenhotep IV Akhnaten	Founder of brief period of monotheism Aten	1350-1334
Smenkhkare[?]	-	1336-1334
Tutankhamun	-	1334-1325
Kheperkheprure Ai[?]	-	1325-1321
Horemheb[?]	Former General and advisor to Tutankhamun	1321-1293

Nineteenth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Rameses I[?]	-	1293-1291
Seti I	-	1291-1278
Rameses II the Great	The ruler usually associated with Moses	1279-1212
Merneptah[?]	-	1212-1202
Amenemses[?]	-	1202-1199
Seti II[?]	-	1199-1193
Merneptah Siptah[?]	-	1193-1187
Twosret[?]	A rare female ruler	1187-1185

Twentieth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Setnakhte[?]	-	1185-1182
Rameses III	-	1182-1151
Rameses IV[?]	-	1151-1145
Rameses V[?]	-	1145-1141
Rameses VI[?]	-	1141-1133
Rameses VII[?]	-	1133-1126
Rameses VIII[?]	-	1126
Rameses IX[?]	-	1126-1108
Rameses X[?]	-	1108-1098
Rameses XI[?]	-	1098-1070

The High Priests of Amun (Thebes)

Not regarded as a dynasty per se, these theocrats were nevertheless of such power and influence that they effectively ruled Upper (southern) Egypt.

Name	Comments	Dates
Herihor[?]	-	1080-1074
Piankh[?]	-	1074-1070
Pinedjem I[?]	-	1070-1045
Masaherta[?]	-	1045-992
Nesbanebdjed II[?]	-	992-990
Pinedjem II[?]	-	990-969
Pasebakhaennuit III[?]	-	969-945

Twenty-First (Tanitic) Dynasty

A relatively weak group - theoretically rulers of all Egypt, but as a practical matter influential only in Lower (northern) Egypt.

Name	Comments	Dates
Nesbanebdjed I[?]	-	1069-1043
Amenemnisu[?]	-	1043-1039
Pasebakhaenniut I[?]	-	1039-991
Amenemope[?]	-	993-984
Osorkon the Elder[?]	-	984-978
Siamun[?]	-	978-959
Pasebakhaenniut II[?]	-	959-945

Twenty-Second (Libyan) Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Sheshonq I[?]	-	945-924
Osorkon II[?]	-	924-889
Sheshonq II[?]	-	c. 890
Takelot I[?]	-	889-874
Harsiese[?]	A rebel, at Thebes	870-860
Osorkon II[?]	-	874-850
Takelot II[?]	-	850-825
Sheshonq III[?]	-	825-773
Pami[?]	-	773-767
Sheshonk IV[?]	-	767-730
Osorkon IV[?]	-	730-715

Twenty-Third Dynasty

A local group, Libyan, at Leontopolis

Name	Comments	Dates
Pedibastet[?]	-	818-793
Sheshonq[?]	-	792-787
Osorkon III[?]	-	787-759
Takelot III[?]	-	764-757
Rudamon[?]	-	757-754
Iuput[?]	-	764-715

The Libu

Not reckoned a dynasty as such, the Libu were yet another group of western nomads (Libyans) who occupied the western Delta for a time.

Name	Comments	Dates
Inamunnifnebu[?]	-	800-790
?	-	790-775
Niumateped[?]	-	775-750
Titaru[?]	-	758-750
Ker[?]	-	750-745
Rudamon[?]	-	745-740
Ankhor[?]	-	740-731
Tefnakht[?]	-	731-727

Twenty-Fourth (Sais) Dynasty

A short-lived rival located in the western Delta

Name	Comments	Dates
Tefnakhte[?]	-	727-720
Bakenrenef[?] (Bocchoris)	-	720-715
Necho I[?]	-	?

THE LATE KINGDOM

Twenty-Fifth (Nubian) Dynasty

Piankhi[?]	-	730-716
Shabaka[?]	-	716-702
Shebitku[?]	-	702-690
Taharqa	-	690-664
Tanutamun[?]	died 653	664-656

Driven back into Nubia, there to establish a kingdom at Napata (656-590), and then Meroë (590 BC-4th cent. AD).

Twenty-Sixth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Psamtik I[?]	-	664-610
Necho II	-	610-595
Psamtik II[?]	-	595-589
Wahibre[?]	-	589-570
Ahmose II	-	570-526
Psamtik III[?]	-	526-525

Egypt annexed to the Persian Empire 525-404: The Achaemenid Shahs (Cambyses II[?] 529-522, Smerdis the Usurper 522, Darius I the Great 522-486, Xerxes I the Great 486-466, Artabanes 466-465, Artaxerxes I Longhand 465-425, Xerxes II 425-424, Sogdianos 424-423, and Darius II 423-404) were acknowledged as Pharaoh in this era, forming a "Twenty-Seventh" Dynasty.

Twenty-Eighth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Amyrteos[?]	-	404-399

Twenty-Ninth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Nefaarud I[?]	-	399-393
Psammuthes[?]	-	393
Hakor[?] (Achoris)	-	393-380
Nefaarud II[?]	-	380

Thirtieth Dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Nekhtnebef[?]	-	380-362
Djedhor[?]	-	362-360
Nakhthoreb[?]	-	360-343

• Egypt once more under Persian rule (Artaxerxes III 343-338)

• A Nubian revolt in Upper Egypt under Khabbabash 338-335.

• A third Persian takeover (Darius III), 335-332.

• Macedon conquers Persia, and Egypt (Alexander the Great 332-323, Philip Arrhidaeus 323-317, Alexander (IV) 317-311)

Ptolemaic dynasty

Name	Comments	Dates
Ptolemy I Soter	-	311-282
Ptolemy II Philadelphos	-	285-246
Ptolemy III[?] Euergetes	-	246-222
Ptolemy IV Philopator	-	222-205
Ptolemy V Epiphanes	Upper Egypt in revolt 207-186	205-180
Ptolemy VI Philometor	died 145	180-164
Ptolemy VII Euergetes	died 116	170-164
Ptolemy VI Philometor	Egypt to Seleucids 164-163. P. VI restored	163-145
Ptolemy VIII[?] Neos Philopator	-	145
Ptolemy VII Euergetes	Restored	145-116
Ptolemy IX[?] Soter	died 80	116-110
Ptolemy X[?] Alexander	died 88	110-109
Ptolemy IX[?] Soter	Restored	109-107
Ptolemy X[?] Alexander	Restored	107-88
Ptolemy IX[?] Soter	Restored again	88-80
Ptolemy XI[?] Alexander	-	80
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos	died 51	80-58
Berenice IV[?]	-	58-55
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos	Restored	55-51
Cleopatra VII	Kills her brother to take control, marries Mark Anthony and then they both kill themselves 7 years later	51-30
Ptolemy XIII	-	51-47
Ptolemy XIV[?]	-	47-44
Ptolemy XV Caesarion	-	36-30