List of monarchs of Kush

This is an incomplete list for rulers with the title of Qore (the ruling royal) or Kandake (mother of the future ruler) of the Kingdom of Kush. Some of the dates are only rough estimates. While the chronological list is well known, only a few monarchs have definite dates.

From left to right, statues of the 7th century BC kings Tantamani, Taharqa, Senkamanisken, Tantamani, Aspelta, Anlamani and Senkamanisken. Now in the Kerma Museum.

These include those leaders who also ruled Ancient Egypt and those who ruled during famous invasions or famous trade expeditions. The others are based on estimates made by Fritz Hintze. The estimates are based on the average length of the reigns, which were then shortened or lengthened based on the size and splendour of the monarch's tomb, the assumption being that monarchs who reigned longer had more time and resources to build their burial sites. An added complication is that in recent years, there have been disputes as to which monarch belongs to which tomb.

Dates are definite and accurate for the Kushite rulers of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt, when Egypt was invaded and absorbed by the Kushite Empire. The dates are also certain for kings Aspelta, Arakamani, Nastasen, and for the Kandakes Shanakdakhete, Amanirenas, Amanishakheto, Amanitore, and Amanikhatashan.

The early part of the chronology is incomplete. The graves and pyramid burials in Sudan consist of remains of at least fourteen[1] monarchs of the Kushite Empire preceding Piankhi, the earliest tomb of which dates from about 1020 BCE. Two of these are known: Alara and Kashta, who immediately preceded Piankhi. It also is possible that another of the burials may have been of Aserkamani, who was living in 950 BCE and who carried out expeditions in Egypt and along the Mediterranean coast of North Africa.

Pre-Napatan period

Napatan period

The period starting with Kashta and ending with Malonaqen is sometimes called the Napatan period. During this period, the seat of government and the royal palace were in Napata, and Meroë was a provincial city. The kings and queens are buried in Nuri and El-Kurru.[2]

The numbering of the kings is based on László Török's The kingdom of Kush: handbook..

First phase

Kings of Nubia
Direct ancestors of the 25th dynasty
№	name of King	image	date	Burial	Queen(s)
//	King Alara		c. 795 to 752 BCE	Kurru 9?	Queen Kasaqa (Kurru 23)
1	King Kashta		c. 765–752 BCE	Kurru 8	Queen Pebatjma (Kurru 7?)

Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt

King Piye invades Egypt, and for seven decades, Kushites rule Egypt.

**Kings of Nubia and Pharaohs of Egypt**
№	name of King	date	Burial	Queen(s)
2	Pharaoh Piye (Piankhi)	744-714 BCE	Kurru 17	Queen Tabiry (Kurru 53) Queen Abar (Nuri 53?) Queen Khensa (Kurru 4) Queen Peksater (Kurru 54) Nefrukekashta (Kurru 52)
3	Pharaoh Shebitku	714-705 BCE	Kurru 15	Queen Qalhata (Kurru 5) Queen Mesbat Queen Tabekenamun?
4	Pharaoh Shabaka	705–690 BCE	Kurru 18	Queen Arty (Kurru 6)
5	Pharaoh Taharqa	690–664 BCE	Nuri 1	Queen Takahatenamun (Nuri 21?) Queen Atakhebasken (Nuri 36) Queen Naparaye (Kurru 3) Queen Tabekenamun?
6	Pharaoh Tantamani	664–653 BCE	Kurru 16	Queen Piankharty Queen [..]salka Queen Malaqaye? (Nuri 59)

Second phase

The Kushites no longer control Egypt. The Kings rule over Napata and Meroe as before the conquest of Egypt.

**Kings of Nubia (Napata)**
№	name of King	date	Burial	Queen(s)
7	King Atlanersa	653–640 BCE	Nuri 20?	Queen Khaliset Queen Maletaral (Nuri 41) Queen Yeturow (Nuri 53) Queen Peltasen Queen Taba[..]
8	King Senkamanisken	640–620 BCE	Nuri 3	Queen Nasalsa (Nuri 24) Queen Amanimalel? (Nuri 22?)
9	King Anlamani	620–600 BCE	Nuri 6	Queen Madiqen ? (Nuri 27)
10	King Aspelta	600–580 BCE	Nuri 8	Queen Mediken? (Nuri 27) Queen Henuttakhebit (Nuri 28) Queen Asata (Nuri 42) Queen Artaha (Nuri 58) (not certain) Meqemale (Nuri 40) (not certain)
11	King Aramatle-qo	568–555 BCE	Nuri 9	Queen Atmataka (Nuri 55) Queen Piankhher Queen Maletasen (Nuri 39) Queen Amanitakaye (Nuri 26) Queen Akheqa (Nuri 38)
12	King Malonaqen	555–542 BCE	Nuri 5	Queen Tagtal (nuri 45)

Meroitic period

First phase

The Kings ruled over Napata and Meroe. The seat of government and the royal palace are in Meroe. The Main temple of Amun is located in Napata, but the temple at Meroe is under construction. Kings and many queens are buried in Nuri, some queens are buried in Meroe, in the West Cemetery.[2]

**Kings of Nubia (Meroe)**
№	name of King	date	Burial	Queen(s)
13	King Analmaye	542–538 BCE	Nuri 18
14	King Amaninatakilebte	538–519 BCE	Nuri 10
15	King Karkamani	519–510 BCE	Nuri 7
16	King Amaniastabarqa	510–487 BCE	Nuri 2
17	King Siaspiqa	487–468 BCE	Nuri 4	Queen Piankhqew-qa? (Nuri 28)
18	King Nasakhma	468–463 BCE	Nuri 8	Queen Saka'aye? (Nuri 31)
19	King Malewiebamani	463–435 BCE	Nuri 11	Queen Akhrasan ? (Nuri 32)
20	King Talakhamani	435–431 BCE	Nuri 16
21	King Amanineteyerike	431–405 BCE	Nuri 12	Queen Atasamale?
22	King Baskakeren	405–404 BCE	Nuri 17
23	King Harsiotef	404–369 BCE	Nuri 13	Queen Batahaliye Queen Pelkha Henutirdis ?
24	King (unknown Qore)	369–350 BCE	Kurru 1
25	King Akhraten	350–335 BCE	Nuri 14
26	King Amanibakhi	2nd half 4th century BCE	??
27	King Nastasen	335–315 BCE	Nuri 15	Queen Sakhmakh (Nuri 56?)

Second phase

The seat of government and the royal palace are in Meroe. Kings and many queens are buried in Meroe, in the South Cemetery. Napata's only importance is the Amun Temple.[2]

**Kings of Nubia (Meroe)**
№	name of King	date	Burial	Queen(s)
28	King Aktisanes	Early 3rd century BCE	Barkal 11 or 14	Kandake Alakhebasken
29	King Aryamani	first half 3rd century BCE	Barkal 11 or 14
30	King Kash(...)	first half 3rd century BCE	Barkal 15?
31	King Piankhi-yerike-qa	first half 3rd century BCE	??
32	King Sabrakamani	first half 3rd century BCE	Barkal 7

Third phase

The seat of government and the royal palace are in Meroe. Kings are buried in Meroe, in the North Cemetery, and Queens in West Cemetery. Napata's only importance is the Amun Temple. Meroe flourishes and many building projects are undertaken.[2]

**Kings of Nubia (Meroe)**
№	name of King	date	Burial	Queen(s)
33	King Arakamani (Arkamani-qo, Ergamenês)	270–260 BCE	Beg. S 6
34	King Amanislo	260–250 BCE	Beg. S 6
35	King Amantekha	mid-3rd century BCE	Beg. S 4
36	King Sheshep-ankh-en-Amun Setepenre	mid/late 3rd century BCE	??
37	King Arnekhamani	mid/late 3rd century BCE	Beg. N 53
38	King Arqamani	3rd/2nd century BCE	Beg. N 7
39	King Adikhalamani	2nd century BCE	Beg. N 9
40	King [...]mr[...]t	2nd century BCE	Beg. N 8
41	King (unknown Qore)	2nd century BCE	Beg. N 10
42	Queen Shanakdakhete	c. 170-150 BCE[3]	Beg. N 11
43	King Tanyidamani	late 2nd century BCE /early 1st century BCE	Beg. N 12?
44	King Naqyrinsan	early 1st century BCE	Beg. N 13
45	King (unknown Qore)	early 1st century BCE	Beg. N 20
46	King (unknown Qore)	middle 1st century BCE	Barkal 1 ?
47	King Aqrakamani	c. 29–25 BCE	??
48	King Teriteqas	c. 29–25 BCE	Barkal 2
49	Queen Amanirenas	c. 40-10 BCE[4]	Barkal 4
50	Queen Amanishakheto	c. 10 BCE-1 CE[4]	Beg. N 6
51	Queen Nawidemak	early 1st century CE	Barkal 6?
52	King Amanikhabale	middle 1st century CE	Beg. N 2?
53a	King Natakamani	mid/late 1st century CE	Beg. N 22	Queen Amanitore (coregent)
53b	Queen Amanitore	mid/late 1st century CE	Beg. N 1

Crown princes from the time of Natakamani and Amanitore

Arikhankharer
Arikakahtani

Fourth phase

Twilight of the Meroitic Culture. Kings are buried in Meroe, in the North Cemetery, and Queens in West Cemetery. In 350 CE Meroe is destroyed by Axum.[2]

List and dates from The Cambridge history of Africa, by J.D. Fage, and R.A. Oliver and from The kingdom of Kush: the Napatan and Meroitic empires, by Derek A. Welsby. The order in which the kings and queens ruled and dates are not consistent between authors. Approximate dates have been given.

**Kings of Nubia (Meroe)**
name of King	date	Burial
King Shorkaror	1st century CE	Beg. N 10
King Pisakar	1st century CE	Beg. N 15
King Amanitaraqide	ca. 40–50[5]	Beg. N 16
King Amanitenmemide	1st century CE	Beg. N 17
Queen Amanikhatashan	c. 62–85 CE[4]	Beg. N 18
King Teritnide	1st century CE	Beg. N 40
King Tamelerdeamani	2nd century CE	Beg. N 34 or 27
King Adeqatali	2nd century CE	Beg. N 41
King Takideamani	2nd century CE	Beg. N 29
King Tarekeniwal	2nd century CE	Beg. N 19
King Amanikhalika	2nd century CE	Beg. N 32
King Aritenyesbokhe	2nd century CE	Beg. N 30
King Amanikhareqerem	2nd century CE	Beg. N 37
King Teritedakhatey	early 3rd century CE	Beg. N 38
King Aryesbokhe	early 3rd century CE	Beg. N 36
King Teqorideamani	3rd century CE	Beg. N 28
King Yesbokheamani	3rd century CE	Beg. N 24
Prince? Maleqorobar	c. 300
King Talakhidamani	c. 300
Queen Patrapeamani (de:Patrapeamani)	1st half of AD 4th century[6]
Queen Amanipilade	c. 308–320

(Unknown sequence thereafter)

References

Kushite Kingdom Archived 2008-03-08 at the Wayback Machine by Brian Yare (14)
Dows Dunham, Notes on the History of Kush 850 B. C.-A. D. 350, American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 50, No. 3 (July - September, 1946), pp. 378-388
Broida, Marian (1 November 2005). Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors: An Activity Guide. Chicago Review Press. p. 1-2. ISBN 978-1-61374-039-2.
"The Candaces of Meroe". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
Gerharz, Rudolf (1994). Jebel Moya (in German). Akademie Verlag. p. 223. ISBN 978-3-05-002147-8.
Török, László (2015-11-02). The Kingdom of Kush: Handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization. BRILL. p. 206. ISBN 978-90-04-29401-1.

Sources

Stewart, John (1989). African States and Rulers: An Encyclopedia of Native, Colonial, and Independent States and Rulers Past and Present. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. p. 395 Pages. ISBN 0-89950-390-X.

External links

The Rise of the Kushite Kingdom by Brian Yare

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[1] Kushite Kingdom Archived 2008-03-08 at the Wayback Machine by Brian Yare (14)

[Dunham-2] Dows Dunham, Notes on the History of Kush 850 B. C.-A. D. 350, American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 50, No. 3 (July - September, 1946), pp. 378-388

[3] Broida, Marian (1 November 2005). Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors: An Activity Guide. Chicago Review Press. p. 1-2. ISBN 978-1-61374-039-2.

[Candance-4] "The Candaces of Meroe". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 26 December 2021.

[5] Gerharz, Rudolf (1994). Jebel Moya (in German). Akademie Verlag. p. 223. ISBN 978-3-05-002147-8.

[6] Török, László (2015-11-02). The Kingdom of Kush: Handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization. BRILL. p. 206. ISBN 978-90-04-29401-1.

List of monarchs of Kush

Pre-Napatan period

Napatan period

First phase

Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt

Second phase

Meroitic period

First phase

Second phase

Third phase

Fourth phase

See also

References

Sources

External links