Vizier (Ancient Egypt) Explained

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]

Responsibilities

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]

Installation of the Vizier

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:

• Act by the law
• Judge fairly
• Do not act willfully or headstrong

List of viziers

Early Dynastic period

Vizier !!

King !		Dynasty !		Comments
Rekhit			Retired to look after the estates of Neithhotep in 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

Old Kingdom

Vizier !!

King !		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			Likely a grandson of Khafre
Kanefer		4th or 5th Dynasty
Possibly Seshathotep			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.
Seshemnefer (III)
Kay
Pehenuikai
Ptahhotep Desher
Rashepses	Djedkare Isesi	5th Dynasty
Ptahhotep
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	Teti or Pepi I
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			son of Shemay

Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period

Vizier !!

King !		Dynasty !		Comments
		11th Dynasty
		11th Dynasty	Later succeeded Mentuhotep IV on the throne 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
			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

New Kingdom

Viziers of the New Kingdom ! Vizier of the South (Thebes) !! Pharaoh !! Dynasty !! Comments

	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
			Vizier of the South, later succeeded Tutankhamen on the throne as Ay
			Later succeeded Horemheb on the throne as Ramesses I, first Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty
			Vizier of the North
			Son of Ramesses I, later succeeded Ramesses I on the throne as Seti I
			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

Third Intermediate Period

Vizier !!

Pharaoh !		Year !		Dynasty !		Comments
Herihor		c. 1075 BC	21st Dynasty
		c. 1070 BC	21st Dynasty
Amenhirpamesha		c. 1040 BC	21st Dynasty
Neseramun (A)		c. 960 BC	21st Dynasty	Son of Nebneteru (ii) a Letter Writer to the Pharaoh
Padimut (A)		c. 930 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Ia-o		c. 900 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Rudpamut		c. 880 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Hor(y)		c. 876 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Hori		c. 845 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Son of Iutjek?
Nespakheshuty A		c. 835 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Harsiese D		c. 825 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Hor (viii)		c. 820 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Pentyefankh		c. 815 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Harsiese E		c. 790 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Djedkhonsefankh E		c. 780 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Nakhtefmut C		c. 775 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Hor x		c. 770 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Son of Nakhtefmut C
Pamiu		c. 765 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Pakharu		c. 760 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Son of Pamiu
Ankh-Osorkon		c. 755 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Pediamonet		c. 750 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Son of Pamiu
Harsiese F		c. 745 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Nesmin A		c. 740 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Son of Harsiese F
Ankh-hor		c. 730 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Nespakheshuty B		c. 725 BC	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Pediese		c. 720 BC	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

Late Period

Vizier !!

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

Ptolemaic Period

!Vizier!Pharaoh!Dynasty!Comments

Berenice II of Egypt	Ptolemy III Euergetes	Ptolemaic dynasty	Wife of the Pharaoh, and possibly his co-regent;^[11] title attested at the Temple of Philae and Canopus Decree.^[12]
Cleopatra I Syra	Ptolemy V EpiphanesPtolemy VI Philometor	Ptolemaic dynasty	Wife of the Ptolemy V, later regent for Ptolemy VI; possibly co-ruler with them;^[13] ^[14] title attested at the Temple of Edfu.^[15]

See also

• Vizier
• Shogun

External links

• Ancient Egyptian government and the role of viziers
• The vizierate
• aldokkan.com

Notes and References

1. Book: Shaw, Ian . The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt . 104 . 2002 . . 978-0-19-280293-4.
2. M. Heimlich, “Ancient Egyptian Literature”, vol.2, pp.21ff.
3. Book: Goddard, J. Public Health Entomology. 2012. CRC Press. Starkville.
4. Book: Ancient Egyptian administration. Moreno Garcia, Juan Carlos. 9789004249523. Leiden, The Netherlands. 849248179. 2013.
5. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/government/vizier.htm
6. Jane Bingham, Fiona Chandler, Jane Chisholm, Gill Harvey, Lisa Miles,Struan Reid, and Sam Taplin "The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World" page 80
7. W. Grajetzki: Court Officials of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom, London 2009,, p. 169
8. Grajetzki: Court Officials, 169
9. Grajetzki: Court Officials, 170
10. Kim Ryholt, The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period c.1800-1550 B.C." Museum Tuscolanum Press, 1997. p.192
11. Berenice did have titles of "female Horus" and "female Pharaoh", but was not included in dating protocols as co-ruler to her husband. See, Sewell-Lasater, Tara, Becoming Kleopatra: Ptolemaic Royal Marriage, Incest, and the Path to the Female Rule, University of Houston, 2020, pp. 187-189. However she is considered Pharaoh by Sally Ann Ashton, see Ashton, Sally Ann, The Last Queens of Egypt: Cleopatra's Royal House, Routledge 2014, pp. 112-113.
12. Sewell-Lasater, Tara, Becoming Kleopatra: Ptolemaic Royal Marriage, Incest, and the Path to the Female Rule, University of Houston, 2020, p. 456.
13. While Cleopatra did have titles like "female Horus" and "female Pharaoh", she was not included in dating protocols as co-Pharaoh during her husband's reign, see Sewell-Lasater, Tara, Becoming Kleopatra: Ptolemaic Royal Marriage, Incest, and the Path to the Female Rule, University of Houston, 2020, pp. 245-246. However she is considered Pharaoh by Sally Ann Ashton, see Ashton, Sally Ann, The Last Queens of Egypt: Cleopatra's Royal House, Routledge 2014, pp. 112-113.
14. She is ambiguously classified as both "regent and co-ruler"; see Sewell-Lasater Tara, Becoming Kleopatra: Ptolemaic Royal Marriage, Incest, and the Path to the Female Rule, University of Houston, 2020, p. 246.
15. Sewell-Lasater, Tara, Becoming Kleopatra: Ptolemaic Royal Marriage, Incest, and the Path to the Female Rule, University of Houston, 2020, p. 456.