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Dynasty Notes

Like the confusion of the Seventh and Eight Dynasties, the Ninth is still pretty much up in the air. Centralized government is still failing, and regional and local warlords are claiming the thrones.

Achthoes, the ruler of Heracleopolis, seized control of Middle Egypt, then seized the throne of Egypt and founded the Ninth Dynasty, which is dated roughly 2160--2130 BCE. The dates are widely differing though: Egyptsite notes that the 9th and 10th dynasties were from 2135 -- 1986 BCE, and piccione notes dates that are much older -- 2213 -- 2175 for dynasty IX.

Through the Tenth Dynasty, the kings in Hieracleopolis maintained control over Northern Egypt. However, rival kings in Edfu and Thebes continued to fight over control of Upper Egypt. Eventually, the battle was won by the kings in Thebes, who moved on to found the Eleventh Dynasty, intending to control all of Egypt.

Eventually, the North and South were reunited under Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II, which marked the beginning of the Middle Kingdom.

The Ninth Dynasty is comprised of four kings ( only two of which we know) who ruled from Hieracleopolis, and were at least recognized throughout the rest of Egypt. The sequence of the pharaohs is very unclear:

Meryibre Akhtoy
Neferkare V
2 (or more) unknown kings

The Tenth Dynasty is not much clearer. There were fourteen Heracleopolitan kings who rule the North, and shared control of the South with the contemporary Theban Dynasty XI until Mentuhotep united the country once again some time between 2047 and 2022 BCE. Only Six kings are attested to in contemporary sources:

Meri[...]re Akhtoy
Nebkaure Akhtoy
Mereikare
Meri-Hathor
Wahkare Akhtoy

Khui

 

 

pharaohs

Meryibre Akhtoy
Neferkare V
Unknown Kings

Meri[...]re Akhtoy
Nebkaure Akhtoy
Merekare
Meri-Hathor
Wahkare Akhtoy

Khui