Assyrian Occupation of Egypt

The Assyrian occupation of Egypt was a period from 671 to 639 B.C. during which Assyria controlled every aspect of Egyptian life. They appointed 20 governors to rule each territory, including Piankh of the Theban 21st Dynasty, Shoshenq IV of the 22nd Dynasty, Nesubanebdjed of the Tanite 21st Dynasty, and Pedubast I of the 23rd Dynasty. The kings of Assyria during this time were Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal.

In 674 B.C., Esarhaddon attempted to invade Egypt. However, the crown prince Osorkon was able to fight them off, and he was crowned as the pharaoh Osorkon III a year later. Esarhaddon decided to try again in 671 B.C., and this time he succeeded. He exiled the rebellious pharaoh at Thebes, Ramesses XI, to Nubia, and appointed Herihor as the commander of the Egyptian army.

Two years later, Esarhaddon died and his son Ashurbanipal became king. This change in authority prompted a response from the governors in Egypt, and they rebelled in 665 B.C. Takelot III was among those who rebelled, and as a response he was killed. His nephew led another rebellion in 664 B.C., and was thus exiled to Nubia.

After this crackdown, Egypt stayed submissive for two decades, until Piankhi became commander of the Egyptian army under his father Pinudjem I. He participated as the leader of a final rebellion, and drove out the weakened Assyria from both Egypt and the Levant. This happened just a year before his coronation, in 639 B.C.

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