The Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt (notated Dynasty XXI, alternatively 21st DynastyorDynasty 21) is usually classified as the first Dynasty of the Ancient Egyptian Third Intermediate Period, lasting from 1077 BC to 943 BC.

History[edit]

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 at Tanis. Meanwhile, the High Priests of Amun at Thebes effectively ruled Middle and Upper Egypt in all but name. The later Egyptian Priest Manetho of Sebennytos states in his Epitome on Egyptian royal history that "the 21st Dynasty of Egypt lasted for 130 years".^[1]

Pharaohs of the 21st Dynasty[edit]

Dynasty XXI Kings of Egypt
Pharaoh	Prenomen (Throne name)	Horus-name	Reign	Burial	Consort(s)	Comments
Smendes / Nesbanebdjed I	Hedjkheperre Setepenre	Kanakhtmeryreseuser Amunkhepesheferseqamaat	1077 - 1051 BC	unknown	Tentamun	Only controlled Lower Egypt during his reign. Founder of the 21st Dynasty.
Amenemnisu	Neferkare Heqawaset	(unknown)	1051 - 1047 BC	unknown
Psusennes I / Hor-Pasebakhaenniut I	Akheperre Setepenamun	Kanakhtemdedamun Userfausekhaemwaset	1047 - 1001 BC	NRT III, Tanis	Mutnedjemet Wiay	Precise length of reign unknown. Either 41 or 46 years.
Amenemope	Usermaatre Setepenamun	(unknown)	1001 - 992 BC	Tanis		Manetho writes in his Epitome that Amenemope ruled Egypt for 9 years.
Osorkon the Elder	Akheperre Setepenre	(unknown)	992 - 986 BC	unknown		Osorkon the elder ruled Egypt for 6 years.
Siamun	Netjerkheperre Setepenamun	Kanakhtmerymat Sameryenamunperemhauef	986 - 967 BC	unknown		Siamun is believed to have ruled Egypt for 19 years. Egyptologists have amended Manetho's figure of 9 years for this king to [1]9 years based on a Year 17 known for him in the Karnak Priestly Annals
Psusennes II / Hor-Pasebakhaenniut II	Titkheperure Setepenre	(unknown)	967 - 943 BC	unknown

Timeline of the 21st Dynasty[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

Pre-dynastic period
First Dynasty	I	c. 3150–2890
Second Dynasty	II	2890–2686

Third Dynasty	III	2686–2613
Fourth Dynasty	IV	2613–2498
Fifth Dynasty	V	2498–2345
Sixth Dynasty	VI	2345–2181

Seventh Dynasty	VII	spurious
Eighth Dynasty	VIII	2181–2160
Ninth Dynasty	IX	2160–2130
Tenth Dynasty	X	2130–2040
Early Eleventh Dynasty	XI	2134–2061

Late Eleventh Dynasty	XI	2061–1991
Twelfth Dynasty	XII	1991–1803
Thirteenth Dynasty	XIII	1803–1649

Fourteenth Dynasty	XIV	1705–1690
Fifteenth Dynasty (Hyksos)	XV	1674–1535
Sixteenth Dynasty	XVI	1660–1600
Abydos Dynasty		1650–1600
Seventeenth Dynasty	XVII	1580–1549

Eighteenth Dynasty	XVIII	1549–1292
Nineteenth Dynasty	XIX	1292–1189
Twentieth Dynasty	XX	1189–1077

Twenty-first Dynasty	XXI	1069–945
Twenty-second Dynasty	XXII	945–720
Twenty-third Dynasty	XXIII	837–728
Twenty-fourth Dynasty	XXIV	732–720
Twenty-fifth Dynasty (Nubian)	XXV	732–653

Twenty-sixth Dynasty	XXVI	672–525
Twenty-seventh Dynasty (1st Persian Period)	XXVII	525–404
Twenty-eighth Dynasty	XXVIII	404–398
Twenty-ninth Dynasty	XXIX	398–380
Thirtieth Dynasty	XXX	380–343
Thirty-first Dynasty (2nd Persian Period)	XXXI	343–332