Thebes and Tanis
Following the death of Rameses XI, control in Egypt was divided by a line of kings in the north and a sequence of army commanders who were also high priests at Thebes in the south. Smendes (r.c.1069-c.1043 BC), founded the twenty-first dynasty in the north and made Tanis his capital.
After the reigns of Smendes and Amenemnisu (r.c.1043-c.1039 BC) the throne passed to Psusennes-I (r.c.1039-c.991 BC), son of the Theban commander Pinudjem-I (r.c.1070-c.1046 BC), while his brother Menkheperra (r.c.1045-c.992 BC) was in control of Upper Egypt. Thus for a time the whole of Egypt was governed by the Theban line. With accession of Osorkon the Elder (r.c.984-c.978 BC) a new family took control of the Delta, but eventually a Theban high priest again ruled the north as Psusennes II (r.c.959-c.945 BC).
Libyans
The Meshwesh were a Libyan tribe from Cyrenaica. Although the major incursions by Meshwesh and Libu had been repulsed by Merneptah and Rameses III, the settlement of Libyans in the Delta continued. The twenty-second dynasty, also known as the Bubastite or Libyan Dynasty, was founded by the chief of the Meshwesh, Sheshonq-I (r.c.945-c.924 BC). Bubastis was Sheshonq’s home city.
Sheshonq for a time managed to bring Egypt under the control of one pharaoh by placing his sons in key positions. He made his son Nimlot the military commander of Herakleopolis and his second son Iuput the high priest of Amun. After more than a century of absence by Egypt in Levantine politics, in c.925 BC Sheshonq led major expeditions against Israel and Judah and the principal towns of southern Palestine, including Gaza and Megiddo. After Sheshonq’s death, relations with the Levant appear to have returned to purely commercial contacts, notably with Byblos.
During the reign of Takelot II (r.c.850-c.825 BC) a civil war broke out and after this the principle of a single ruler broke down. During the reign of Sheshonq III (r.c.825-c.773 BC), Pendubastis (r.c.818-c.793 BC) established the twenty-third dynasty at Leontopolis in the central Delta. Around 770 BC a line of chiefs emerged at Sais in the western Delta and eventually formed the twenty-fourth dynasty under their first king Tefnakht (r.c.727-c.720 BC).
Nubians
Around this time Nubia began to be ruled by a dynasty from Napata, near the fourth cataract. According to later tradition this kingdom was founded by Alara (r.c.780-c.760 BC). His successor, Kashta (r.c.760-c.747 BC), the first ruler of Kush of whom contemporary records survive, controlled the area up to the first cataract. Piye (r.c.747-c.716 BC), son of Kashta, continued the northward expansion of Nubia and took Thebes under his protection. Tefnakht, who had taken control of the western Delta and the Memphite area, was extending his power over the towns and villages of Upper Egypt. Piye’s forces marched northwards receiving the capitulation of most of the towns and villages, but Memphis had to be taken by storm. Piye received the submission of Tefnakht and other local rulers, and then returned to Napata.
In the north the local dynasts were left in control of their provinces, and under Tefnakht and his successor Bakenrenef (r.c.720-c.715 BC) the twenty-fourth dynasty resumed its expansion. Piye’s successor Shabaqo (r.c.716-c.702 BC) reconquered Egypt. He became king, resident in Egypt and can be regarded as the true founder.
Assyrians
Conflict with the Assyrians began when an Egyptian army advanced into southern Palestine in support of Hezekiah of Judah (r.c.729-c.687 BC) against the forces of Sennacherib (r.705-681 BC) at Eltekeh in 701 BC. The Egyptian army eventually withdrew and Sennacherib had to turn to face a renewed threat from Babylonia.
In 673 BC the first Assyrian attack on Egypt was repulsed; but in 671 BC the second, led by Esarhaddon (r.680-669 BC), was successful. Memphis was sacked and Taharqa (r.c.690-c.664 BC) had to flee to the south. Having given their support to Taharqa’s northern rivals the Assyrians decided to leave, choosing to rule Egypt indirectly through local collaborators.
When the Assyrians had gone Taharqa regained control of Egypt. Ashurbanipal (r.668-631 BC) invaded Egypt in 667 BC and Taharqa again had to flee to the south. When the Kushites of Upper Nubia surrendered, the Assyrians left again.
When the northern kings rebelled once more, Ashurbanipal returned and executed most of the ruling class of Sais, Mendes and Pelusium. Necho-I (r.672-644 BC), the first attested king of the twenty-sixth (Saite) dynasty, was spared and confirmed as king of Sais, and his son Psamtek-I (r.664-610 BC) was made king of Athribis. Taharqa’s nephew, Tanutamani (r.c.664-c.656 BC) having been crowned king of Napata, resolved to reconquer Egypt. He swept north taking Aswan, Thebes and Memphis. Necho was killed in battle. In 663 BC the Assyrians returned. Thebes was sacked and Tanutamani abandoned Egypt.
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