1079: The Egyptian New Kingdom collapses - Scroll Down for more details

The Twilight of Power - The Collapse of the Egyptian New Kingdom (1079 BCE)

The Decline of the New Kingdom

By the late 12th century BCE, the once-mighty Egyptian New Kingdom—the era of pharaonic glory that had produced rulers like Ramses II, Thutmose III, and Hatshepsut—was in irreversible decline. The year 1079 BCE is often cited as a symbolic endpoint of this period, marking the effective collapse of centralized pharaonic authority and the beginning of Egypt's fragmentation into competing power centers.

Causes of the Collapse

Several key factors contributed to the fall of the New Kingdom:

1. Economic Strain {content}amp; Bureaucratic Corruption
   • The vast building projects, military campaigns, and temple endowments of earlier pharaohs had drained Egypt's wealth.
     
   • Corruption among officials and priests weakened state administration, leading to inefficiency and unrest.
2. Foreign Invasions {content}amp; Loss of Territory
   • The Sea Peoples, a mysterious coalition of raiders, devastated the eastern Mediterranean, weakening Egypt's hold over Canaan and the Levant.
     
   • Libyan tribes infiltrated the western Delta, further destabilizing the kingdom.
3. Internal Strife {content}amp; Power Struggles
   • The later Ramesside pharaohs (such as Ramses XI) ruled weakly, while the high priests of Amun in Thebes grew increasingly autonomous.
     
   • Civil conflict between northern (Tanis) and southern (Thebes) factions eroded unity.
4. Climate {content}amp; Agricultural Decline
   • Evidence suggests a period of drought and lower Nile floods, leading to food shortages and social unrest.

The Final Breakdown (1079 BCE {content}amp; Beyond)

By the reign of Ramses XI (1107-1077 BCE), Egypt was effectively divided:
- The North: Controlled by the pharaoh in Pi-Ramesses (later Tanis), but power was increasingly in the hands of military leaders like Smendes, who would found the 21st Dynasty.
- The South: Thebes was ruled by the High Priests of Amun, who acted as de facto kings, further eroding pharaonic authority.

After Ramses XI's death (c. 1077 BCE), Egypt entered the Third Intermediate Period, a time of political fragmentation, foreign influence (Libyan and later Nubian rulers), and diminished imperial power.

Legacy of the Collapse

The fall of the New Kingdom marked the end of Egypt's golden age of empire. Though later dynasties would briefly revive aspects of its grandeur (such as during the 25th Kushite Dynasty), Egypt would never fully regain its former dominance in the ancient world.

Would you like further details on any specific aspect—such as the Sea Peoples, the role of the priesthood, or the rise of the 21st Dynasty?