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2 The 12th dynasty 3 Later dynasties and the end of the Middle Kingdom |
The Beginning
The Middle Kingdom started when Pharaoh Mentuhotep II from Thebes reunited Egypt and brought it out of the dark and uncertain period known as the First Intermediate Period.
The 12th dynasty
After the reigns of his successors Mentuhotep III and Mentuhotep IV the 11th dynasty ended and smooth transition to the illusturous 12th dynasty
seemed to have happened. The first Pharaoh of the 12th dynasty Amenemhat I, is according to some sources the same man as Amenemhat, the Vizier of Upper Egypt, under the reign of Mentuhotep IV. This explains the smooth transition of power after the death of Mentuhotep IV, whom Amenemhat possibly overthrew.
Amenemhat I built a new capital for Egypt, Iljtawy, the location of this capital is unknown but presumably the present-day El-Lisht. Amenemhet pacified any unrest in Egypt by force and curtailed the rights of the nomarchs. He is known to have at least launched one campaign into Nubia. In 1917 BC Amenemhat created his son Senuseret I co-regent. In 1908 BC he was presumably murdered by his bodyguard and Senuseret, campaigning against Lybian invaders, returned to Iljtawy with haste to prevent a takeover of the government. This proved the worth of the co-rulership as the new pharaoh would be experienced by the time he would start his sole reign. The co-regencies lasted throughout the 12th dynasty and provided great stability.
Senuseret I (1917 BC-1872 BC) continued the policy of his father to recapture Nubia and other territories lost during the First Intermediate Period. The Lybians were subdued.
Senuseret's successor Amenemhat II (1875 BC - 1840 BC) made the position of the nomarchs hereditary again (weakening the centralized government though) and established trade connections with Nubia and a war seems to be conducted in the Levant.
Senuseret II (1842 BC - 1836 BC) improved the trade connections with Nubia en Palestine and the Levant.
His successor Senuseret III (1836 BC - 1817 BC) was a warrior-king, often taking the field himself. He led his troops deep into Nubia, making that kingdom even more dependent on Egypt. He was dified at the end of the Middle Kingdom and worshipped by the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom.
Amenemhat III (1817 BC - 1772 BC) was the last great Pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom. Egypt's population began to exceed the food production levels and Amenemhat III ordered to exploitation of the Fayuum and increased mining operations in the Sinaļ desert. He made sure that nomarchs could no longer inherit their nomes as Amenemhat II had allowed. He also invited Asiatic settlers to Egypt to labor on Egypt's monuments. But late in his reign the annual floods began to fail and his son Amenemhat IV ruled a mere 10 years (1773 BC - 1763 BC) and died prematurely.
The sister of Amenemhat IV briefly reigned as Queen Neferusobek (1763 BC - 1759 BC). As she apparently had no heirs, the 12th dynasty came to an end as did the Golden Age of the Middle Kingdom.
The 13th and 14th dynasties witnessed the slow decline of Egypt into the Second Intermediate Period in which the Asiatic settlers of Amenemhat III would grasp power over Egypt.Later dynasties and the end of the Middle Kingdom
Two other mysterious dynasties ruled Egypt. The 13th dynasty ruled for approximately 63 years. Some possible kings and their possible dates have been identified:13th dynasty Pharaohs
14th dynasty
These kings didn't seem to have a firm grasp on Egypt and a 14th dynasty seemed to have ruled in the Delta region, but the "Pharaohs" of this dynasty seemed to be minor nomarchs in the Delta region