• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Dynasty XXV (Kushite Era): 767-656

Nubian kings from Kush contemporary with (and more or less effective overlords of) the petty kings of Dynasties XXII-XXIV. Manetho includes only those who were recognized in Memphis; we add those who were recognized in Thebes. Kashta's rule in Nubia might have begun earlier, and that of Tanwetamani ended later than the dates indicated here.

Shebaka (Shabaka)
712-698 B.C.
Shebaka was the first king of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty. During his reign, he undertook some building projects. The Fourth Pylon at Karnak has an inscription that tells of Shebaka’s restoration of the gate.

He also started work on the second pylon in front of the temple of Thutmose III at Medinet Habu. Shebaka’s sister, Amunirdis I held a very important position politically as well as religiously. She was called "god’s wife of Amun" at Thebes. Her funerary temple was in front of the temple of Ramesses III Medinet Habu.

Shebitku (Shabataka)
698-690 B.C.
Shebitku was the second king of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty. He was the nephew and successor of Shebaka. During Shebaka’s reign, there was a policy of conciliation and cooperation with the Assyrians.

This kept the Assyrians away from coming further into Egypt. Shebitku had a different policy; resistance. A stela from Kawa tells of Shebitku asking his brothers, including Taharqa, to come to him at Thebes from Nubia. The army went with Taharqa.

On another stela a story was told that when Jerusalem was under attack by the Assyrians, the king of Ethiopia (Kush) came against Sennacherib (of Assyria). Shebitku joined in the resistance against Sennacherib and an Egyptian army was sent to Palestine, led by Shebitku’s brother, Taharqa.

Taharqa
690-664 B.C.
Taharqa was the brother of Shebitku and the third king of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty. Shebitku died and Taharqa was crowned. Taharqa is responsible for the buildings done both in Nubia and in Egypt.

He built the colonnade in the first court of the temple of Amun at Karnak. There is one column that stands twenty-one meters high and is still standing. During his reign, the Assyrians threatened Egypt once again.

The Assyrians were successful in one invasion in which they captured Memphis, wounded Taharqa and stole his family and property. Taharqa survived the attack. It is thought that Taharqa died in 664 BC and was buried in his pyramid at Nuri near Napata.