Dynasty Notes

Once again the prosperity of the Middle Kingdom failed. The weakness of later kings (even though a strict rule of co-regency was intended to ensure succession) led to Egypt being invaded by an Asiatic people known as the Hyksos. These invaders took control of Egypt and fashioned themselves kings. They were sacrilegious invaders who despoiled the lands the took what they wanted from Egypt. however, they titled themselves as Egyptian kings and appear to have been accepted as such. They tolerated other claims to the throne and even concurrent "pharaohs" in different regions.

They were very successful. They held Egypt as foreign kings for almost two centuries.

The 13th Dynasty was roughly 65 kings who ruled over Egypt for 116 years, when they finally lost the Delta to the invading Hyksos. Their capital was at Ituy-tawy. Most of the kings were not related, nor from existing royal lines. At least five different families claimed the throne of Egypt during this time, and most did claim the royal titulary.

The 14th Dynasty ruled from Sais in the Delta and included as many as 76 kings, although very little is known about most of them. The dynasty lasted about 60 years. During this time, the Delta was settled by Palestinians.

It is the 15th Dynasty that sees the first of the Hyksos rulers. This is the "Great Hyksos Dynasty" that controlled most of the delta and much of Upper Egypt. They maintained a capitol at Avaris and maintained direct rule over much of northern Egypt, and a loose suzerainty over vassal kings in Thebes and the rest of the country.

The 16th Dynasty of kings was non-egyptian rulers, mostly made up of Hyksos dukes and vassals of the greater kings in Avaris. In comparison, the 17th Dynasty was local rulers in Thebes only. The last two kings fought the Hyksos and opened the New Kingdom. Kamose is normally seen as the pharaoh who ended the Hyksos rule over Egypt.

dynasties

Dynasty XIII
Dynasty XIV
Dynasty XV
Dynasty XVI
Dynasty XVII