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List of Rulers: Ancient Egypt and Nubia
See also an List of Rulers for Ancient Sudan.


Fragmentary face of King Khafre [Egyptian] Seated statue of King Menkaure [Egyptian] King Sahure and a Nome God [Egyptian] Stele of King Intef II [Egyptian] Relief of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (detail) [Egyptian] Relief of King Amenemhat I [Egyptian] Relief of Senwosret I [Egyptian] Ritual Figure [Egyptian] Face of Senwosret III [Egyptian]
Head of Amenemhat III [Egyptian] Statuette of Queen Nefrusobek [Egyptian] Statue of Queen Ahmose-Nefertari [Egyptian] Head of Ahmose I [Egyptian] Head of Amenhotep I [Egyptian] Relief of Thutmose I [Egyptian] Kneeling statuette of Thutmose III [Egyptian] Hatshepsut [Egyptian; From Deir el-Bahri, western Thebes] Head of Amenhotep II [Egyptian]
Chair panel of Thutmose IV [Egyptian] Head of Amenhotep III [Egyptian] Head of Queen Tiye [Egyptian] Sculptor's model of the head of Akhenaton [Egyptian] Relief of Queen Nefertiti [Egyptian] Relief of Queen Kiya [Egyptian] Head of Tutankhamun [Egyptian] Haremhab as a Scribe [Egyptian] Relief of Ramesses I [Egyptian]
Statue of Seti I [Egyptian] Facsimile of Queen Nefertari [Egyptian] Osirid figure of Merneptah [Egyptian] Head of Amenmesse [Egyptian] Shawabti of Siptah [Egyptian] Facsimile of tomb painting of Ramesses III [Egyptian] Artist's sketch of Ramesses IV [Egyptian] Relief of Ramesses IX [Egyptian] Stele of Shabaqo [Egyptian]
Stele of Shebitqo [Egyptian] Menat of Taharqo [Egyptian] Statue of Psamtik I [Egyptian] Relief of Apries [Egyptian] Statuette of Amasis [Egyptian] God Horus Protecting King Nectanebo II, The [Egyptian] Head of Ptolemy II Philadelphos [Egyptian] Statue of Queen Arsinoe II [Egyptian] Head of Ptolemy II or III [Egyptian]
Head of Ptolemy VI Philometor [Egyptian] Head of Augustus [Egyptian]


Our knowledge of the succession of Egyptian kings is based on kinglists kept by the ancient Egyptians themselves. The most famous are the Palermo Stone, which covers the period from the earliest dynasties to the middle of Dynasty 5; the Abydos Kinglist, which Seti I had carved on his temple at Abydos; and the Turin Canon, a papyrus that covers the period from the earliest dynasties to the reign of Ramesses II. All are incomplete or fragmentary. We also rely on the History of Egypt written by Manetho in the third century B.C. A priest in the temple at Heliopolis, Manetho had access to many original sources and it was he who divided the kings into the thirty dynasties we use today.

It is to this structure of dynasties and listed kings that we now attempt to link an absolute chronology of dates in terms of our own calendrical system. The process is made difficult by the fragmentary condition of the kinglists and by differences in the calendrical years used at various times. Some astronomical observations from the ancient Egyptians have survived, allowing us to calculate absolute dates within a margin of error. Synchronisms with the other civilizations of the ancient world are also of limited use.
Dynasty 3, ca. 2649–2575 B.C.
     
  Zanakht ca. 2649–2630 B.C.
  Djoser ca. 2630–2611 B.C.
  Sekhemkhet ca. 2611–2605 B.C.
  Khaba ca. 2605–2599 B.C.
  Huni ca. 2599–2575 B.C.
     
Dynasty 4, ca. 2575–2465 B.C.
  Snefru ca. 2575–2551 B.C.
  Khufu ca. 2551–2528 B.C.
  Djedefre ca. 2528–2520 B.C.
  Khafre ca. 2520–2494 B.C.
  Nebka II ca. 2494–2490 B.C.
  Menkaure ca. 2490–2472 B.C.
  Shepseskaf ca. 2472–2467 B.C.
  Thamphthis ca. 2467–2465 B.C.
     
Dynasty 5, ca. 2465–2323 B.C.
     
  Userkaf ca. 2465–2458 B.C.
  Sahure ca. 2458–2446 B.C.
  Neferirkare ca. 2446–2438 B.C.
  Shepseskare ca. 2438–2431 B.C.
  Neferefre ca. 2431–2420 B.C.
  Niuserre ca. 2420–2389 B.C.
  Menkauhor ca. 2389–2381 B.C.
  Isesi ca. 2381–2353 B.C.
  Unis ca. 2353–2323 B.C.
     
Dynasty 6, ca. 2323–2150 B.C.
     
  Teti ca. 2323–2291 B.C.
  Userkare ca. 2291–2289 B.C.
  Pepi I ca. 2289–2255 B.C.
  Merenre I ca. 2255–2246 B.C.
  Pepi II ca. 2246–2152 B.C.
  Merenre II ca. 2152–2152 B.C.
  Netjerkare Siptah ca. 2152–2150 B.C.
     
First Intermediate Period
ca. 2150–2030 B.C.
Dynasty 8–Dynasty 10, ca. 2150–2030 B.C.
Dynasty 11, first half, ca. 2124–2030 B.C.
  Mentuhotep I ca. 2124–2120 B.C.
  Intef I ca. 2120–2108 B.C.
  Intef II ca. 2108–2059 B.C.
  Intef III ca. 2059–2051 B.C.
  Mentuhotep II ca. 2051–2030 B.C.
     
Dynasty 11, second half, ca. 2030–1981 B.C.
  Mentuhotep II (cont.) ca. 2030–2000 B.C.
  Mentuhotep III ca. 2000–1988 B.C.
  Qakare Intef ca. 1985 B.C.
  Sekhentibre ca. 1985 B.C.
  Menekhkare ca. 1985 B.C.
  Mentuhotep IV ca. 1988–1981 B.C.
     
Dynasty 12, ca. 1981–1802 B.C.
  Amenemhat I ca. 1981–1952 B.C.
  Senwosret I ca. 1961–1917 B.C.
  Amenemhat II ca. 1919–1885 B.C.
  Senwosret II ca. 1887–1878 B.C.
  Senwosret III ca. 1878–1840 B.C.
  Amenemhat III ca. 1859–1813 B.C.
  Amenemhat IV ca. 1814–1805 B.C.
  Nefrusobek ca. 1805–1802 B.C.
     
Dynasty 13, ca. 1802–1640 B.C.
     
Second Intermediate Period
ca. 1640–1540 B.C.
Dynasty 14–Dynasty 16, ca. 1640–1635 B.C.
Dynasty 17, ca. 1635–1550 B.C.
     
  Tao I ca. 1560 B.C.
  Tao II ca. 1560 B.C.
  Kamose ca. 1552–1550 B.C.
     
Dynasty 18, ca. 1550–1295 B.C.
  Ahmose ca. 1550–1525 B.C.
  Amenhotep I ca. 1525–1504 B.C.
  Thutmose I ca. 1504–1492 B.C.
  Thutmose II ca. 1492–1479 B.C.
  Thutmose III ca. 1479–1425 B.C.
  Hatshepsut (as regent) ca. 1479–1473 B.C.
  Hatshepsut ca. 1473–1458 B.C.
  Amenhotep II ca. 1427–1400 B.C.
  Thutmose IV ca. 1400–1390 B.C.
  Amenhotep III ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
  Amenhotep IV ca. 1353–1349 B.C.
  Akhenaten ca. 1349–1336 B.C.
  Neferneferuaton ca. 1338–1336 B.C.
  Smenkhkare ca. 1336 B.C.
  Tutankhamun ca. 1336–1327 B.C.
  Aya ca. 1327–1323 B.C.
  Haremhab ca. 1323–1295 B.C.
     
Dynasty 19, ca. 1295–1186 B.C.
  Ramesses I ca. 1295–1294 B.C.
  Seti I ca. 1294–1279 B.C.
  Ramesses II ca. 1279–1213 B.C.
  Merneptah ca. 1213–1203 B.C.
  Amenmesse ca. 1203–1200 B.C.
  Seti II ca. 1200–1194 B.C.
  Siptah ca. 1194–1188 B.C.
  Tawosret ca. 1188–1186 B.C.
     
Dynasty 20, ca. 1186–1070 B.C.
  Sethnakht ca. 1186–1184 B.C.
  Ramesses III ca. 1184–1153 B.C.
  Ramesses IV ca. 1153–1147 B.C.
  Ramesses V ca. 1147–1143 B.C.
  Ramesses VI ca. 1143–1136 B.C.
  Ramesses VII ca. 1136–1129 B.C.
  Ramesses VIII ca. 1129–1126 B.C.
  Ramesses IX ca. 1126–1108 B.C.
  Ramesses X ca. 1108–1099 B.C.
  Ramesses XI ca. 1099–1070 B.C.
     
Hight Priests (HP) of Amun
ca. 1080–1070 B.C.
     
  HP Herihor ca. 1080–1074 B.C.
  HP Paiankh ca. 1074–1070 B.C.
     
Dynasty 21, ca. 1070–945 B.C.
     
  Smendes ca. 1070–1044 B.C.
  HP Painedjem I ca. 1070–1032 B.C.
  HP Masaharta ca. 1054–1046 B.C.
  HP Djedkhonsefankh ca. 1046–1045 B.C.
  HP Menkheperre ca. 1045–992 B.C.
  Amenemnisu ca. 1044–1040 B.C.
  Psusennes I ca. 1040–992 B.C.
  Amenemope ca. 993–984 B.C.
  HP Smendes ca. 992–990 B.C.
  HP Painedjem II ca. 990–969 B.C.
  Osochor ca. 984–978 B.C.
  Siamun ca. 978–959 B.C.
  HP Psusennes ca. 969–959 B.C.
  Psusennes II ca. 959–945 B.C.
     
Dynasty 22 (Libyan), ca. 945–712 B.C.
     
  Sheshonq I ca. 945–924 B.C.
  Osorkon I ca. 924–889 B.C.
  Sheshonq II ca. 890 B.C.
  Takelot I ca. 889–874 B.C.
  Osorkon II ca. 874–850 B.C.
  Harsiese ca. 865 B.C.
  Takelot II ca. 850–825 B.C.
  Sheshonq III ca. 825–773 B.C.
  Pami ca. 773–767 B.C.
  Sheshonq V ca. 767–730 B.C.
  Osorkon IV ca. 730–712 B.C.
     
Dynasty 23, ca. 818–713 B.C.
     
  Pedubaste I ca. 818–793 B.C.
  Iuput I ca. 800 B.C.
  Sheshonq IV ca. 793–787 B.C.
  Osorkon III ca. 787–759 B.C.
  Takelot III ca. 764–757 B.C.
  Rudamun ca. 757–754 B.C.
  Iuput II ca. 754–712 B.C.
  Peftjaubast ca. 740–725 B.C.
  Namlot ca. 740 B.C.
  Thutemhat ca. 720 B.C.
     
Dynasty 24, ca. 724–712 B.C.
     
  Tefnakht ca. 724–717 B.C.
  Bakenrenef ca. 717–712 B.C.
     
Dynasty 25 (Nubian), ca. 712–664 B.C.
  Piye (Establishes Nubian Dynasty in Egypt) ca. 743–712 B.C.
  Shabaqo ca. 712–698 B.C.
  Shebitqo ca. 698–690 B.C.
  Taharqo (Loses control of Lower Egypt) ca. 690–664 B.C.
  Tanutamani (Loses control of Upper Egypt) ca. 664–653 B.C.
     
Dynasty 26 (Saite), 688–252 B.C.
  Nikauba 688–672 B.C.
  Necho I 672–664 B.C.
  Psamtik I 664–610 B.C.
  Necho II 610–595 B.C.
  Psamtik II 595–589 B.C.
  Apries 589–570 B.C.
  Amasis 570–526 B.C.
  Psamtik III 526–525 B.C.
     
Dynasty 27 (Persian), 525–404 B.C.
     
  Cambyses 525–522 B.C.
  Darius I 521–486 B.C.
  Xerxes I 486–466 B.C.
  Artaxerxes I 465–424 B.C.
  Darius II 424–404 B.C.
     
Dynasty 28, 522–399 B.C.
     
  Pedubaste III 522–520 B.C.
  Psamtik IV ca. 470 B.C.
  Inaros ca. 460 B.C.
  Amyrtaios I ca. 460 B.C.
  Thannyros ca. 445 B.C.
  Pausiris ca. 445 B.C.
  Psamtik V ca. 445 B.C.
  Psamtik VI ca. 400 B.C.
  Amyrtaios II 404–399 B.C.
     
Dynasty 29, 399–380 B.C.
     
  Nepherites I 399–393 B.C.
  Psammuthis 393–393 B.C.
  Achoris 393–380 B.C.
  Nepherites II 380–380 B.C.
     
Dynasty 30, 380–343 B.C.
  Nectanebo I 380–362 B.C.
  Teos 365–360 B.C.
  Nectanebo II 360–343 B.C.
  Persians 343–332 B.C.
  Khabebesh 343–332 B.C.
  Artaxerxes III Ochus 343–338 B.C.
  Arses 338–336 B.C.
  Darius III Codoman 335–332 B.C.
     
     
  Alexander the Great 332–323 B.C.
  Philip Arrhidaeus 323–316 B.C.
  Alexander IV 316–304 B.C.
     
  Ptolemy I Soter I 304–284 B.C.
  Ptolemy II Philadelphos 285–246 B.C.
  Arsinoe II 278–270 B.C.
  Ptolemy III Euergetes I 246–221 B.C.
  Berenike II 246–221 B.C.
  Ptolemy IV Philopator 222–205 B.C.
  Ptolemy V Epiphanes 205–180 B.C.
  Harwennefer 205–199 B.C.
  Ankhwennefer 199–186 B.C.
  Cleopatra I 194–176 B.C.
  Ptolemy VI Philometor