Merenre Nemtyemsaf I

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Merenre

Antyemsaf

A small wooden box inscribed with the names and titles of Merenre Nemtyemsaf I

Pharaoh of Egypt

Reign

2283–2278 BC? 11-13 years, 6th Dynasty

Predecessor

Pepi I Meryre

Successor

Pepi II Neferkare

Royal titulary

Father

Pepi I Meryre

Mother

Ankhesenpepi I

Merenre Nemtyemsaf I (reigned 2283-2278 BC) was the fourth king of the Sixth dynasty of Egypt. His nomen, theophorically referring to Nemty, was formerly read as Antyemsaf, a reading now known to be incorrect.

While Merenre Nemtyemsaf I was once believed to have served as a brief co-regent to his father Pepi I Meryre before ruling in his own right, the publication of the South Saqqara Stone annal document in 1995 by Vassil Dobrev and Michel Baud shows that Merenre directly succeeded his father in power with no interregnum or coregency. The badly damaged document preserves the record of Pepi I's final year--his 25th Count and proceeds immediately to the reign of Merenre. Merenre shared his father's fascination with Nubia and continued to explore deep into the region. He also began a process of royal consolidation, appointing Weni as the first governor of all of Upper Egypt and expanding the power of several other governors. While he was once assumed to have died at an early age, recent archaeological discoveries discount this theory. Two contemporary objects show that his reign lasted more than a decade. His Year after the 5th Count (Year 10 if biannual) is attested in a quarry inscription from Hatnub Inscription No.6, according to Anthony Spalinger. The South Saqqara Stone – which was created during Pepi II's reign – credits Merenre with a minimum reign of 11 to 13 Years.