Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt

Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt
Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt
1077 BC–943 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	1077 BC
• Disestablished	943 BC
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt
Twenty-second 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 1077 BC to 943 BC.

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	Throne name / Prenomen	Reign	Burial	Consort(s)	Comments
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