THE SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD

1782 - 1570 BC

 

 

Dynasty 13:

 

Wegaf
Ameny Intef IV
Hor
 Sobekhotep II
Khendjer
(Userkare)
Wegaf cartouche
Ameny Intef IV / Amenemhet V
Sobekhotep II / Amenemhet VI
The true chronology of Dynasty 13 is hard to ascertain but the dynasty lasted for about 70 years, through 10 kings. The burial of Hor was found at Dahshur and his reign was thought to have lasted only a few months. A pyramid at Saqqara has been identified with Khendjer.

 

Sobekhotep III
Neferhotep I
Sobekhotep IV

Ay
(Merneferre)

Neferhotep II
Sobekhotep III cartouche
statue of Neferhotep I
statue of Sobekhotep IV
Ay Cartouche
cartouche of Neferhotep II
Throughout this dynasty, the country remained relatively stable according to records of the Nile level during this time. Several large red granite statues of Sobekhotep have survived and a statue of Neferhotep was recently unearthed at Luxor. Each of the kings of this dynasty reigned only for a short while.

 

Dynasty 14 :

 

Nehesy
One of the few documented rulers of this dynasty. Thought to have been the son of an Egyptian administrator who took over the royal throne. During this time, the Nile delta was suffering from poor harvests ans famine, which weakened the people and allowed the Hyksos to take over the country.

 

 

Dynasty 15:

 

Sheshi
Yakubher
Khyan
Apepi I
Apepi II
(Khamudi)
Sheshi cartouche
Yakubher cartouche
Khyan cartouche
Apepi I cartouche
  

The rulers of the fiftenth dynasty were the Hyksos. Egypt was taken over by the immigrant nomadic Hyksos, who probably came from southern Canaan or Syria. The conquest of Memphis by Sheshi in 1674 BC began their dynasty which lasted until they were expelled in 1567. They did however respect the Egyptian religion and laws and culture, whilst introducing some of their own gods.
They maintained trade relations with the Minoans and Babylonians and also, being great warriors, introduced the horse and charriot to the Egyptians.
Apepi seems to have had the longest reign but towards the end of his time as king, the Egyptian 17th dynasty started war against him. Apepi formed an alliance with the Kushites but unsuccessfully fought against Tao II even though Tao was killed in battle. The fight was taken over by Kamose who forced the Hyksos to retreat northwards to Avaris.
Eventually, Apepi II was forced to withdraw from Avaris and leave the Delta.

 

 

Dynasty 16:

 

Anather
Yakobaam
Anather
The two rulers of the 16th dynasty were probably only working for the Hyksos as their names do not appear in cartouches

 

Dynasty 17:

 

Sobekemsaf II
Intef VII
Tao I
Tao II
Kamose
Sobekemsaf II cartouche
Intef VII cartouche
Tao I cartouche
Tao II cartouche

Kamose


Kamose cartouche

Dynasty 17 kings were based at Thebes and controlled southern Egypt independantly from the Hyksos in the north. After a peaceful hundred years of a divided Egypt, they started a war to reunite Upper and Lower Egypt, which lasted 20 years. There are probably a few more kings from around this time but their chronology is unclear.Sobekemsaf II was thought to have been on the throne for 7 years. A relief at Karnak shows him making offerings to war god Mentu-Re. Tao II was the king who started the rebellion against the Hyksos but was unfortunately killed in battle. The war was continued by his son Kamose who regained much territory before he died after only four years in power. The fight was taken up by his brother Ahmose who eventually liberated Egypt from the Hyksos after a total of 25 years civil war and became the founder of the first dynasty of the "New Kingdom".

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