Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt

Xerxes I

  First Persian Period   27th Dynasty (First Persian) 486-465 BC

Xerxes I was an Achaemenid Persian king and pharaoh of Egypt, succeeding Darius I and ruling a vast empire from India to the eastern Mediterranean.

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Artaxerxes I

  First Persian Period   27th Dynasty (First Persian) 465-424 BC

Artaxerxes I ruled the Persian Empire and Egypt during the fifth century BC.

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Darius II

  First Persian Period   27th Dynasty (First Persian) 423-404 BC

Darius II ruled Egypt as part of the Persian Empire late in the 27th Dynasty. Increasing instability within the Achaemenid realm encouraged renewed Egyptian resistance, which ultimately resulted in Egypt recovering its independence shortly after his reign.

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Amyrtaeus

  Late Native Period   28th Dynasty 404-399 BC

Amyrtaeus successfully led Egypt away from Persian domination and became the sole ruler of the 28th Dynasty. His accession in 404 BC restored native Egyptian independence, although his dynasty ended with his own relatively brief reign.

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Nepherites I

Regnal Name: Baenre-Merynetjeru

  Late Native Period   29th Dynasty 399-393 BC

Nepherites I founded Egypt's 29th Dynasty after replacing Amyrtaeus and established his capital at Mendes in the eastern Nile Delta. His reign strengthened Egypt's renewed independence while the country continued preparing to resist Persian attempts at reconquest.

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Psammuthes

Regnal Name: Userre-Setepenptah

  Late Native Period   29th Dynasty c. 393 BC

Psammuthes was a short-lived ruler of the 29th Dynasty whose position in the succession remains somewhat uncertain. His brief reign occurred amid internal dynastic rivalry during Egypt's struggle to preserve its independence from the Persian Empire.

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Hakor

Regnal Name: Khnemmaatre-Setepenptah

  Late Native Period   29th Dynasty 393-380 BC

Hakor was the most important ruler of Egypt's 29th Dynasty and successfully maintained Egyptian independence in the face of Persian pressure. He pursued alliances with other opponents of Persia and undertook significant building activity during his comparatively long…

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Nepherites II

  Late Native Period   29th Dynasty c. 380 BC

Nepherites II was the final ruler of Egypt's 29th Dynasty and reigned for only a few months. His overthrow by Nectanebo I brought the Mendesian royal line to an end and established Egypt's final native dynasty.

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Nectanebo I

Regnal Name: Kheperkare

  Late Native Period   30th Dynasty 380-362 BC

Nectanebo I founded Egypt's 30th Dynasty and successfully resisted a major Persian attempt to reconquer the country. His reign was also marked by an ambitious temple-building program that contributed to a flourishing of traditional Egyptian religious architecture.

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Teos

Regnal Name: Irmaatenre

  Late Native Period   30th Dynasty 362-360 BC

Teos succeeded Nectanebo I and launched an ambitious campaign against Persian territory with the support of Greek mercenaries. Heavy taxation and political opposition undermined his position, and he was displaced by his relative Nectanebo II.

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Nectanebo II

Regnal Name: Senedjemibre-Setepenanhur

  Late Native Period   30th Dynasty 360-343 BC

Nectanebo II was the final native pharaoh of ancient Egypt and an energetic patron of temples and traditional Egyptian religion. He resisted Persian invasion for years, but Egypt was eventually reconquered, ending the last period of indigenous pharaonic…

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Artaxerxes III

  Second Persian Period   31st Dynasty (Second Persian) 343-338 BC

Artaxerxes III reconquered Egypt for the Achaemenid Persian Empire after defeating Nectanebo II. His victory ended Egypt's final native dynasty and began the second period of Persian rule, which lasted until the conquest of Alexander the Great.

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