• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Dynasty IV

Snefru		2630	2606
(Khnum-)Khufwi	(Khufu/"Cheops")	2606	2583
Radjedef	(Djedefre)	2583	2575
Khafre	("Chephren")	2575	2550
Nebka II		2550	2548
Menkaure	("Mycerinus")	2548	2530
Shepseskaf		2530	2526
[Interregnum?]		2526	2524

Snofru
2575-2551 B.C.
The first king of the 4th Dynasty was an active military leader. His campaigns against the Nubians and the Libyans are recorded on the Palermo Stone. He began trade with the Mediterranean nations and initiated a series of construction projects throughout Egypt.

To supply Egypt with timber, he sent a fleet of forty ships to Lebanon. While there, he erected monuments to commemorate the event. He built his mortuary complex at Dashur, including the Maidum Pyramid, the Bent Pyramid, and the Red Pyramid.

The Bent pyramid is thought to be an architectural link between the Step Pyramid and the true pyramids. Snofru was deified by the kings of the 12th Dynasty. Many of the rulers of that time built their own mortuary complexes beside his.

(Cheops) 2551-2528 B.C.
Cheops was the second king of the 4th Dynasty and was the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Khufu was succeeded by Radjedef, his son by a lessor wife, whose reign was abruptly ended. He was succeeded by Khephren, Khufu’s son by Queen Henutsen. A miniature statue of Khufu is on display at the Cairo Museum. This is the only likeness of him known to be in existence.

Radjedef 2528-2520 B.C.
Radjedef was the third king of the 4th Dynasty and ruled the country from 2528 BC until 2520 BC. He was the son of Khufu from one of his lesser wives, and killed his own brother, Prince Kewab, who was the rightful heir to the throne.

He married Hetepheres , the widow of his murdered brother. His chief wife was Kentetenka. His pyramid was discovered at Abu Rowash in Giza.

Khafre
(Chephren)(Khephren) 2520-2494 B.C.
The fourth king of the 4th Dynasty was Khafre (Chephren), the son of Khufu, and is responsible for the construction of the Pyramid of Chephren at Giza and the Great Sphinx. A statue of Khafre under the protective shadow of a falcon is in the Cairo Museum. His reign was succeeded by an, as yet, unknown king.

Menkaure
(Mycerinus)(Menhaure) 2490-2472 B.C.
The fifth king of the 4th dynasty was the son of Khephren. Though his pyramid at Giza was smaller than those of Khufu and Khephren, The Pyramid of Menkaure was covered with costly Aswan granite. His basalt sarcophagus was covered with fine decorations. His queen was Khamerernebty.

Shepseskaf 2472-2467 B.C.
Shepseskaf was the sixth king of the 4th Dynasty. He ruled ancient Egypt from 2472 BC until 2467 BC. Shepseskaf was in power through a very difficult political period, during which there were many confrontations with various priests.

Many Nomes desired independence and rebelled against Shepseskaf’s authority. He completed his predecessors’ monuments, but some records indicate that he was not descended from a royal lineage. His tomb is in South Saqqara.