Viceroy of Kush
The former Kingdom of Kerma in Nubia, was a province of ancient Egypt from the 16th century BCE to eleventh century BCE. During this period, the polity was ruled by a viceroy who reported directly to the Egyptian Pharaoh. It is believed that the Egyptian 25th Dynasty were descendants of these viceroys, and so were the dynasties that ruled independent Kush until the fourth century CE.
The 'King's Son of Kush' ruled the area north of the Third Cataract. The area was divided into Wawat in the north, centered at Aniba, and Kush in the south, centered at Soleb during the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt and then Amara West. The title lapsed under Paiankh. Pinudjem II named one of his wives 'Superintendent of Southern Foreign Lands and Viceroy Kush'.
List of Viceroys
Below is a list of viceroys mainly based on a list assembled by George Reisner.Name | Dynasty | King | Comment |
Ahmose called Si-Tayit | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Ahmose I | Possibly the first Viceroy. |
Ahmose called Turo | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Amenhotep I and Thutmose I | Son of Ahmose called Si-Tayit |
Seni | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Thutmose I and Thutmose II | |
Penre | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Hatshepsut | |
Inebny called Amenemnekhu | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Hatshepsut and Thutmose III | First attested in year 18, and serving until about year 22. |
Nehi | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Thutmose III | Attested in year 22 or 23 of Tuthmosis III. |
Usersatet | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Amenhotep II | |
Amenhotep | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Thutmose IV and Amenhotep III | |
Merymose | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Amenhotep III | |
Tuthmosis | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Akhenaten | |
Amenhotep called Huy | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Tutankhamun | Buried in TT40 |
Paser I | Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Ay and Horemheb | Son of the Viceroy Amenhotep called Huy |
Amenemopet | Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Seti I and Ramesses II | Son of Paser and grandson of Amenhotep Huy |
Yuny | Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses II | Served as Head of the stable under Sety I and was later promoted to Viceroy. |
Heqanakht | Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses II | |
Paser II | Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses II | Son of the High Priest of Min and Isis named Minmose. Related to the family of Parennefer called Wennefer. |
Huy | Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses II | He may have served either before or after Setau. Huy was also Mayor of Tjarw and a royal messenger to the Hatti. According to an inscription, he escorted Queen Maathorneferure from Hatti to Egypt. |
Setau | Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses II | |
Anhotep | Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses II | Buried in TT300. |
Mernudjem | Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt | possibly a Viceroy under Ramesses II | |
Khaemtir | Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Merneptah | |
Messuy | Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Merneptah, perhaps Amenmesse, and Seti II | |
Seti | Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt | Siptah | |
Hori I | Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt | Setnakhte | Son of Kama. |
Hori II | Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses III and Ramesses IV | Son of Hori I. |
Siese | Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses VI | |
Nahihor | Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses VII and perhaps Ramesses VIII | |
Wentawat | Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses IX | Son of Nahihor |
Ramessesnakht | Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses IX | Son of Wentawat. |
Pinehesy | Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses XI | Played a role in suppressing the High Priest of Amun Amenhotep. |
Setmose | Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses XI | |
Piankh | Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses XI | Piankh was also the High Priest of Amun. |
Herihor | Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt | Ramesses XI | - |
Akheperre | Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt | Menkheperre | The el-Hibeh archive mentions Akheperre who is a Third Priest of Amun and a Viceroy of Kush. |
Neskhons | Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt | Siamun | Daughter of Smendes II and Queen Takhentdjehuti, and wife of the HIgh Priest of Amun Pinedjem II. Buried in the cache in DB320 |
Pamiu I | Twenty-third Dynasty of Egypt | Osorkon III | The title of Viceroy is attested on the coffins of his grandsons. |