Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt

The Eleventh Dynasty of ancient Egypt (notated Dynasty XI; c. 2150 BC – c. 1991 BC) is a well-attested group of rulers. Its earlier members before Pharaoh Mentuhotep II are grouped with the four preceding dynasties to form the First Intermediate Period, whereas the later members are considered part of the Middle Kingdom. They all ruled from Thebes in Upper Egypt.

Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt
c. 2150 BC–c. 1991 BC
Funerary stele of Intef II, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Capital	Thebes
Common languages	Egyptian language
Religion	ancient Egyptian religion
Government	Absolute monarchy
Historical era	Bronze Age
• Established	c. 2150 BC
• Disestablished	c. 1991 BC
Preceded by Succeeded by Tenth Dynasty of Egypt Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt

Characteristics

The relative chronology of the 11th Dynasty is well established by contemporary attestations and, except for count Intef and Mentuhotep IV, by the Turin canon.^[1]

Manetho's statement that Dynasty XI consisted of 16 kings, who reigned for 43 years is contradicted by contemporary inscriptions and the evidence of the Turin King List, whose combined testimony establishes that this kingdom consisted of seven kings who ruled for a total of 143 years.^[2] However, his testimony that this dynasty was based at Thebes is verified by the contemporary evidence. It was during this dynasty that all of ancient Egypt was united under the Middle Kingdom.

This dynasty traces its origins to a nomarch of Thebes, "Intef the Great, son of Iku", who is mentioned in a number of contemporary inscriptions. However, his immediate successor Mentuhotep I is considered the first king of this dynasty.

An inscription carved during the reign of Wahankh Intef II shows that he was the first of this dynasty to claim to rule over the whole of Egypt, a claim which brought the Thebans into conflict with the rulers of Herakleopolis Magna, Dynasty X. Intef undertook several campaigns northwards, and captured the important nome of Abydos.

Warfare continued intermittently between the Thebean and Heracleapolitan dynasts until the 14th regnal year of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II, when the Herakleopolitans were defeated, and this dynasty could begin to consolidate their rule. The rulers of Dynasty XI reasserted Egypt's influence over her neighbors in Africa and the Near East. Mentuhotep II sent renewed expeditions to Phoenicia to obtain cedar. Sankhkara Mentuhotep III sent an expedition from Coptos south to the land of Punt.

The reign of its last king, and thus the end of this dynasty, is something of a mystery. Contemporary records refer to "seven empty years" following the death of Mentuhotep III, which correspond to the reign of Nebtawyra Mentuhotep IV. Modern scholars identify his vizier Amenemhat with Amenemhat I, the first king of Dynasty XII, as part of a theory that Amenemhat became king as part of a palace coup. The only certain details of Mentuhotep's reign was that two remarkable omens were witnessed at the quarry of Wadi Hammamat by the vizier Amenemhat.

Pharaohs of the Eleventh Dynasty

Pharaohs of Dynasty XI

Pharaoh	Horus name	Image	Reign	Burial	Consort(s)	Comments
Intef the Elder	(unknown)		Around 2150 BC			Iry-pat, "the Count", probably the same person as "Intef, son of Iku".^[1] Theban nomarch serving an unnamed king.
Mentuhotep I	Tepya		2134 BC – ?		Neferu I	Tepy-a, "the ancestor"
Intef I	Sehertawy		?–2118 BC	El-Tarif, Thebes		Son of Mentuhotep I
Intef II	Wahankh		2118–2069 BC	El-Tarif, Thebes	Neferukayet?	Brother of Intef I
Intef III	Nakhtnebtepnefer		2069–2061 BC	El-Tarif, Thebes	Iah	Son of Intef II
Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II	Seankhibtawy; Netjerihedjet; Smatawy		2061–2010 BC	Deir el-Bahari	Tem Neferu II Ashayet Henhenet Kawit Kemsit Sadeh	Son of Intef III and Iah. Reunifies Egypt starting the Middle Kingdom.
Sankhkare Mentuhotep III	Sankhtawyef		2010–1998 BC	Deir el-Bahari^[3]		Son of Mentuhotep II and Tem
Nebtawyre Mentuhotep IV	Nebtawy		1998–1991 BC			Son of Queen Imi

 

Abydos King List, Royal cartouches 57 through 61

 

11th Dynasty model of Egyptian soldiers from the tomb of Mesehti.

 

11th Dynasty model of Nubian archers from a tomb in Asyut.

See also

• Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt family tree

Notes

1. Schneider, Thomas (2006-12-30). Hornung, Erik; Krauss, Rolf; Warburton, David A. (eds.). Ancient Egyptian Chronology. pp. 160–161. ISBN 9789047404002. (mirror)
2. Beckerath, J. V. (1962). "The Date of the End of the Old Kingdom of Egypt". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 21 (2): 140–147. doi:10.1086/371680. S2CID 161488411.
3. Wilkinson, Richard H. (2000). The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson. p. 37, 172, 173, 181. ISBN 9780500051009.

External links

•   Media related to 11th dynasty of Egypt at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by Tenth Dynasty

Dynasty of Egypt 2134 − 1991 BC

Succeeded by Twelfth Dynasty