Ancient Egyptians - Kings of Egypt
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All about Ancient Egyptians

Pharaohs & Kings of Egypt

The Kings of Egypt
The Kings of Egypt were the rulers of Egyptian dynasties. The ancient Egyptian Dynasties consisted of a succession of kings from the same family who succeeded each other on the throne of Egypt by right of inheritance. The history and civilization of ancient Egypt endured for over 3000 years and the Kings of Egypt helped to build a powerful empire.

List of all the Kings of Egypt - How many Kings of Egypt?
A chart containing a list of the Kings of Egypt can be found at the end of this article. How many Kings of Egypt were there? Well, our list provides 225 names of Kings of Egypt. However, there were many unsettled periods in ancient Egyptian history due to internal conflicts between different families and many foreign rulers. So kings were apt to be replaced after very short reigns. The records of the ancient Egyptians did not provide a comprehensive list all the names of the foreign kings but our list certainly contains details of all the known names of the Kings of Egypt.

The Kings of Egypt - Kings or Pharaohs?
The Kings of Egypt are often referred to as Pharaohs. Which is the correct title? Should the rulers of ancient Egypt be referred to as Kings or Pharaohs? The kings of Egypt were not called 'Pharaohs' until the time period called the New Kingdom 1550 -1069 BCE following the reign of Queen Hatshepsut in the Eighteenth Dynasty. The title 'Pharaoh' literally means "great house" as a reference to the residence of the royal palace. The title of Pharaoh was added to the other titles before the ruler's name following the expulsion of the Hyksos(meaning "foreign rulers") at the end of the 17th dynasty to indicate that the king was Egyptian and descended from the sun god Ra. 'Pharaoh' is the term we commonly use today to describe all of the kings of Egypt but, strictly speaking, this should be confined to the monarchs who reigned after Queen Hatshepsut.

The Kings of Egypt -v- Queens of Egypt
On the subject of the Queens of Egypt it is interesting to note that the ancient Egyptians had no word that was equivalent to "Queen". There were women that ruled in their own right, but they usually faced considerable opposition, especially from the high court officials and some of the priests. The title of a female ruler was the same as a man - King or Pharaoh. The queens of ancient Egypt were depicted in the same manner as the Kings, complete with the false beard that hooked behind the ears, which was a symbol of royal authority.

The Role of the Kings of Egypt
Learn about the Kings of Egypt the fast and easy way via the Kings of Egypt Fact sheet.

The Ancient Egyptians - The Kings of Egypt Fact Sheet

Fact 1 on the Kings of Egypt: The kings of Egypt were absolute monarchs, they had total power and could demand services and taxes from their subjects.

Fact 2 on the Kings of Egypt: During the 4th dynasty, the kings of Egypt adopted the persona of a living god, who ruled absolutely and could demand the services and the wealth of his subjects.

Fact 3 on the Kings of Egypt: Each of the kings was considered to be the incarnation of the god Horus and from the 5th Dynasty the king was also considered to be the son of Ra, the sun god.

Fact 4 on the Kings of Egypt: The kings therefore adopted a divine status and the role as a mediator with the gods.

Fact 5 on the Kings of Egypt: The royal insignia consisted of the crook and flail. The crook sign symbolized the king's role as the 'shepherd' of the people and the flail symbolized the king's role as the provider of food for the people.

Fact 6 on the Kings of Egypt: The crook was also the symbol of leadership and protection and the flail as a symbol of discipline as a whip or weapon emphasizing that the kings represented the law of the land.

Fact 7 on the Kings of Egypt: The kings governed the kingdom with his family and appointed government officials to assist in the governance of ancient Egypt.

Fact 8 on the Kings of Egypt: As the High Priests of all the religious cults, the kings made daily offerings to the gods in their temples. Only the kings and priests were allowed to enter the temples which were believed to house the gods, the spirits of the gods resided in the magnificent statues.

Fact 9 on the Kings of Egypt: During the periods in history called the Old Kingdom and the Middle Kingdom the kings were buried in pyramids - which they believed was a kind of 'stargate' to heaven.

Fact 10 on the Kings of Egypt: During the New Kingdom the kings were buried in hidden tombs in the Valley of the Kings.

Fact 11 on the Kings of Egypt: The pharaohs were also commander-in-chief of the armed forces and often led the armies in person and participated in the fighting.

Fact 12 on the Kings of Egypt: The kings and their royal insignia were untouchable to ordinary mortals who had to pay due homage to the king, prostrating themselves before him.

Fact 13 on the Kings of Egypt: The kings, together with the Hapi the Nile god were believed to control the annual flooding of the River Nile and took this responsibility extremely seriously, making due offerings to the gods to try to ensure a 'good flood'. 

The Ancient Egyptians - The Kings of Egypt Fact Sheet

The Kings of Egypt
Discover fast, interesting fun facts about the Kings of Egypt for kids with some amazing, cool and quick information about ancient Egypt and Egyptians. Ideal for children, homework, schools, teachers and kids of all ages! Find fascinating fun facts about the Kings of Egypt for kids and the history, culture and civilisation of the ancient Egyptians and ancient Egypt. Interesting, fun facts about the Kings of Egypt for research, schools, students and kids of all ages.

Ancient Egyptian Time Periods

List of the Kings of Egypt
A list of all the names of the kings of Egypt are detailed in the following chart.

List of Kings of Egypt - Intermediate Periods
Please Note: The names of the kings of the Intermediate Periods are not well documented and it therefore not possible to verify the accuracy of their names or the dates they reigned. During the Intermediate Periods foreign occupation and continuous internal struggles were common and rulers were often transitory.

History Period

Early Dynastic Period

Dynasties

1st Dynasty
The Founders

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Narmer

Hor-Aha

Djer

Djet

Queen Merneith

Den

Adjib

Semerkhet

Qa'a

Dynasties

2nd Dynasty

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Hotepsekhemwy

Raneb

Nynetjer

Weneg

Senedj

Seth-Peribsen

Sekhemib-Perenmaat

Khasekhem

History Period

Old Kingdom

Dynasties

3rd Dynasty

Civil War &
the Step Pyramids

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Sanakhte (Nebka)

King Djoser

King Sekhemkhet

King Khaba

Huni

Dynasties

4th Dynasty

Age of the Pyramids

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Snefru

Khufu aka Cheops

Djedefre aka Radjedef

Khafre aka Chephren

Menkaure aka Mycerinus

Shepseskaf

Dynasties

5th Dynasty

The Sun Kings

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Userkaf

Sahure

Neferirkare Kakai

Shepseskare Ini

Raneferef

Neuserre Izi

Menkauhor

Djedkare Isesi

Unas

Dynasties

The Conspiracies

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Userkare

Pepi I

Merenre

Pepi II

King Merenre II

Queen Nitocris

History Period

1st Intermediate Period

Dynasties

The Oligarchs

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Netjerkare

Menkare

Neferkare II

Neferkare III Nebi

Djedkara Shemai

Neferkare IV Khendu

Dynasties

The rulers of Memphis

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Nikara

Neferkare V

Neferkahor

Neferkare VI

Neferkamin Anu

Qakare Ibi

Neferkara II

Neferkawhor Khuwihap

Neferirkara

Dynasties

9th Dynasty

King Khety or Khetys

King Merekare

King Senenh or Setut

King Mer Khety

Dynasties

Herakleopolis rulers

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Neferkare

Wankare (Acthoes III)

Merykare

History Period

Middle Kingdom

Dynasties

The Mentuhoteps

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Intef II

Intef III

Mentuhotep I

Mentuhotep II

Mentuhotep III

Mentuhotep IV

Dynasties

The Warrior Kings

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Senusret I

Amenemhet II

Senusret II

Senusret III

Amenemhet III

Amenemhet IV

Queen Sobeknefru

History Period

2nd Intermediate Period

Dynasties

The It-tawy kings

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Ameny Intef IV (Amenemhet V)

Hor Auyibre

Sobekhotep II (Amenmehet VI)

Khendjer Userkare

Sobekhotep III Sekhemre Sewadjtawy

Neferhotep I Khasekhemwyre

Sobekhotep IV Khaneferre

Ay Merneferre

Neferhotep II

Sekhemre

Sankhtawy

Dynasties

The Xois Kings

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Khakherewre

Nebefawre

Sehebre

Merdjefare

Sewadjkare

Nebdjefare

Webenre

Djefare

Webenre

Sheshi

Yakubher

Dynasties

The Hyksos

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Sakir-Har

Khyan

Apepi

Khamudi

Dynasties

The Hyksos

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

User-anat

Semqen

Zaket

Wasa

Qar

Pepi III

Bebankh

Nebmaatre

Nikare II

Aahotepre

Nubankhre

Nubuserre

Khauserre

Khamure

Jacob-Baal

Yakbam/Sekkhaenre

Amu

Dynasties

The Theban rulers of Upper Egypt

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Sobekemsaf I Sekhemreshedtawy

Antef VI Sekhemrewepmaat

Antef VII Nebkheperre

Intef VIII Sekhemreherhermaat

Sobekemsaf II Sekhemrewadjkhaw

Tao I the Elder Senakhtenre

Tao II the Brave Seqenenre

Kamose

History Period

New Kingdom

Dynasties

18th Dynasty

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Amenhotep I

Thutmose I

Thutmose II

Queen Hatshepsut

Thutmose III

Amenhotep II

Thutmose IV

Amenhotep III

Akhenaten

Smenkhkare

Tutankhamun

Ay

Horemheb

Dynasties

19th Dynasty

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Seti I

Ramses II aka Ramses the Great

Merenptah aka Merneptah

Amenmesse

Seti II

Siptah

Queen Twosret

Dynasties

20th Dynasty

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Ramses III

Ramses IV

Ramses V

Ramses VI

Ramses VII

Ramses VIII

Ramses IX

Ramses X

Ramses XI

History Period

Post Empire

Dynasties

The High Priests of Amun and the Theban Kings

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Amenemnisu

Psusennes I

Amenemope

Osorkon the Elder

Siamun

Psusennes II

Dynasties

The Libyan period

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Osorkon I

Takelot I

Shoshenq II

Osorkon II

Shoshenq III

Shoshenq IV

Shoshenq V

Osorkon IV

Dynasties

The Libyans and Kings of Thebes

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Pedubast I

Shoshenq VI

Osorkon III

Takelot III

Rudamun

Harsiese

Dynasties

The City States

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Bakenranef (Bocchoris)

25th Dynasty

The Nubians

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Kashta - 24th

Piye - 24th

Shabaka - 25th

Shebitku

Taharqa

Tantamani

26th Dynasty

The Kings of Sais

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Necho I

Psamtik I (Psammetichus I)

Necho II (Wehemibre)

Psamtik II (Psammetichus II)

Apries (Haaibre)

Amasis II aka Ahmose II

Psamtik III (Psammetichus III)

27th Dynasty

First Persian Period

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Cambyses II

Darius Setutre

Xerxes

Artaxerxes I

Darius II

Artaxerxes II

28th Dynasty

Disgraced Saite King
 

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Amyrtaeus

29th Dynasty

The Kings of Mendes

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Nepherites I

Psammuthes

Hakor (Achoris)

Nepherites II

30th Dynasty

Nectanebo I

Teos

Nectanebo II

31st Dynasty

Second Rule of the Persians
 

Names of Kings & Pharaohs

Artaxerxes III

Arses

Darius III

Kings of Egypt
Learning about the ancient Egyptians and the Kings of Egypt inspires everyone to visit historical sites and undertake Egypt Travel and Tours to experience the wonders of this magical land at first hand. Many people choose to experience a tour of Egypt on a Nile Cruise stopping at the famous destinations and sites of Egypt such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. The information and facts about the Kings of Egypt will provide you with a great insight into Egypt and the legacy of the ancient Egyptians.

Kings of Egypt