VI^th Dynasty 2336 - 2175
( Memphis )

      According to Manetho, the VI^th Dynasty kings came from Memphis. Appearances of splendor were preserved under Dynasty VI rulers, who continued tradition of building magnificent funerary complexes adorned inside with hieroglyphic texts. But the first signs of social and political decay emerge. The right of succession to the official positions acquired by provincial administrators contributed vastly to the fall of central government. In last years of week and doting pharaoh Pepi I and his heirs rule, anarchy reached its heyday.
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2336 - 2306
2374-2354 (Redford)
2345-2323 (Shaw)
2323-2291 (Allen)
2322-2312 (von Beckerath)
2318-2300 (Franke)
2311-2281 (Malek)

Teti

• Hr sHtp-tAwi

• sHtp-nbti , Htp-nbti

• smA-bik-nbw (bik-nbw smA)

• ... ...

• tti _{(Aby.34, Sak.33)} , ttimri.n-ptH , sA-ra tti , sA-ra ttii , Othoes _(Man)

Hr sHtp tA.wi
Horus Seheteptawi (Horus Who Makes The Peace At The Two Lands)

sHtp nb.ti
Sehetep Nebti (The Two Ladies Peace)

Htp nb.ti
Hotep Nebti (The Two Ladies [Are At] Peace)

bik nbw smA ; bik nbw
Sema Bik-Nebw (The Golden Falcon Who Unites ; The Golden Falcon)

tti
Teti

tti mr n ptH
Teti Merienptah (Teti Beloved Of Ptah)

sA ra tti
Sa Re Teti (Son Of Re Teti)

         Through marriage with daugter of Unis – princess Iput, the mother of Pepi I and princess Seshseshat- wife of vizier Mereruka, he acquired rights to the throne. According to Manetho the ruler was murdered, also complicated political circumstances at royal court at that times would confirm this. Although there is no clear evidence for that, still most of authorities (W.Helck, H.Goedicke,, J.Vercoutter, N.Grimal) support this idea, strengthened to some extent by fact of Userkare’s accession to the throne after the ruler’s death and just after that of the king Teti’s son –Pepi I. Menetho assigned to Teti 30 (or 33) years of rule, Turin Canon mentions 6 months and 21 days of rule. However, it is not clear if that applies to Teti’s period of rule. He sent few times military expeditions to southern Kanaan, his traces were found in Byblos. Burial place of the ruler was pyramid at Saqqara located north from pyramid of Userkaf.

2306 - 2303
2323-2301 (Shaw)
2312-2310 (von Beckerath)
2300 (Franke)
2291-2289 (Allen)
 

Weserkare

• ... ...

• ... ...

• ... ...

• wsr-kA-ra _(Aby.35)

• ... ...

wsr kA ra
Weserkare (The Ka Of Re Is Strong)

        The fact that name of Userkare appears between rule of Teti and his son Pepi I may indicate that there was either co-regency in times of Pepi’s minority or Userkare overtook the rule illegally. First theory that has been spread by N. Grimal says that Userkare shared regent rule with Teti’s widow, the queen Iput in behalf of young successor to the throne. Second theory populated by W. Helck points at violent overtaking of rule. Manetho mentions murder of king Teti and this would corroborate the second theory, it does not exclude the first possibility, though. Also fact that in times of Pepi I name of Userkare’s vizier had been removed and the usurper’s cartouche was replaced. With king Teti cartouche would speak for the theory of usurper’s rule. In P. Munro opinion Userkare’s mother was queen Chentkaus. There is only few artifacts left including some seals of Userkare, however both his name and fact of holding rule are confirmed by Turin Canon and Table from Abydos

2306 - 2256
2354-2310 (Redford)
2321-2287 (Shaw)
2310-2260 (von Beckerath)
2295-2250 (Franke)
2289-2255 (Allen)
2280-2243 (Malek)

Pepi I

• Hr mry-tAwy

• mry-Xt-nbti

• bikw-nbw

• nfr-sA-Hr , mry-ra _(Aby.36)

• ppy _(Sak.34) (pipi ?) , sA-ra pipi , sA-HtHr-nbt-iwnt pipi , sA-itm-nb-jwnw-(sA-)HtHr-nbt-iwnt pipi , Phios _(Man)

Hr mry tAwy
Horus Merytawi - Horus Who Loves The Two Lands
or: Horus Whom The Two Countries Love)

nb.ti mri X.t
Merykhet Nebti (The Two Ladies, Beloved Of Body)

bik.w nbw(.w)
Bikw-Nebw (The Golden Falcons)

nfr sA Hr
Nefersahor (Horus Is Perfect In Protection)

mry ra
Merire (Beloved Of Re)

Saqqara Table
(Nomen)

ppy
Pepi

mry ra
Merire (Beloved Of Re)

sA ra ppy
Sa Re Pepi (Pepi Son Of Re)

sA Hw.t-Hr nb.ti iwn.t ppy
(Son Of Hathor The Lady Of Dendara, Pepi)

sA (i)tm nb iwnw Hw.t-Hr nb.t iwn.t ppy
(Son Of Atum, The Lord Of Dendara And Hathor, The Lady Of Dendara, Pepi)

      Turin Canon gives to him 20 years of rule and Manetho – 53 years. Surviving data mantion 21th and 25th population count and a levy. Assuming the two-year rhytm of registers this suggests at least 50 years of rule. However opinions vary among historians: Vercoutter – 44, Beckerath, Grimal – more than 40, Hornung – 32, Helck – 20 years. Burial place - pyramid at southern Saqqara. Pepi I was son of Teti and queen Ipuet. Numerous war campaigns into Sinai and south Palestine. The ruler held also a garrison in Nubia and lead policy of contests. Some penalty expeditions to Asia, commanded by Weni, who was a head of many-thousand army, assured peace along eastern boarders. In a period of prosperity trade expeditions to Punt take place. He built temples at Tanis, Bubastis, Abydos, Dendera and Koptos.  At least one court conspiracy in times of his reign is known to us. One of his wives was queen Ankhesenpepi I (Ankhesmerire I), the mother of Namtiemsaf I. Second wife, her sister, queen Ankhesenpepi II (Ankhesmerire II) was mother of Pepi II.

2256 - 2249
2310-2300 (Redford)
2287-2278 (Shaw)
2260-2254 (von Beckerath)
2250-2245 (Franke)
2255-2246 (Allen)
2242-2237 (Malek)

Nemtiemsaf I  ( Merenre I )

• Hr anx-xaw

• anx-xaw-nbti

• nbwi-nbw , bikwi-nbw

• mri.n-ra _{(Aby.37, Sak.35)}  

• nmti-m-sA.f , Menthusufis _(Man)

Hr anx xa.w
Horus Ankhkhaw (Horus Living Of Apparitions)

nb.ty anx xa.w
Ankhkhaw Nebti (Two Ladies Living Of Apparitions)

bik wy nbw(.wy)
Bikwi-Nebw (Two Golden Falcons)

mr n ra
Merenre (Beloved Of Re)

nmty m sA=f
Nemtiemsaf (Nemty Is His Protection)

2249 - 2185
2300-2206 (Redford)
2278-2184 (Shaw)
2254-2194 (von Beckerath)
2245-2180 (Franke)
2246-2152 (Allen)
2236-2143 (Malek)

Pepi II

• Hr nTri-xaw

• nTri-xaw-nbti

• sxm-bik-nbw (bik-nbw sxm)

• nfr-kA-ra _{(Aby.38, Sak.36)}

• ppy (pipi ?) , sA-ra-pipi , pipi nfr-kA-ra , Phiops _(Man)

Hr nTr xa.w
Horus Netjerikhaw (Horus Divine Of Apparition)

nb.ty nTr xa.w
Nebti Netjerikhaw (The Two Ladies Divine Of Apparition)

sxm bik nbw
Sekhem Bik-Nebw (The Golden Falcon Is Powerful)

nfr kA ra
Neferkare (Beautiful Is The Soul Of Re)

ppy
Pepi

sA ra ppy nfr kA ra
Sa Re Pepi Neferkare (Son Of Re, Pepi, Ka Of Re Is Beautiful)

sA ra ppy
Sa Re Pepi (Son Of Re Pepi)

        Step-brother of Nemtiemsaf I. Turin Canon assigns to him 90 years of rule. Ascending the throne he was only 6 years old, so that the rule in his behalf was held by his mother and Pepi I widow, the queen Ankhnesmerire. Some scholars (Beckerath, Vercoutter) deny such a long period of rule. Their assumptions they support comparing to age of the ruler’s contemporaries, however it is generally believed that Pepi II died aged 100, after the longest rule noted ever in Egyptian history. Some expeditions to quarries at Hat-Nub and into Sinai were recorded. Also war campaigns to Nubia, Libya and Asia and trade expeditions to Punt were undertaken. Royal wives were: Ankhesenpepi, Neith, Wedjebten and Iput II. Burial place – pyramid in Southern Saqqara.

2185-2184
c. 2206 (Redford)
2194-2193 (von Beckerath)
2180 (Franke)
c. 2152 (Allen)
2142-2141 (Malek)

Nemtiemsaf II  ( Merenre II )

• Hr s...tAwi

• ... ...

• ... ...

• ... ...

• [sA nsw]-smsw nmti-m-sA.f , mri.n-ra DfA-m-sA.f _(Aby.39) , Mentesuphis _(Man)

nmty m sA=f
Nemtiemsaf (Nemty Is His Protection)

mry.n ra DfA m sA.f
Merenre Djefaemsaf

Turin Canon
(Prenomen)

nt-iqrty
Nitekreti (Nitocris)

       Queen known to us from later records in Turin Canon and Manetho. Unfortunately documentation in form of contemporary to her artifacts which could confirm her historical existence are missing. Legends passed by Manetho should be considered with care. Turin Canon assigns to her 2 years, 1 month and 1 day of rule while Manetho – 12 years and Erastotenes – 6 years.