The Twelfth Dynasty is considered to be the last dynasty of the Old Kingdom. According to Manetho, they ruled from Memphis, and since their pyramids were built nearby at Saqqara, this seems very plausible.
The Twelfth Dynasty witnessed a series of significant developments in Egypt, including the restructuring of the kingdom's administration and innovative agricultural practices. Military campaigns expanded the Egyptian borders, advancing into Nubia and the Levant. According to Manetho's records, the Twelfth Dynasty was based in Thebes. Nevertheless, contemporary historical records indicate that Amenemhat I relocated the capital to a new city. Itjtawy. Despite extensive archaeological exploration, the city has yet to be discovered. It seems probable that it was located in the vicinity of the Fayyum, possibly merely a royal residence.
The chronological order
It is important to note that the chronological order of the pharaohs is an evolving subject and should therefore be treated with a certain degree of caution. As new research is conducted, the order may be subject to change, which is a fundamental principle that applies to all Egyptian dynasties.
| № | Pharaoh | Also known as |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amenemhat I | Amenemhet I |
| 2 | Senusret I | Senusret I, Senwosret I |
| 3 | Amenemhat II | Amenemhet II |
| 4 | Senusret II | Senusret II, Senwosret II |
| 5 | Senusret III | Senusret III, Senwosret III, Sesostris |
| 6 | Amenemhat III | Amenemhet III |
| 7 | Amenemhat IV | Amenemhet IV |
| 8 | Neferusobek | Sobekneferu |
The Twelfth Dynasty according to Manetho
The contents of their epitomes of Aegyptiaca must have been quite different, as can be seen from the differences between the more complete text of Africanus and the missing information of Eusebius.
ACCORDING TO AFRICANUS
Twelfth dynasty of seven kings of Diospolis
- Sesonchosis, son of Ammanemes46 years
- Ammanemes38 years
He was murdered by his personal eunuchs. -
Sesostris48 years
He subjugated all Asia in nine years, and the regions of Europe as far as Thrace, erecting monuments everywhere describing the character of the nations [that he subdued]. For the heroic nations, he engraved male genitalia on pillars; for the ignoble nations, female genitalia. As a result of his acts, he was considered by the Egyptians first in rank after Osiris. -
Lachares8 years
He constructed the labyrinth in the nome of Arsinoe as a tomb for himself. - Ameres8 years
- Ammenemes8 years
- Skemiophris, his sister4 years
- Total160 years
ACCORDING TO EUSEBIOS
Twelfth dynasty of seven kings of Diospolis
-
First of them was Sesonchosis, son of Ammenemes, who reigned for46 years
- Ammanemes38 years
He was murdered by his personal eunuchs. -
Sesostris48 years
He is said to have been four cubits, three palms, and two fingers' breadths [in height]. He subjugated all Asia in nine years, and the regions of Europe as far as Thrace, erecting everywhere monuments of his conquest of the nations. For the heroic nations, he engraved male genitalia on pillars; for the ignoble nations, female genitalia. As a result of his acts, he was considered by the Egyptians first in rank after Osiris. -
After him, Lamaris8 years
He constructed the labyrinth in the nome of Arsinoe as a tomb for himself. - His successors reigned for42 years
- Total years of their reigns245 years
ARMENIAN TRANSLATION
Twelfth dynasty of seven kings from Diospolis
- Sesonkʻovsis, son of Ammenemes
46 years - Ammenemēs 38 years
He was killed by his own eunuchs. -
Sēsovstris48 years
Supposedly he was 4 cubits, 3 palms and 2 digits tall. He conquered all of Asia in nine years, as well as Europe as far as Thrace. Everywhere he erected monuments to show his control over the nations; he depicted men's genitals on the columns for brave nations, and women's genitals for cowardly nations. Therefore, the Egyptians evaluated him as coming after Osiris. -
Łamparēs8 years
He built the labyrinth at Arsinoe as his own tomb. - His successors ruled for 42 years
- In total they reigned for 245 years
In their respective accounts, Africanus and Eusebius identified seven kings who were part of the Twelfth Dynasty. While Africanus provides the names of all seven, Eusebius only name the first four. This suggests that the epitome used by Africanus was more comprehensive, although it is possible that Eusebius simply omitted the remaining three kings for some reason.
Furthermore, the total number of years attributed to the dynasty by Eusebius (245) differs from the sum of the listed kings (182). These discrepancies provide further evidence that the epitome used by Eusebius was not an accurate representation of the original source material. It is possible that the epitomist was unaware that Manetho's original narrative included not only four kings named Amenemmes, but also three kings named Sesostris, resulting in the similar names being dismissed by the epitomist.
New Kingdom king lists
The Twelfth Dynasty in the Turin King List and the Saqqara Canon each contains eight kings, the Abydos Canon only seven.
| № | Abydos Canon | Saqqara Canon | Turin King List |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | lacuna | ||
| 4 | lacuna | ||
| 5 | lacuna 30+x years | ||
| 6 | lacuna 40+x years | ||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | – |
The Turin King List provide a duration of 213 years, 1 month, 17 days for eight kings.
Other sources
Herodotus, Histories
2.102 After returning thence back to Egypt, he [Sesostris] gathered a great army (according to the story of the priests) and marched over the mainland, subduing every nation to which he came. When those that he met were valiant men and strove hard for freedom, he set up pillars in their land whereon the inscription showed his own name and his country's, and how he had overcome them with his own power; but when the cities had made no resistance and been easily taken, then he put an inscription on the pillars even as he had done where the nations were brave; but he drew also on them the privy parts of a woman, wishing to show clearly that the people were cowardly.
1
The ultimate source for this story is Herodotus, Histories, 2.102.2
The sum of the individual items is 182 (missing 63 years.)3
Turin King List, column 7.3.
Original text from:
https://pharaoh.se/ancient-egypt/dynasty/12/