The vizier was the highest official in ancient Egypt to serve the pharaoh (king) during the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.[1] Vizier is the generally accepted rendering of ancient Egyptian Egyptian (Ancient);: tjati, Egyptian (Ancient);: tjaty etc., among Egyptologists. The Instruction of Rekhmire (Installation of the Vizier), a New Kingdom text, defines many of the duties of the Egyptian (Ancient);: tjaty, and lays down codes of behavior. The viziers were often appointed by the pharaoh. During the 4th Dynasty and early 5th Dynasty, viziers were exclusively drawn from the royal family; from the period around the reign of Neferirkare Kakai onwards, they were chosen according to loyalty and talent or inherited the position from their fathers.[2]
The viziers were appointed by the pharaohs. The vizier's paramount duty was to supervise the running of the country, much like a prime minister. At times this included small details such as sampling the city's water supply.[3] All other lesser supervisors and officials, such as tax collectors and scribes, reported to the vizier. The judiciary was part of the civil administration, and the vizier also sat in the High Court. At any time, the pharaoh could exert his own control over any aspect of government, overriding the vizier's decisions. The vizier also supervised the security of the pharaoh and the palace by overseeing the comings and goings of palace visitors.[4] The viziers often acted as the pharaoh's seal bearer as well, and the vizier would record trade.[5] From the Fifth Dynasty onwards, viziers, who by then were the highest civilian bureaucratic official, held supreme responsibility for the administration of the palace and government, including jurisdiction, scribes, state archives, central granaries, treasury, storage of surplus products and their redistribution, and supervision of building projects such as the royal pyramid.[4] In the New Kingdom, there was a vizier for Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt each.[6]
See main article: Installation of the Vizier. According to the Installation of the Vizier, a New Kingdom document describing the office of the vizier, there were certain traits and behaviors that were required to be a vizier:
| Pharaoh ! | Dynasty ! | Comments | ||
| Rekhit | Retired to look after the estates of Neithhotep their older years | |||
| Saiset | Served as administrator of the Memphite region | |||
| Amka | Djer, Djet and Merneith's regency | Served as administrator of Her-sekhenti-dju. Retired as overseer of Royal Estates in the Delta | ||
| Sewadjka | Retired as overseer of Her-sekhenti-dju, one of the most prestigious offices of the 1st Dynasty | |||
| Hemaka | Served as royal sealbearer and chancellor. First non-royal to hold such a position. First dual chancellor over Her-sekhenti-dju and Her-tepi-khet | |||
| Henu-Ka | Served both Pharaohs and supported Qa'a in his early reign | |||
| Menka | Ninetjer? | Earliest known holder of the simplified direct title known as 'Tjaty,' during an era of an overly complex state administration | ||
| Pharaoh ! | Dynasty ! | Comments | ||
| Kagemni I | Purported author of the Instructions of Kagemni. Not attested in contemporary sources, | |||
| Nefermaat I | Son of Sneferu and father of Hemiunu | |||
| Nefermaat's son, believed to have designed Khufu's pyramid | ||||
| Kawab | Eldest son and vizier of Khufu | |||
| Son of Sneferu | ||||
| Nefermaat II | Nephew of Nefermaat the Elder, a son of Nefertkau I; a grandson of Sneferu | |||
| Minkhaf | Son of Khufu, vizier under Khafre | |||
| Khufukhaef | Son of Khufu, vizier under Khafre | |||
| Nikaure | Son of Khafre | |||
| Ankhmare | Son of Khafre | |||
| Duaenre | Son of Khafre, vizier during the late 4th dynasty | |||
| Nebemakhet | Son of Queen Meresankh III | |||
| Iunmin I | Possibly son of Khafre, vizier during the late 4th dynasty | |||
| Babaef II | Grandson of Khafre | |||
| Seshathotep Heti | It is not certain if Seshathetep held the titles of a vizier. | |||
| Sekhemkare | Son of Khafre and queen Hekenuhedjet. | |||
| Werbauba | ||||
| Washptah | ||||
| Minnefer | ||||
| Ptahshepses | Became the son-in-law of Nyuserre Ini some time after his ascension to the throne. | |||
| Kay | ||||
| Pehenuikai | ||||
| Ptahhotep Desher | ||||
| Ptahhotep | ||||
| Seshemnefer (III) | ||||
| Ptahhotep I | Purported author of The Maxims of Ptahhotep | |||
| Akhethotep | Son of Ptahhotep I. | |||
| Senedjemib Inti | ||||
| Ptahhotep II | ||||
| Akhethetep Hemi | ||||
| Ihy | ||||
| Niankhba | ||||
| Sekhem-ankh-Ptah | Dating uncertain, may have been the son-in-law of a king. | |||
| Senedjemib Mehi | possible son-in-law of Unas (or Djedkare Isesi), vizier during the early 6th dynasty | |||
| Nefersheshemre | ||||
| Kagemni | son-in-law of Teti | |||
| Mereruka | son-in-law of Teti | |||
| Khentika | ||||
| Mehu | ||||
| Ankhmahor | ||||
| Merefnebef | Merefnebef was also named Fefi and Unasankh | |||
| Heri | May have participated in the assassination of Teti | |||
| Meryteti | grandson of Teti, son of Mereruka | |||
| Iunmin II | ||||
| Nebet | First woman appointed vizier, mother-in-law of Pepi I | |||
| Consort of Pepi I | ||||
| Tjetju | ||||
| Qar | ||||
| Djau | brother-in-law of Pepi I, son of Nebet | |||
| Rawer (vizier) | ||||
| Weni | Likely the same person as vizier Neferwenmeryre | |||
| Teti (vizier) | ||||
| Shemay | son-in-law of Neferkauhor, nomarch of Coptos, later vizier | |||
| Idy | Neferirkare(?) | son of Shemay |
| Pharaoh ! | Dynasty ! | Comments | ||
| 11th Dynasty | ||||
| Amenemhat | 11th Dynasty | He later became king as Amenemhat I, first Pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty | ||
| 12th Dynasty | He is indicated in the Wadi el-Hudi as being involved in military missions in Lower Nubia. | |||
| 12th Dynasty | ||||
| Amenemhat II | 12th Dynasty | |||
| Amenemhat II (?)[7] | 12th Dynasty | |||
| Amenemhat II | 12th Dynasty | |||
| Senusret III | 12th Dynasty | |||
| Senusret III | 12th Dynasty | |||
| 12th Dynasty | ||||
| Amenemhat III | 12th Dynasty | [8] | ||
| Zamonth | Amenemhat III | 12th Dynasty | ||
| End 12th Dynasty Beginning 13th Dynasty | ||||
| Khenmes | 13th Dynasty | |||
| Resseneb | Son of Ankhu[9] | |||
| Iymeru | Son of Ankhu | |||
| 13th Dynasty | ||||
| Sobka called Bebi | 13th Dynasty | |||
| 13th Dynasty | ||||
| Sonbhenaf[10] | uncertain | |||
| Aya | 13th Dynasty | Aya was Governor of El Kab before being appointed vizier in year 1 of Ini I, as reported in the Juridical Stela | ||
| Ayameru | 13th Dynasty | Ayameru was the younger son of Aya and succeeded him in office, as reported in the Juridical Stela |
| Ahmose I? | Vizier of the North (Memphis) | |||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Likely Vizier of the North | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Amenemipet called Pairy | Vizier of the South | |||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the North | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the North | ||||
| Vizier of the North | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Ay ? | Vizier of the South, succeeded Tutankhamen as Pharaoh | |||
| Later took the throne as Ramesses I | ||||
| Vizier of the North | ||||
| Vizier of the North? | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South, ca. Year 27-45 | ||||
| Vizier of the South, ca. Year 45–50. | ||||
| Vizier of the North in ca year 40. | ||||
| Vizier of the North in ca year 50. | ||||
| Vizier of the South in ca year 50 | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South, Year 8 | ||||
| Vizier of the North, Year 3? | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the North? | ||||
| Nehi? | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| To | Vizier of the South | |||
| Neferronpe | Vizier | |||
| Nehy | Vizier, son of Neferronpe | |||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Vizier of the South | ||||
| Nebmarenakht (again) | Ramesses IX | 20th Dynasty | Vizier of the South | |
| Vizier of the South |
| Pharaoh ! | year ! | Dynasty ! | Comments | |||
| Herihor | c. 1075 B.C. | 21st Dynasty | ||||
| c. 1070 B.C. | 21st Dynasty | |||||
| Amenhirpamesha | c. 1040 B.C. | 21st Dynasty | ||||
| Neseramun (A) | c. 960 B.C. | 21st Dynasty | Son of Nebneteru (ii) a Letter Writer to the Pharaoh | |||
| Padimut (A) | c. 930 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | Vizier of the South | |||
| Ia-o | c. 900 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Rudpamut | c. 880 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Hor(y) | c. 876 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Hori | c. 845? B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | Son of Iutjek? | |||
| Nespakheshuty A | c. 835 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Harsiese D | c. 825 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Hor (viii) | c. 820 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Pentyefankh | c. 815 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Harsiese E | c. 790 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Djedkhonsefankh E | c. 780 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Nakhtefmut C | c. 775 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Hor x | c. 770 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | Son of Nakhtefmut C | |||
| Pamiu | c. 765 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | Vizier of the South | |||
| Pakharu | c. 760 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | Son of Pamiu | |||
| Ankh-Osorkon | c. 755 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Pediamonet | c. 750 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | Son of Pamiu | |||
| Harsiese F | c. 745 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Nesmin A | c. 740 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | Son of Harsiese F | |||
| Ankh-hor | c. 730 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Nespakheshuty B | c. 725 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | ||||
| Pediese | c. 720 B.C. | 22nd-23rd Dynasty | Son of Harsiese F? | |||
| Khamhor A | ? | Vizier of the South, Son of Harsiese F | ||||
| Harsiese G Pahrer | ? | 25th Dynasty | Vizier of the South, Son of Khamhor A | |||
| Nesmin B | ? | 25th Dynasty | Vizier of the South, Son of Khamhor A | |||
| Mentuhotep | ? | 25th Dynasty | Vizier of the North | |||
| 25th Dynasty | Vizier of the South | |||||
| Harsiese R | ? | 25th Dynasty | Vizier of the North | |||
| 25th Dynasty | Vizier of the South, Son of Nespaqashuty C | |||||
| Nespaqashuty D | ? | Vizier of the South, buried in TT312, Son of Nespademu | ||||
| Djedkare | ? | Vizier of the North |
| Pharaoh ! | Dynasty ! | Comments | ||
| Vizier of the North | ||||
| Psamtik I | 26th Dynasty | Vizier of the North | ||
| Psamtik I | 26th Dynasty | Vizier of the North | ||
| Psamtik I | 26th Dynasty | Vizier of the North | ||
| Iry | 26th Dynasty | Vizier of the South | ||
| Djedwebasettiuefankh | 26th Dynasty | Vizier of the South | ||
| Psamtik I | 26th Dynasty | Vizier of the North, father of Gemenefhorbak | ||
| Psamtik I | 26th Dynasty | Vizier of the North | ||
| Harsomtusemhat | 26th Dynasty | Vizier of the North | ||
| Psamtek-Meryneit | 26th Dynasty | Vizier of the North | ||
| Pasherientaihet | Amasis II | 26th Dynasty | Vizier of the North | |
| Horsiese | 26th Dynasty | Vizier of the North | ||
| Psamtikseneb |