Pepi II

Pepi II (Neferkare Pepi) was the fifth and final pharaoh of the 6th Dynasty, from 1625 to 1617 B.C. in Upper Egypt and from 1617 to 1579 B.C. in Lower Egypt at Memphis. He was born around 1669 B.C., living for over 90 years total. Pepi succeeded his father Merenre I, and his reign was followed by the chaos of the 7th and 8th Dynasties. Much is known about this pharaoh in both the revised and traditional histories.

Pepi was the son of Merenre I, who was the son of Pepi I, who was himself the son of Teti (founder of the 6th Dynasty). He had many sons, including Merenre II and Siptah who ruled in the south during his reign.

In 1625 B.C., Pepi I died and passed the throne of Lower Egypt to Merenre I. To fill the vacuum of power in the south, Pepi II was appointed ruler of Upper Egypt. He was about thirty-five years old at this time. During his reign in the south, very little of importance happened. His rule was marked by a time of external peace, though internal affairs would later tear his dynasty apart.

Less than ten years later, Merenre I died and his son Pepi became pharaoh in the north. Pepi appointed his wife Nitocris to rule in the south. Nitocris died within twenty years, around Pepi II's thirtieth year of reign, as they both were over sixty years old. He then appointed one of his sons to rule in Upper Egypt. However, due to his old age, his sons died quickly after becoming ruler.

Pepi II became older and less authoritative to the people in Egypt near the end of his reign, and the nomarchs in Egypt which had been gaining power before now effectively ruled autonomously in their regions. Pepi finally died in his forty-seventh year of rule, and the government of Egypt collapsed. This began the chaotic time of the 7th and 8th Dynasties.

The evidence for the revised history can be found at Displaced Dynasties. Evidence regarding this pharaoh specifically can be found here and here.