The Twenty-first Dynasty of ancient Egypt (notated Dynasty XXI, alternatively 21st Dynasty or Dynasty 21) is usually classified as the first Dynasty of the Ancient Egyptian Third Intermediate Period, lasting from 1069 BC to 945 BC.
History
After the reign of Ramesses III, a long, slow decline of royal power in Egypt followed. The pharaohs of the Twenty-first Dynasty ruled from Tanis but were mostly active only in Lower Egypt, which they controlled. This Dynasty is described as ‘Tanite’ because its political capital was based in Tanis. Meanwhile, the High Priests of Amun at Thebes effectively ruled Middle and Upper Egypt in all but name. In his Epitome on Egyptian royal history, the later Egyptian Priest Manetho of Sebennytos states that “the 21st Dynasty of Egypt lasted for 130 years”.
Pharaohs of the Twenty-first Dynasty of Ancient Egypt
Smendes
Hedjkheperre Setepenre Smendes was the founder of the Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt and succeeded to the throne after burying Ramesses XI in Lower Egypt – a territory he controlled. His Egyptian nomen or birth name was Nesbanebdjed, meaning “He of the Ram, Lord of Mendes”, but it was translated into Greek as Smendes by later classical writers such as Josephus and Sextus Africanus. According to the Story of Wenamun from c. 1000 BC, Smendes was a governor of Lower Egypt during the Renaissance Era under Ramesses XI’s reign. However, Egyptologists have questioned the historical accuracy of that story.
Amenemnisu
Neferkare Amenemnisu was the second ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 21st Dynasty.
Psusennes I
Psusennes I (Ancient Egyptian: pꜣ-sbꜣ-ḫꜥ-n-njwt; Greek Ψουσέννης) was the third pharaoh of the 21st Dynasty who ruled from Tanis between 1047 and 1001 BC. Psusennes is the Greek version of his original name Pasibkhanu or Pasebakhaenniut (in reconstructed Late Egyptian: /pəsiwʃeʕənneːʔə/), which means “The Star Appearing in the City”. In contrast, his throne name, Akheperre Setepenamun, translates as “Great are the Manifestations of Ra, chosen of Amun.” He was the son of Pinedjem I and Henuttawy, Ramesses XI‘s daughter by Tentamun. He married his sister Mutnedjmet.
Amenemope
Usermaatre Amenemope was the fourth ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 21st Dynasty who ruled from 1001–992 BC to 993–984 BC.
Osorkon the Elder
Aakheperre Setepenre Osorkon the Elder was the fifth king of the 21st Dynasty of Ancient Egypt and was the first Pharaoh of Meshwesh (Ancient Libyan) origin. He is also sometimes known as Osochor, following Manetho’s Aegyptiaca.
Siamun
Neterkheperre or Netjerkheperre-Setepenamun Siamun was the sixth pharaoh of Egypt during the Twenty-first Dynasty. He built extensively in Lower Egypt as a king of the Third Intermediate Period and is regarded as one of the most powerful rulers of the Twenty-first Dynasty after Psusennes I. Siamun’s prenomen, Netjerkheperre-Setepenamun means “Divine is The Manifestation of Ra, Chosen of Amun”. In contrast, his name means ‘son of Amun.’
Psusennes II
Titkheperure or Tyetkheperre Psusennes II [Greek Ψουσέννης] or Hor-Pasebakhaenniut II [Egyptian ḥr-p3-sb3-ḫˁỉ-⟨n⟩-nỉwt], was the last king of the Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt. His royal name means “Image of the transformations of Re” in Egyptian. Psusennes II is often considered the same person as the High Priest of Amun, known as Psusennes III.
The Egyptologist Karl Jansen-Winkeln notes that a vital graffito from the Temple of Abydos contains the complete titles of a king Tyetkheperre Setepenre Pasebakhaenniut Meryamun “who is simultaneously called the HPA (i.e., High Priest of Amun) and supreme military commander.” This suggests that Psusennes was both king at Tanis and the High Priest in Thebes at the same time, meaning he did not resign his office as High Priest of Amun during his reign. The few contemporary attestations from his power include the graffito mentioned above in Seti I’s Abydos temple, an ostracon from Umm el-Qa’ab, an affiliation at Karnak and his presumed burial – which consists of a gilded coffin with a royal uraeus and a Mummy, found in an antechamber of Psusennes I’s tomb at Tanis. He was a High Priest of Amun at Thebes and the son of Pinedjem II and Istemkheb. His daughter Maatkare B was the Great Royal Wife of Osorkon I.
