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The Rise and Fall of Egypt's Twenty-Ninth Dynasty (398-380 BCE)
In 398 BCE, Egypt was undergoing yet another turbulent transition of power. The Twenty-Ninth Dynasty emerged following the overthrow of Amyrtaeus, the sole ruler of the short-lived Twenty-Eighth Dynasty, which had briefly restored native Egyptian rule after the end of the First Persian Occupation (525-404 BCE).
The dynasty was established by Nepherites I (also spelled Nefaarud I), who seized control from Amyrtaeus and moved the capital to Mendes in the Nile Delta. His reign marked an attempt to stabilize Egypt and resist further Persian incursions. Nepherites sought alliances, notably sending grain to the Spartans during their war against Persia (the Corinthian War), hoping to weaken their common enemy.
After Nepherites' death, succession disputes plagued the dynasty:
- Psammuthes (393 BCE) - Possibly a usurper, his reign lasted less than a year before being overthrown.
- Hakor (Achoris) (393-380 BCE) - The most significant ruler of the dynasty, Hakor fortified Egypt's defenses, built temples, and continued anti-Persian diplomacy, allying with Cyprus and rebellious satraps in Anatolia.
Hakor's death in 380 BCE led to instability, and his successor, Nepherites II, ruled for only a few months before being overthrown by Nectanebo I, founder of the Thirtieth Dynasty—Egypt's last native ruling house before the second Persian invasion (343 BCE).
The Twenty-Ninth Dynasty was a brief but important phase in Egypt's struggle for independence against Persia. Though overshadowed by the more stable Thirtieth Dynasty, its rulers laid groundwork for resistance, demonstrating Egypt's enduring resilience even in decline.
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