Late Period

By the time the Late Period began the international prestige of Egypt had declined to almost ruin and the troubles of the Third Intermediate Period was only escalating. The Late Period started with the 25th dynasty to the 31st dynasty which concluded all of the Egyptian kings every to sit on the Egyptian throne.

Egypt's allies had fallen firmly into the sphere of influence from Assyria. While Egypt ousted Assyria in size and wealth, Assyria had a greater supply of timber allowing the production of more charcoal needed for iron-smelting and thus giving Assyria a greater supply of iron weaponry. This single difference became critical during the Assyrian invasion of Egypt in 670 BC. Despite numerous victories against the Assyrians, Thebes was eventually occupied and Memphis was sacked. The 25th dynasty ended with its rulers stuck in the backwater of the city of Napata.

The 26th dynasty were client kings established by the Assyrians. Stability reigned for a time until the Persians came unto the scene. The Persians had already taken Babylon and Egypt was no match. Egypt was defeated and the Persian king Cambyses, now assumed the formal title of Pharaoh. For a time the Egyptians were controlled by the Assyrian satrap but a one man who founded the 28th dynasty, Amyrtaeus, prince of Sais, rebelled against the Persians. The Persians were defeated, for about 6 years.

The 29th Dynasty ruled from the city of Mendes not not quite 20 years. The 30th dynasty then came and attempted to reestablish Egyptian art but failed with the Persians reoccupied in 343 BC. The 31st dynasty signaled the beginning of Egyptians never to sit on the throne again as the Persians dominated throughout Egypt. Egypt was now lost as the great empire she had once been.

25th Dynasty Rulers

Alara | c. 780-760 BC

Kashta | c. 760-747 BC

Piye | c. 747-712 BC

Shebaka | c. 712-698 BC

Shebitku | c. 698-690 BC

Taharqa | c. 690-664 BC

Tantamani | c. 664-657 BC

26th Dynasty Rulers

Ammeris | c. 715-695 BC

Stephinates | c. 695-688 BC

Nekaub | c. 695-688 BC

Nekau | c. 672-664 BC

Psamtek I | c. 664-610 BC

Nekau II | c. 610-594 BC

Psamtek II | c. 595-589 BC

Apries | c. 589-570 BC

Ahmose |c. 570-526 BC

Psamtek III |c. 526-525 BC

27th Dynasty Rulers

Cambyses | c. 525-522 BC

Darius I | c. 521-486 BC

Xerxes I | c. 486-466 BC

Artaxerxes I | c. 465-424 BC

Xerxes II | c. 424 BC

Sogdianus | c. 424 BC

Darius II | c. 424-404 BC

Artaxerxes II| c. 404-402 BC

28th Dynasty Rulers

Amyrtaios | c. 405-399 BC

29th Dynasty Rulers

Nepherites I | c. 399-393 BC

Hernebkha | c. 393-391 BC

Psammuthis | c. 392-390 BC

Hakoris | c. 392-380 BC

Nepherites II | c. 380 BC

30th Dynasty Rulers

Nectanebo I | c. 380-362 BC

Teos | c. 362-360 BC

Nectanebo II| c. 360-342 BC

31st Dynasty Rulers

Artaxerxes III Ochus | c. 342-337 BC

Arses | c. 337-335 BC

Darius III Codomannus | c. 335-332/30 BC