PHARAOH.SEThe Sixth Dynasty is considered to be the last dynasty of the Old Kingdom. According to Manetho, they ruled from Memphis, and since their pyramids were built nearby at Saqqara, this seems very plausible.
According to Manetho, Teti was murdered by his bodyguards, which may have resulted in the brief usurpation by the little-known king Userkara. There is no contemporary evidence. The tomb of the official Weni/Uni in Abydos contains details of a failed conspiracy to assassinate Pepi I.
The power of the King was slowly being eroded, especially by the long reign of Pepi II, which paved the way for officials and the nobility to consolidate their power and influence, while at the same time weakening the power of the king. Court intrigues and polictics of the various officials and nobles resulted in fights for power and influence. This eventually plunged the kingdom into open revolt, resulting in the rapid decline and end of the Old Kingdom.
The confusion in the records of Manetho suggests a breakdown in the central administration at the end of the dynasty, reflected in the monumental tombs of top officials, as well as growing wealth of provincial officals. The kingdom entered the First Intermediate Period, an very obscure century with very little contemporary evidence.
The chronological order
It is important to note that the chronological order of the pharaohs is an evolving subject and should therefore be treated with a certain degree of caution. As new research is conducted, the order may be subject to change, which is a fundamental principle that applies to all Egyptian dynasties.
| № | Pharaoh | Also known as |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teti | – |
| 2 | Userkara | Userkare, Woserkare |
| 3 | Pepi I | Pepy I |
| 4 | Nemtiemsaf I | Nemtyemsaf I, Merenre I |
| 5 | Pepi II | Pepy II, Neferkare |
| 6 | Nemtiemsaf II | Nemtyemsaf II, Merenre II |
The Manethonian Dynasty 6
Eusebius displaced the kings from this dynasty into his Fifth Dynasty, suggesting a corrupted epitome. Africanus epitome of Aegyptiaka was clearly quite different, as can be seen from the differences between the more complete text of Africanus and the missing information of Eusebius.
Sixth dynasty of six kings of Memphis
- Othoes30 years
He was murdered by his bodyguard. - Phios53 years
- Methousouphis7 years
- Phiops, whose reign began at the age of 6, ruled continuously up to his100th year
- Menthesouphis1 year
- Nitokris, the most noble and comely woman of her time, fair in complexion. She built the third pyramid and reigned for12 years
Syncellus:
These 203 years, together with the 1294 years of the first five dynasties mentioned above, give a total of 1497 years
Sixth dynasty
- A woman Nitokris was queen, the most noble and comely woman of her time. Possessed of a fair complexion, she is also said to have built the third pyramid.
- These [rulers] reigned for 203 years
Syncellus:
Together with the aforementioned 1295 years of the first five dynasties, there are1498 years
It should be noted how much less accurate Eusebius is than Africanus in the number of kings he gives, in the omission of names, and in the
dates, although he repeats Africanus' account practically in the same words.
Sixth dynasty
- A woman by the name of Nitovkris ruled next. It is said that she was braver than any man of her day and more beautiful than any woman, fair haired with a ruddy complexion; of her it is said that she built the third pyramid which is [like] a heap [of wheat] in the shape of a hill.
- They reigned for 203 years
New Kingdom king lists
The Sixth Dynasty in the Turin King List and the Abydos Canon both contains 6 kings, while the Saqqara Canon only 4.
| № | Abydos Canon | Saqqara Canon | Turin King List |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | lacuna 6 years, 21 days | ||
| 2 | – | lacuna | |
| 3 | lacuna 20 years | ||
| 4 | lacuna 44 years | ||
| 5 | lacuna 90+x years | ||
| 6 | – | lacuna 1 year, 1 month |