The List of Ancient Egyptian Rulers

The List of Ancient Egyptian Rulers

This topic is almost mainly targeted at full research. Therefore, you might not find it fun to read to the very end. Remember though, Every Knowledge Counts!


Our knowledge of the succession of Egyptian kings is based on kinglists kept by the ancient Egyptians themselves. The most famous are the Palermo Stone, which covers the period from the earliest dynasties to the middle of Dynasty 5; the Abydos Kinglist, which Seti I had carved on his temple at Abydos; and the Turin Canon, a papyrus that covers the period from the earliest dynasties to the reign of Ramesses II. All are incomplete or fragmentary. We also rely on the History of Egypt written by Manetho in the third century B.C. A priest in the temple at Heliopolis, Manetho had access to many original sources and it was he who divided the kings into the thirty dynasties we use today.

It is to this structure of dynasties and listed kings that we now attempt to link an absolute chronology of dates in terms of our own calendrical system. The process is made difficult by the fragmentary condition of the kinglists and by differences in the calendrical years used at various times. Some astronomical observations from the ancient Egyptians have survived, allowing us to calculate absolute dates within a margin of error. Synchronisms with the other civilizations of the ancient world are also of limited use.

Old Kingdom
ca. 2649–2150 B.C.


Dynasty 3  (ca. 2649–2575 B.C.)

Zanakht
ca. 2649–2630 B.C.

Djoser
ca. 2630–2611 B.C.

Sekhemkhet
ca. 2611–2605 B.C.

Khaba
ca. 2605–2599 B.C.

Huni
ca. 2599–2575 B.C.


Dynasty 4 (ca. 2575–2465 B.C.)

Snefru
ca. 2575–2551 B.C.

Khufu
ca. 2551–2528 B.C.

Djedefre
ca. 2528–2520 B.C.

Khafre (26.7.1392)
ca. 2520–2494 B.C.

Nebka II
ca. 2494–2490 B.C.

Menkaure (37.6.1)
ca. 2490–2472 B.C.

Shepseskaf
ca. 2472–2467 B.C.

Thamphthis
ca. 2467–2465 B.C.


Dynasty 5 (ca. 2465–2323 B.C.)

Userkaf
ca. 2465–2458 B.C.

Sahure (18.2.4)
ca. 2458–2446 B.C.

Neferirkare
ca. 2446–2438 B.C.

Shepseskare
ca. 2438–2431 B.C.

Neferefre
ca. 2431–2420 B.C.

Niuserre
ca. 2420–2389 B.C.

Menkauhor
ca. 2389–2381 B.C.

Isesi
ca. 2381–2353 B.C.

Unis
ca. 2353–2323 B.C.


Dynasty 6 (ca. 2323–2150 B.C.)

Teti
ca. 2323–2291 B.C.

Userkare
ca. 2291–2289 B.C.

Pepi I
ca. 2289–2255 B.C.

Merenre I
ca. 2255–2246 B.C.

Pepi II
ca. 2246–2152 B.C.

Merenre II
ca. 2152–2152 B.C.

Netjerkare Siptah
ca. 2152–2150 B.C.


First Intermediate Period
ca. 2150–2030 B.C.


Dynasty 8–Dynasty 10 (ca. 2150–2030 B.C.)


Dynasty 11 (first half) (ca. 2124–2030 B.C.)

Mentuhotep I
ca. 2124–2120 B.C.

Intef I
ca. 2120–2108 B.C.

Intef II (13.182.3)
ca. 2108–2059 B.C.

Intef III
ca. 2059–2051 B.C.

Mentuhotep II (07.230.2)
ca. 2051–2030 B.C.



Middle Kingdom
ca. 2030–1640 B.C.


Dynasty 11 (second half) (ca. 2030–1981 B.C.)

Mentuhotep II (cont.) (07.230.2)
ca. 2030–2000 B.C.

Mentuhotep III
ca. 2000–1988 B.C.

Qakare Intef
ca. 1985 B.C.

Sekhentibre
ca. 1985 B.C.

Menekhkare
ca. 1985 B.C.

Mentuhotep IV
ca. 1988–1981 B.C.


Dynasty 12 (ca. 1981–1802 B.C.)

Amenemhat I (08.200.5)
ca. 1981–1952 B.C.

Senwosret I
ca. 1961–1917 B.C.

Amenemhat II (14.3.17)
ca. 1919–1885 B.C.

Senwosret II
ca. 1887–1878 B.C.

Senwosret III (26.7.1394)
ca. 1878–1840 B.C.

Amenemhat III (24.7.1)
ca. 1859–1813 B.C.

Amenemhat IV
ca. 1814–1805 B.C.

Nefrusobek
ca. 1805–1802 B.C.

Dynasty 13 (ca. 1802–1640 B.C.


Second Intermediate Period
ca. 1640–1540 B.C.


Dynasty 14–Dynasty 16 (ca. 1640–1635 B.C.)


Dynasty 17 (ca. 1635–1550 B.C.)

Tao I
ca. 1560 B.C.

Tao II
ca. 1560 B.C.

Kamose
ca. 1552–1550 B.C.



New Kingdom
ca. 1550–1070 B.C.


Dynasty 18 (ca. 1550–1295 B.C.)

Ahmose (2006.270)
ca. 1550–1525 B.C.

Amenhotep I (26.3.30a)
ca. 1525–1504 B.C.

Thutmose I (30.4.137)
ca. 1504–1492 B.C.

Thutmose II
ca. 1492–1479 B.C.

Thutmose III (1995.21)
ca. 1479–1425 B.C.

Hatshepsut (as regent)
ca. 1479–1473 B.C.

Hatshepsut (29.3.2)
ca. 1473–1458 B.C.

Amenhotep II (66.99.20)
ca. 1427–1400 B.C.

Thutmose IV (30.8.45a–c)
ca. 1400–1390 B.C.

Amenhotep III (56.138)
ca. 1390–1352 B.C.

Amenhotep IV
ca. 1353–1349 B.C.

Akhenaten (66.99.40)
ca. 1349–1336 B.C.

Neferneferuaton
ca. 1338–1336 B.C.

Smenkhkare
ca. 1336 B.C.

Tutankhamun (50.6)
ca. 1336–1327 B.C.

Aya
ca. 1327–1323 B.C.

Haremhab (23.10.1)
ca. 1323–1295 B.C.


Dynasty 19 (ca. 1295–1186 B.C.)

Ramesses I (11.155.3a)
ca. 1295–1294 B.C.

Seti I (22.2.21)
ca. 1294–1279 B.C.

Ramesses II
ca. 1279–1213 B.C.

Merneptah (26.7.1451)
ca. 1213–1203 B.C.

Amenmesse (34.2.2)
ca. 1203–1200 B.C.

Seti II
ca. 1200–1194 B.C.

Siptah (14.6.179)
ca. 1194–1188 B.C.

Tawosret
ca. 1188–1186 B.C.


Dynasty 20 (ca. 1186–1070 B.C.)

Sethnakht
ca. 1186–1184 B.C.

Ramesses III (33.8.7)
ca. 1184–1153 B.C.

Ramesses IV (30.8.234)
ca. 1153–1147 B.C.

Ramesses V
ca. 1147–1143 B.C.

Ramesses VI
ca. 1143–1136 B.C.

Ramesses VII
ca. 1136–1129 B.C.

Ramesses VIII
ca. 1129–1126 B.C.

Ramesses IX
ca. 1126–1108 B.C.

Ramesses X
ca. 1108–1099 B.C.

Ramesses XI
ca. 1099–1070 B.C.


Hight Priests (HP) of Amun (ca. 1080–1070 B.C.)

HP Herihor
ca. 1080–1074 B.C.

HP Paiankh
ca. 1074–1070 B.C


Third Intermediate Period
ca. 1070–713 B.C.


Dynasty 21 (ca. 1070–945 B.C.)

Smendes
ca. 1070–1044 B.C.

HP Painedjem I
ca. 1070–1032 B.C.

HP Masaharta
ca. 1054–1046 B.C.

HP Djedkhonsefankh
ca. 1046–1045 B.C.

HP Menkheperre
ca. 1045–992 B.C.

Amenemnisu
ca. 1044–1040 B.C.

Psusennes I
ca. 1040–992 B.C.

Amenemope
ca. 993–984 B.C.

HP Smendes
ca. 992–990 B.C.

HP Painedjem II
ca. 990–969 B.C.

Osochor
ca. 984–978 B.C.

Siamun
ca. 978–959 B.C.

HP Psusennes
ca. 969–959 B.C.

Psusennes II
ca. 959–945 B.C


Dynasty 22 (Libyan) (ca. 945–712 B.C.)

Sheshonq I
ca. 945–924 B.C.

Osorkon I
ca. 924–889 B.C.

Sheshonq II
ca. 890 B.C.

Takelot I
ca. 889–874 B.C.

Osorkon II
ca. 874–850 B.C.

Harsiese
ca. 865 B.C.

Takelot II
ca. 850–825 B.C.

Sheshonq III
ca. 825–773 B.C.

Pami
ca. 773–767 B.C.

Sheshonq V
ca. 767–730 B.C.

Osorkon IV
ca. 730–712 B.C.


Dynasty 23
ca. 818–713 B.C.

Pedubaste I
ca. 818–793 B.C.

Iuput I
ca. 800 B.C.

Sheshonq IV
ca. 793–787 B.C.

Osorkon III
ca. 787–759 B.C.

Takelot III
ca. 764–757 B.C.

Rudamun
ca. 757–754 B.C.

Iuput II
ca. 754–712 B.C.

Peftjaubast
ca. 740–725 B.C.

Namlot
ca. 740 B.C.

Thutemhat
ca. 720 B.C.


Dynasty 24 (ca. 724–712 B.C.)

Tefnakht
ca. 724–717 B.C.

Bakenrenef
ca. 717–712 B.C.



Late Period
ca. 712–332 B.C.

Dynasty 25 (Nubian)
ca. 712–664 B.C.

Piye (establishes Nubian Dynasty in Egypt)
ca. 743–712 B.C.

Shabaqo (55.144.6)
ca. 712–698 B.C.

Shebitqo (65.45)
ca. 698–690 B.C.

Taharqo (loses control of Lower Egypt) (41.160.104)
ca. 690–664 B.C.

Tanutamani (loses control of Upper Egypt)
ca. 664–653 B.C.


Dynasty 26 (Saite)
688–525 B.C.

Nikauba
688–672 B.C.

Necho I
672–664 B.C.

Psamtik I (X.358)
664–610 B.C.

Necho II
610–595 B.C.

Psamtik II
595–589 B.C.

Apries (09.183.1a)
589–570 B.C.

Amasis (35.9.3)
570–526 B.C.

Psamtik III
526–525 B.C.


Dynasty 27 (Persian)
525–404 B.C.

Cambyses
525–522 B.C.

Darius I
521–486 B.C.

Xerxes I
486–466 B.C.

Artaxerxes I
465–424 B.C.

Darius II
424–404 B.C.


Dynasty 28 (522–399 B.C.)

Pedubaste III
522–520 B.C.

Psamtik IV
ca. 470 B.C.

Inaros
ca. 460 B.C.

Amyrtaios I
ca. 460 B.C.

Thannyros
ca. 445 B.C.

Pausiris
ca. 445 B.C.

Psamtik V
ca. 445 B.C.

Psamtik VI
ca. 400 B.C.

Amyrtaios II
404–399 B.C.


Dynasty 29 (399–380 B.C.)

Nepherites I
399–393 B.C.

Psammuthis
393 B.C.

Achoris
393–380 B.C.

Nepherites II
380 B.C.


Dynasty 30 (380–343 B.C.)

Nectanebo I
380–362 B.C.

Teos
365–360 B.C.

Nectanebo II (34.2.1)
360–343 B.C.

Persians
343–332 B.C.

Khabebesh
343–332 B.C.

Artaxerxes III Ochus
343–338 B.C.

Arses
338–336 B.C.

Darius III Codoman
335–332 B.C.

Macedonian Period
332–304 B.C.

Alexander the Great (52.127.4)
332–323 B.C.

Philip Arrhidaeus
323–316 B.C.

Alexander IV
316–304 B.C.


Ptolemaic Period
304–30 B.C.

Ptolemy I Soter I
304–284 B.C.

Ptolemy II Philadelphos (12.187.31)
285–246 B.C.

Arsinoe II (20.2.21)
278–270 B.C.

Ptolemy III Euergetes I (66.99.134)
246–221 B.C.

Berenike II
246–221 B.C.

Ptolemy IV Philopator (66.99.166)
222–205 B.C.

Ptolemy V Epiphanes
205–180 B.C.

Harwennefer
205–199 B.C.

Ankhwennefer
199–186 B.C.

Cleopatra I
194–176 B.C.

Ptolemy VI Philometor
180–145 B.C.

Cleopatra II
175–115 B.C.

Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
170–116 B.C.

Harsiese
ca. 130 B.C.

Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator
145–144 B.C.

Ptolemy IX Soter II
116–80 B.C.




Department of Egyptian Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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