The Twenty-first Dynasty of Ancient Egypt

The Twenty-first Dynasty ruled Lower Egypt from Tanis, while the High Priests of Amun at Thebes effectively ruled the rest of the kingdom.

21
Twenty-first Dynasty
1069 BC — 945 BC

The historical timeline during this period is complex due to the overlapping rule with the Theban priesthood. Overall, the dynasty saw a weakening of traditional power structures, with records from this period being less centralised and more dispersed than in previous dynasties. Smendes is noted for his efforts to stabilise the region after the chaotic end of the New Kingdom.

Dynasty 21

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. In particular, the First Intermediate Period dynasties are the subject of significant ongoing research, and could see dramatic changes in the future.

Table 1: The kings of the Twenty-first Dynasty
Pharaoh Also known as
1Smendes I
2AmenemnesutAmenemnisu
3Psusennes I
4Amenemope
5OsochorOsorkon the Elder
6Siamun
7Psusennes II

The Twenty-first Dynasty according to Manetho

ACCORDING TO AFRICANUS

Twenty-first dynasty of seven kings of Tanis

  1. Smendes 26 years
  2. Psousennes 46 years
  3. Nephelcheres 4 years
  4. Amenophthis 9 years
  5. Osochor 6 years
  6. Psinaches 9 years
  7. Psousennes 14 years
  8. Total 130 years
ACCORDING TO EUSEBIOS

Twenty-first dynasty of 7 kings of Tanis

  1. Smendis26 years
  2. Psousennes41 years
  3. Nephercheres4 years
  4. Amenophthis9 years
  5. Osochor6 years
  6. Psinaches9 years
  7. Psousennes35 years
  8. Total130 years
ARMENIAN TRANSLATION

Twenty-first dynasty of 7 kings from Tanis

  1. Smēndis26 years
  2. Pʻsusēnnos41 years
  3. Nepʻērkʻērēs4 years
  4. Amenovpʻtʻis9 years
  5. Osovkʻor6 years
  6. Pʻsinnakʻēs9 years
  7. Pʻsovsēnnēs35 years
  8. In total, reigned130 years

1

The sum of the individual items is 114 years.