First Intermediate Period of Ancient Egypt

The end of the Old Kingdom was followed by a period long regarded as one of chaos and turmoil.

The entirety of the First Intermediate Period represents a particularly challenging historical epoch, spanning approximately 125 years. The few historical records are incomplete and scarce, which makes it challenging to draw definitive conclusions. Manethonian tradition divides the period into four dynasties, which ruled for an impossibly long period. The varying records of the transmission of the Aegyptiaca indicate corrupted or lost administrative records.

The Sixth Dynasty pharaoh Pepi II’s protracted rule and lack of a heir undermined the central government, and after his passing, the Old Kingdom collapsed and the nation descended into anarchy. Two opposing cities contended for control of a decentralised Egypt: northern Heracleopolis and southern Thebes. Although this period has long been considered to be a “dark age,” recent studies show that it was actually an era of change and transition when local nomarchs replaced the central monarchy at Memphis with local authority and customs.

The lack of reliable documents adds to the image as a dark age, as does the lack of art and architecture. The almost complete absence of historical records is perhaps the most significant barrier to understanding this period. The Old Kingdom had preserved Egypt’s past in stone by building pyramids and mortuary complexes that recounted their stories. With no central administration during this time, preserving history was not a top priority for the local rulers.

The Abydos Canon is a broadly chronological compilation of kings, but it omits numerous kings. In contrast, the Turin King List, is the sole surviving example of a clearly chronological list of Egyptian kings. While the majority of the list aligns with other chronological evidence, there are some inconsistencies that render the veracity of its content challenging to ascertain, especially the numerous lacunae. However, it is likely to remain the most reliable source of information on this topic.

The Abydos Canon contains 17 cartouches (nos. 40-44) between the last king of the Sixth Dynasty, Nemtiemsaf II, and Mentuhotep II of the Eleventh Dynasty, while the Turin King List contains a total of 25 kings. The Manethonian king lists give four dynasties (7-10), yet the total number of kings is not consistent with the data presented in the New Kingdom lists. This discrepancy is a clear indication that the sources for the information must have been significantly disparate.

Number of kings by source

Dynasty	Africanus	Eusebius	Turin King List	Abydos Canon
7	70	5	25	17
8	27	5
9	19	4
10	19	19
Kings	135	33	25	17

After this period, the Two Lands was once again reunited into the Middle Kingdom.

The order of Egyptian pharaohs is always subject to change, as new discoveries may alter the accepted order. This applies to all Egyptian dynasties.

Dynasty VII

Dynasty VIII

#	Pharaoh	Alternate names	Reign (BC)
1	Netjerikara	Netjerikare, Nitocris
2	Menkara	Menkare
3	Neferkara II	Neferkare II
4	Neferkara Neby	Neferkare Neby
5	Djedkara Shemai	Djedkare Shemay
6	Neferkara Khendu	Neferkare Khendu
7	Merenhor
8	Neferkamin I	Seneferka
9	Nikara	Nikare
10	Neferkara Tereru	Neferkare Tereru
11	Neferkahor
12	Neferkara Pepiseneb	Neferkare Pepiseneb
13	Neferkamin Anu
14	Qakara Ibi
15	Neferkaura	Neferkaure
16	Neferkauhor
17	Neferirkara II	Neferirkare II

Dynasty IX

#	Pharaoh	Alternate names	Reign (BC)
1	Meribra Khety I	Meribre Khety I
2	Neferkara III	Neferkare III
3	Wahkara Khety II	Wahkare Khety II
4	Senen
5	Neferkara Khety III	Neferkare Khety I

Dynasty X

#	Pharaoh	Alternate names	Reign (BC)
1	Nebkaura Khety IV	Nebkaure Khety IV, Khety V	between 2160 and 2130
2	Merikara	Merykare	c. 2075–2040
?	Sekhemkara I	Sekhemkare I
?	Wadjkara	Wadjkare
?	Ity
?	Imhotep
?	Hotep
?	Khui
?	Isu
?	Iytenu