11 New Kingdom of Egypt

New Kingdom of Egypt

The New Kingdom of Egypt, also referred to as the Egyptian Empire, is the period in ancient Egyptian history between the 16th century BC and the 11th century BC, covering the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of Egypt. Radiocarbon dating places the exact beginning of the New Kingdom between 1570–1544 BC.^[1] The New Kingdom followed the Second Intermediate Period and was succeeded by the Third Intermediate Period. It was Egypt’s most prosperous time and marked the peak of its power.^[2]

The later part of this period, under the Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties (1292–1069 BC) is also known as the Ramesside period. It is named after the eleven pharaohs that took the name of Ramesses I, founder of the 19th Dynasty.

Possibly as a result of the foreign rule of the Hyksos during the Second Intermediate Period, the New Kingdom saw Egypt attempt to create a buffer between the Levant and Egypt, and attained its greatest territorial extent. Similarly, in response to very successful 17th century attacks by the powerful Kingdom of Kush,^[3] the New Kingdom felt compelled to expand far south intoNubia and hold wide territories in the Near East. Egyptian armies fought Hittite armies for control of modern-day Syria.

Nineteenth Dynasty Pharaohs of Egypt

Name of King	Throne Name	Date	Burial	Queen(s)
Ramesses I	Menpehtire	1292–1290 BC	KV16	Sitre
Seti I	Menmaatre	1290–1279 BC[4]	KV17	(Mut-)Tuya
Ramesses II	Usermaatre Setepenre	1279–1213 BC	KV7	Nefertari Isetnofret Maathorneferure Meritamen Bintanath Nebettawy Henutmire
Merneptah	Baenre Merynetjeru	1213–1203 BC	KV8	Isetnofret II
Seti II	Userkheperure	1203–1197 BC	KV15	Twosret Takhat Tiaa
Amenmesse	Menmire-Setepenre	1201–1198 BC	KV10	Unknown
Siptah	Sekhaienre Meryamun / Akhenre Setepenre	1197–1191 BC	KV47	Unknown
queen Twosret	Sitre Meritamun	1191–1189 BC	KV14	None

Pharaohs of the 20th Dynasty[edit]

The Pharaohs of the 20th dynasty ruled for approximately 120 years: from ca. 1187 to 1064 BC. The dates and names in the table are mostly taken from "Chronological Table for the Dynastic Period" in Erik Hornung, Rolf Krauss & David Warburton (editors), Ancient Egyptian Chronology (Handbook of Oriental Studies), Brill, 2006. Many of the pharaohs were buried in the Valley of the Kings in Thebes (designated KV). More information can be found on the Theban Mapping Project website.^[1]

Twentieth Dynasty Pharaohs of Egypt

name of King	Throne Name	date	Burial	Queen(s)
Setnakhte	Userkhaure	1189 – 1186 BC	KV14	Tiy-merenese
Ramesses III	Usermaatre-Meryamun	1186 – 1155 BC	KV11	Iset Ta-Hemdjert Tiye
Ramesses IV	Usermaatre (later Heqamaatre) Setepenamun	1155 – 1149 BC	KV2	Duatentopet
Ramesses VAmenhirkhepeshef I	Usermaatre Sekheperenre	1149 – 1145 BC	KV9	Henutwati Tawerettenru
Ramesses VIAmenhirkhepeshef II	Nebmaatre Meryamun	1145 – 1137 BC	KV9	Nubkhesbed
Ramesses VII Itamun	Usermaatre Setepenre Meryamun	1136 – 1129 BC	KV1
Ramesses VIIISethhirkhepeshef	Usermaatre Akhenamun	1130 – 1129 BC
Ramesses IX Khaemwaset I	Neferkare Setepenre	1129 – 1111 BC	KV6	Baketwernel
Ramesses XAmenhirkhepeshef III	Khepermaatre Setepenre	1111 – 1107 BC	KV18	Tyti
Ramesses XI Khaemwaset II	Menmaatre Setpenptah	1107 – 1077 BC	KV4	Tentamun

Background[edit]

Pharaoh Setnakhte was likely already middle aged when he took the throne after Queen Twosret. He ruled for only around 4 years when he was succeeded by his son Ramesses III. Egypt was threatened by the Sea Peoples during this time period, but Ramesses III was able to defeat this confederacy from the Near East. The king is also known for a harem conspiracy in which Queen Tiye attempted to assassinate the king and put her son Pentawere on the throne. The coup was not successful in the end. The king may have died from the attempt on his life, but it was his legitimate heir Ramesses IV who succeeded him to the throne. After this a succession of kings named Ramesses take the throne, but none would truly achieve greatness.^[2]

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