Seventeenth Dynasty of Egypt

The Seventeenth Dynasty of Egypt (notated Dynasty XVII, alternatively 17th Dynasty or Dynasty 17) was a dynasty of pharaohs that ruled in Upper Egypt during the late Second Intermediate Period, approximately from 1580 to 1550 BC. Its mainly Theban rulers are contemporary with the Hyksos of the Fifteenth Dynasty and succeed the Sixteenth Dynasty, which was also based in Thebes.The chronology of the 17th dynasty is very uncertain and the king lists provide little help.^[1]

Seventeenth Dynasty of Egypt
c. 1580 BC–c. 1550 BC
Sarcophagus of Sekhemre-Wepmaat Intef, Louvre Museum
Capital	Thebes
Common languages	Egyptian language
Religion	ancient Egyptian religion
Government	Absolute monarchy
Historical era	Bronze Age
• Established	c. 1580 BC
• Disestablished	c. 1550 BC
Preceded by Succeeded by Sixteenth Dynasty of Egypt Abydos Dynasty Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt

Map of Ancient Egypt during the Second intermediate period.

In March 2012, French archeologists examining a limestone door in the Precinct of Amun-Re at Karnak discovered hieroglyphs with the name Senakhtenre, the first evidence of this king dating to his lifetime.^[2]

The last two kings of the dynasty opposed the Hyksos rule over Egypt and initiated a war that would rid Egypt of the Hyksos kings and began a period of unified rule, the New Kingdom of Egypt.^[1]

Kamose, the second son of Seqenenre Tao and last king of the Seventeenth Dynasty, was the brother of Ahmose I, the first king of the Eighteenth Dynasty.^[3]

Some mainstream scholars have suggested that the Seventeenth dynasty of Egypt had Nubian ancestry due to the expanded presence of Nubians in Egypt during that time period and the craniofacial evidence from X-ray examination of Seqenenre Tao who displayed strong affinities with contemporary Nubians. Donald Redford explicitly argues that Egyptians "entered into the service of the king of Kush" between seventeenth and sixteenth centuries BC, citing historical texts along with archaeological evidence that showed an increased Nubian presence from the third Cataract on the Nile as far north as Deir Rifeh. Redford summarises that a shared "community of interest" existed which coincided with the influx of Nubian pottery and weapons in Upper Egypt.^[4][5][6] There is no conclusive evidence that the founder of the dynasty, Rahotep, was of Nubian origin however and the dynasty is recognized as a native Egyptian dynasty by many scholars.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]}

Pharaohs of the 17th Dynasty

The Pharaohs of the 17th Dynasty ruled for approximately 30 years. Known rulers of the 17th Dynasty are as follows:^[18]

Dynasty XVII Kings of Egypt

Nomen (personal name)	Prenomen (throne name)	Horus-name	Image	Reign	Burial	Consort(s)	Comments
Rahotep	Sekhemre-wahkhaw	Wahankh		c. 1585 BC	Dra' Abu el-Naga'?
Sobekemsaf I	Sekhemre-wadjkhaw	Hetepnetjeru		7 years	Dra' Abu el-Naga'?	Nubemhat
Sobekemsaf II	Sekhemre-shedtawy	(unknown)			Dra' Abu el-Naga'? Tomb was robbed during the reign of Ramesses IX	Nubkhaes
Intef V	Sekhemre-wepmaat	Wepmaat		2-3? years	Dra' Abu el-Naga'?
Intef VI	Nubkheperre	Neferkheperu		3-8? years	Dra' Abu el-Naga'	Sobekemsaf
Intef VII	Sekhemre-heruhermaat	(unknown)			Dra' Abu el-Naga'?	Haankhes
Ahmose the Elder	Senakhtenre	Merymaat		1-2 years	Dra' Abu el-Naga'?	Tetisheri
Tao	Seqenenre	Khaemwaset		c. 1560 (4 years)	Dra' Abu el-Naga'?	Ahmose Inhapy Sitdjehuti Ahhotep I	Died in battle against the Hyksos
Kamose	Wadjkheperre	Khahernesetef		1555 to 1550 BC (5 years)	Dra' Abu el-Naga'	Ahhotep II?

Finally, king Nebmaatre may have been a ruler of the early 17th Dynasty.^[19]

Pharaonic Family tree

Sobekemsaf I

Nubemhat

Sobekemsaf II

Nubkhaes II

Sekhemre-Wepmaat Intef

Nubkheperre Intef

Sobekemsaf

Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef

The political situation in the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt (c. 1650 – c. 1550 BC)

The War of Reunification

While under the Hyksos rule, the kings of the 17th dynasty revived the cult of Osiris, they rebuilt temples, and they established military control over the religious site, Abdju. This was the beginning of their campaign for reunification.^[20]

The first wave of attacks launched toward the southern flank was led by King Seqenenre Tao, who was killed in the battle. His son, Kamose, succeeded him as the leader. After securing the southern flank, Kamose took to the North to fight more of the Hyksos. Despite little sustained opposition, he failed to take more land in the north and died suddenly after just 2 years at the throne. He left no sons behind to succeed him and his brother, Ahmose I, came to power at 10 years old.^[20]

Kamose's second stela which records his victory against the Hyksos (Luxor Museum).

The nationalists in the North had weakened the Hyksos and could no longer muster a counter-attack. In 1559 BC, led by an old enough to fight Ahmose I, they conquered the city of Memphis. Then, with naval support, conquered Hutwaret. They then followed the Hyksos to Sharuhen, a major center of Hyksos power, and laid siege to it for 3 years. After intimidating the surrounding areas, they had won the war.^[20] Being in the middle, the people of Thebes and Upper Egypt were had less influence and were politically "independent". They maintained mostly peaceful relationships with the Nubians and Hyksos, restoring unity to Upper and Lower Egypt.^[1] Beginning The New Kingdom of Egypt.^[20]

See also

• List of pharaohs