The Pharaohs, part 3

The New Kingdom

The New Kingdom spanned 500 years, from about 1570BC to 1070BC, and we see some of the greatest Pharaohs of all appearing here. In the case of the greatest Pharaohs, their bodies survive to this day, having been hidden away from tomb robbers in 2 caches at Deir-el-Bahari and in the tomb of Amenhotep in the Valley of Kings. During the 500 years encompassed by the New Kingdom, there were 3 Dynasties:

  • The 18th Dynasty: 1570 - 1293 (14 Pharaohs)
  • The 19th Dynasty: 1293 - 1185 (8 Pharaohs)
  • The 20th Dynasty: 1185 - 1070 (10 Pharaohs)

Here they are:

Name Dates Notes
The 18th Dynasty
Ahmose I 1570 - 1546 Stabilised borders by bringing Nubia to heel. Body found in 1881.
Amenhotep I 1551 - 1524 Initiated building work at Karnak. Body found in 1881 in the royal mummy cache.
Tuthmosis I 1524 - 1518 Campaigned against Nubia.
Tuthmosis II 1518 - 1504 Campaigned in Syria and Nubia.
Queen Hatshepsut 1498 - 1483 Wife of Tuthmosis II. Perhaps murdered by her son. Reign not recorded.
Tuthmosis III 1504 - 1450 Known as "The Napoleon of ancient Egypt". Captured over 350 cities. Body found in 1881.
Amenhotep II 1453 - 1419 Crushed revolt in Syria on father's death. His tomb in the Valley of Kings used to hide many later mummies.
Tuthmosis IV 1419 - 1386 Body found 1898 in Amenhotep II's tomb.
Amenhotep III 1386 - 1349 Started building temple at Luxor.
Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) 1350 - 1334 Introduced monotheistic worship of the Aten (the sun's disc). Weakening of governmental control.
Smenkhkare 1336 - 1334  
Tutankhamun 1334 - 1325 Aged c. 9 when he became Pharaoh. Move back towards old religion. Tomb discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. Murdered?
Ay 1325 - 1321 Became Pharaoh by marrying Tut's widow (also his granddaughter).
Horemheb 1321 - 1293  
The 19th Dynasty
Ramesses I 1293 - 1291 Not of royal blood. Vizier of Horemheb.
Seti I 1291 - 1278 Major building at home and war against the Hittites.
Ramesses II 1279 - 1212 Also known as "Ramesses the Great". Added to Karnak and Luxor. Died aged c. 92, body found in mummy cache, 1881.
Merneptah 1212 - 1202 Crushed several revolts.
Amenmesses 1202 - 1199 Usurped throne on death on Merneptah..
Seti II 1199 - 1193  
Siptah 1193 - 1187  
Queen Twosret 1187 - 1185  
The 20th Dynasty
Setnakhte 1185 - 1182  
Ramesses III 1182 - 1151 Defeated Sea Peoples. Plot to kill him discovered and ringleaders executed.
Ramesses IV 1151 - 1145  
Ramesses V 1145 - 1141  
Ramesses VI 1141 - 1133 Mummy mutilated by grave robbers.
Ramesses VII 1133 - 1126 Economic instability and inflation.
Ramesses VIII 1133 - 1126  
Ramesses IX 1126 - 1108 Scandal broke - tombs in the Valley of Kings were being robbed.
Ramesses X 1108 - 1098  
Ramesses XI 1098 - 1070  

The death of Ramesses XI ushered in yet another period of instability. This time, however, Egypt would never fully recover. Different dynasties would now compete for power, as the country was subjected to outside pressures and influences. In other words, the country was being divided when unity was essential. Foreign rulers became the norm - Nubians and Persians were some of the groups which came to prominence. Finally, 332BC saw the conquest and subjugation of Egypt by Alexander the Great.