(Sehetepibre) (d. 1962 B.C.E.) Founder of the Twelfth Dynasty
He reigned from 1991 B.C.E. until his death. His name meant “AMUN is foremost,” and he served as the VIZIER of Upper Egypt (the southern territories) in the reign of MONTUHOTEP IV (r. 1998–1991 B.C.E.), the last pharaoh of the Eleventh Dynasty, who died without an heir. Amenemhet I led an expedition for the pharaoh to the WADI HAMMAMAT, a dried river gully near KOPTOS, where the Nile swerves closest to the Red Sea. There he obtained the stone used for the sarcophagus of Montuhotep IV.
Amenemhet I was a commoner, the son of one Senwosret and a woman named NEFRET, listed as prominent members of a family from ELEPHANTINE Island. Amenemhet I portrayed himself as the true unifier of Egypt after years of decline and partial separation. Various prophecies, including the famous one written by Neferrohu, were made public to guarantee authenticity for the new pharaoh’s claims. The prophecy of Nefer-rohu, also called Neferti, describes Amenemhet I as the son of “a woman of NUBIA” (or of the Elephantine area in modern Aswan).
Having had years of experience as a vizier, Amenemhet knew how to force the Egyptians to accept his rule. He commanded a fleet of ships and sailed throughout the land to demand obeisance from his people. On one such voyage, Amenemhet I was accompanied by KHNUMHOTEP (1), a prince and undisputed leader of the Oryx Nome (or province) at BENI HASAN. There were 20 ships in this armada, and Amenemhet I was displaying the political support of a nome aristocrat alongside military might. He also moved the capital from Thebes to ITJTAWY, “the Seizer of the Two Lands,” near the modern town of Lisht. The capital was originally called Amenemhet- Ity-tawy and was shortened over the years. He married NEFRU-TOTENEN, who is believed to have borne SENWOSRET I, the heir. A second queen, SIT-HATHOR, gave birth to Princess DEDYET (1) and Princess Nenseb-djebet. Later in his reign a woman named NEFRU-SOBEK (2) became his queen. He had two daughters: Nefrusheri and Nyetneb.
Amenemhet I proved an efficient administrator and militarily astute ruler. He established his new capital between the boundaries of Upper and Lower Egypt in order to have increased control of the DELTA. He also erected the WALL OF THE PRINCE, a series of forts that safeguarded Egypt’s eastern and western borders. He founded SEMNA fort in Nubia and routed the Bedouins on the SINAI Peninsula, using the genius of General Nysumontu. Within the palace, however, Amenemhet I faced harem revolts, one unsuccessful attempt on his life, and a last murderous assault.
In 1979 B.C.E., Amenemhet I named his son, Senwosret I, as his coregent, thus discouraging attempts by others to take the throne. Senwosret also received a set of “Instructions” from Amenemhet I. This document was also called the Testament of Amenemhet. In it the pharaoh declares that a ruler must avoid all intimacy with lesser courtiers, and these “Instructions” clearly define royal obligations based upon the needs of the people, including personal sacrifices and loneliness. Possibly the INSTRUCTION OF AMENEMHET I was written after the second assault on the pharaoh’s life, a palace feud that was successful in bringing Amenemhet I’s reign to an end.
Senwosret I, who campaigned militarily in his father’s name, was in the desert region when word came of the assassination. He raced back to the capital with a large force and routed the enemies of his inheritance. Amenemhet was buried in a pyramid in LISHT, called “Horus of Repeating Births,” now in ruins. The assassination of Amenemhet is a key element in the plot of the tale of “SINUHE THE SAILOR.” The hero of the tale is involved in some way in the harem struggles, and he flees Egypt when Senwosret I receives word of the royal death.
