Amasis II ascended to the throne of Egypt following a military revolt against his predecessor, Apries. As the pharaoh of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty from 570 to 526 BCE, he maintained authority through a period of transition, becoming the final major leader of the kingdom before the Persian invasion curtailed its period of native prosperity.
Military Rise and Accession
Originally an officer in the Egyptian army, Amasis II took part in the 592 BCE campaign in Nubia. When native soldiers returning from an unsuccessful expedition to Cyrene revolted against Apries, they declared the general their leader. Apries, reliant on Greek and Carian mercenaries, was defeated during his final insurrection in 567 BCE. To solidify his rule, Amasis married Khedebneithirbinet II, a daughter of the deposed monarch, while continuing to balance the interests of the native military and his foreign mercenaries.
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Known as a philhellene, Amasis II fostered unprecedented ties with Greece. He established the commercial colony of Naucratis for Greek merchants and provided substantial financial support for the rebuilding of the temple of Delphi. His international alliances included Polycrates of Samos and Croesus of Lydia. Under his governance, the agricultural economy thrived, reaching a level of prosperity described by Herodotus as the zenith of the period, with the number of inhabited cities reportedly reaching 20,000.
Geopolitical Challenges
The reign of Amasis II was defined by the looming threat of the Persian Empire. Herodotus suggests that tension escalated after a diplomatic ruse involving an Egyptian physician and the substitution of Nitetis, the daughter of Apries, in a marriage arrangement intended for the Persian king. Despite these external pressures, Amasis expanded his reach, becoming the first pharaoh after Thutmose III to conquer Cyprus. In 567 BCE, he also navigated an invasion by Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar II.
Administration and Burial
The administration under Amasis featured notable officials such as the viziers Psamtek Meryneit and Pasherientaihet, alongside the border security leader Wahibre. Evidence of his monumental building programs remains, including shrines excavated at Tell Nebesha. Following his death in 526 BCE, Amasis was interred at Sais. His successor, Psamtek III, ultimately faced the Persian forces at the battle of Pelusium, resulting in the loss of Egyptian independence.
Fast facts
- Reign: 570–526 BCE
- Burial location: Sais
- Key acquisition: Cyprus
- Predecessor: Apries
- Successor: Psamtek III
- Notable official: Udjahorresnet
- Known consort: Ladice of Cyrene
Questions readers ask
How did Amasis II secure his legitimacy?
He married Khedebneithirbinet II, the daughter of the previous pharaoh, Apries, following his seizure of the throne.
What was the significance of Naucratis during his reign?
It served as a dedicated commercial colony for Greek merchants, facilitating the expansion of Egypt's international trade.
Achievements
- pharaoh (-0570–-0526)
