Vizier (Ancient Egypt)
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The vizier was the highest official in Ancient Egypt to serve the king, or pharaoh during the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.[1] Vizier is the generally accepted rendering of ancient Egyptian tjati, tjaty etc, among Egyptologists.[2] The Instruction of Rekhmire-(Installation of the Vizier), a New Kingdom text, defines many of the duties of the tjaty, and lays down codes of behavior. The viziers are often appointed by the pharaoh, most from loyalty or talent. [3]
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[edit] Responsibilities
The viziers were appointed by the pharaoh, but often belonged to a vizierial family. The vizier's paramount duty was to supervise the running of the country, such as a prime minister, at times even small details of it. All other lesser supervisors and officials, such as tax collectors and scribes, would report to the vizier. The judiciary was part of the civil administration and the vizier also sat in the High Court. However at any time, the king could exert his own control over any aspect of government, overriding the vizier's decisions. The vizier also supervised the security of the pharaoh and the palace. The viziers often acted as the pharaoh's seal bearer as well, and the vizier would record trade.[4] In the New Kingdom, there were two viziers, the vizier of Upper Egypt as well as the vizier of Lower Egypt.[5]
[edit] Behavior Code
According to the Installation of the Vizier, the vizier has certain traits and behavior that are required to be a vizier
- Act by the law
- Judge fairly
- Do not act willfully or headstrong
Look at the Installation of the Vizier for more information.
[edit] Notable Egyptian Viziers
- Old Kingdom
- Prince Ankhhaf: a son of Sneferu, vizier under Khafre
- Prince Nefermaat a son of Sneferu
- Nefermaat, son of Nefermaat the Elder by Neferetkau; a grandson of Sneferu
- Prince Hemiunu: ruled under Khufu, believed to have designed Khufu's pyramid.
- Prince Kawab: son and vizier of Khufu
- Prince Minkhaf: son of Khufu, vizier under Khafre
- Prince Khufukhaef: son of Khufu, vizier under Khafre
- Nikaure: a son of Khafre
- Duaenre: a son of Khafre, vizier during the late 4th dynasty
- Nebemakhet: a son of Queen Meresankh III
- Iunmin: a possible son of Khafre, vizier during the late 4th dynasty
- Babaef: a grandson of Khafr, vizier under Shepseskaf
- Ptahhotep: vizier under Djedkare Isesi, author of The Maxims of Ptahhotep
- Mehu: possible son-in-law of Unas, vizier during the early 6th dynasty
- Kagemni: son-in-law and vizier of Teti
- Mereruka: son-in-law and vizier of Teti
- Meriteti: grandson of Teti, son of Mereruka
- Nebet: mother-in-law and vizier of Merenre Pepi I
- Djau: brother-in-law and vizier of Pepi I, son of Nebet
- Shemai: son-in-law of Neferkauhor, nomarch of Coptos, later vizier
- Middle Kingdom and First Intermediate Period
- Amenemhat, vizier under Mentuhotep IV, later king as Amenemhat I
- Ipi ruled under Amenemhat I
- Intefiqer, ruled under Amenemhat I and Senusret I
- Senusret, ruled under Senusret I and Amenemhat I
- Khnumhotep III, ruled under Senusret III
- Ankhu, vizier under Khendjer. He was the presiding vizier when the Hyksos invaded Egypt.
- Neferkare Iymeru, ruled under Sobekhotep IV
- New Kingdom
- Hapuseneb, ruled under Hatshepsut
- Useramen, ruled under Thutmose III
- Rekhmire: ruled under the reign of both Thutmose III and Amenhotep II
- Ptahmose and Amenhotep-Hui: Viziers of South under Amenhotep III
- Aperel and Ramose: Viziers of North under Amenhotep III
- Nakhtpaaten, vizier under Akhenaten
- Ay, vizier under Tutankhamen, later pharaoh
- Paramesse, vizier under Horemheb, later pharaoh as Ramesses I
- Prince Sethi, son and vizier of Ramesses I, later pharaoh as Sethi I
- Paser, vizier under Sethi I and Ramesses II
- Hori, son of Prince Khaemwaset, great-grandson of Ramesses II, Vizier of North, later Vizier of South
- Herihor: Ruled under the reign of Ramesses XI. He eventually stole the throne. [6]
- Third Intermediate Period
- Pinedjem I, vizier, later pharaoh
- Hor: great-great-grandson of Osorkon II, vizier under Osorkon III
- Nakhtefmut: son-in-law of Takelot II, vizier under Osorkon III
- Nespakashuti: grandson of Takelot III
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Shaw, Ian (2002). The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press. p. 104. ISBN 0192802933, ISBN 9780192802934. http://books.google.com/books?id=J-rIO6BBh6IC&dq=The+Oxford+History+of+Ancient+Egypt&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=ViOOq_FT4s&sig=ku9Hibi4w867GI7gZDmgK0Wk7Nc&hl=en&ei=cuF5SsaFBpOmsgOxvfTbBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3#v=onepage&q=vizier&f=false.
- ^ Gardiner, Alan Henderson (1957). Egyptian Grammar; Being an Introduction to the Study of Hieroglyphs (3rd edition ed.). Oxford: Griffith Institute, Ashmolean Museum. pp. p.43. ISBN 0 900416 351.
- ^ M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, vol.2, pp.21ff.
- ^ http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/government/vizier.htm
- ^ Jane Bingham, Fiona Chadler, Jane Chisholm, Gill Harvey, Lisa Miles,Struan Reid, and Sam Taplin "The Usborne Internet - Linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World" page 80
- ^ http://euler.slu.edu/~bart/egyptianhtml/kings%20and%20Queens/Viziers.html
