Neferousobek, also known as Sobekneferu, was the last pharaoh of the Twelfth Egyptian Dynasty. She reigned from 1806 to 1802 BC. BC, succeeding Amenemhat IV. As the first positively identified female pharaoh, she played an important role in the history of ancient Egypt.
Accession to the throne
On the death of Amenemhat IV, Neferousobek, his sister and probably his wife, ascended the throne of Egypt. The reasons for his accession are uncertain, but it is possible that Amenemhat IV died without a male heir. Neferousobek then assumed power, adopting the traditional royal titles and attributes.
Reign and achievements
Neferousobek's reign was short, lasting only about four years. Nevertheless, she managed to maintain the stability of the country despite the gradual decline of royal power and central authority. She continued the policies of her predecessors, maintaining tight control over nomarchs and officials.
When it comes to construction, Neferousobek seems to have completed unfinished projects of the pharaoh Amenemhat IV, including the pyramid of Mazghouna and other monuments. However, her own burial complex has not been found with certainty, and it is possible that she was buried in the pyramid of a predecessor.
End of the XIIth dynasty and posterity
Neferousobek's death marked the end of the Twelfth Dynasty and the beginning of the Second Intermediate Period, a period of fragmentation and internal strife that lasted approximately two centuries. The queen pharaoh nevertheless left an important legacy as the first positively identified female pharaoh and a model for other queen pharaohs who followed, such as Hatshepsut et Cleopatra VII.
📋 LIST OF EGYPTIAN SOVEREIGNS 📋
Hotepsekhemwey / Sneferka / Nebra / ninetjer / Senedj / Noubnefer / Horus Ba / Peribsen / Sekhemib / Khasekhemwy / Neferkasokar / | |||
Djoser / Sanakht / Sekhemkhet / Spoon / Huni | |||
Sekhemre-Khutaouy Amenemhat-/Sobekhotep I/Sekhemkare Amenemhat-Senbef/Sekhemkare Amenemhat V/Ameny-Qemaou/Hotepibre Qémaou-Sa-Hornejhéritef/Ioufeni/Séânkhibrê Amény-Antef-Amenemhat (or Amenemhat VI)/Semenkarê Nebnoun/Sehotepibrê Sousekhtaouy | |||
Sekhaenre Yakbim/Nebuuserre Yaammou/Khauserre Qareh | |||
Semqen/Aper-Anat/Sakir-Har/Khyan/Apophis I/Apophis II?/Khamoudy | |||
/Sekhemre-Sementaouy Djehouty/Sekhemre-Sousertaouy Sobekhotep VIII | |||
Twenty-first dynasty | |||
Twenty-second dynasty | |||
Twenty-third dynasty | |||
Twenty-fourth dynasty | |||
1st Persian Dynasty | |||
Thirty-first dynasty (Achaemenid) | 2nd Persian Dynasty | ||