Vizier (Ancient Egypt)

The vizier (/vɪˈzɪər/ or /ˈvɪzɪər/) was the highest official in ancient Egypt to serve the pharaoh (king) during the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.[1] Vizier is the generally accepted rendering of ancient Egyptian tjati, tjaty etc., among Egyptologists.[2] The Instruction of Rekhmire (Installation of the Vizier), a New Kingdom text, defines many of the duties of the tjaty, and lays down codes of behavior. The viziers were often appointed by the pharaoh. During the 4th Dynasty and early 5th Dynasty, viziers were exclusively drawn from the royal family; from the period around the reign of Neferirkare Kakai onwards, they were chosen according to loyalty and talent or inherited the position from their fathers.[3]

Statue of Hemiunu, vizier and designer of Khufu's pyramid, at the Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum Hildesheim, Germany. His feet rest on columns of hieroglyphs, painted in yellow, red, brown, and black.

Vizier (Tjaty) in hieroglyphs

Responsibilities

The viziers were appointed by the pharaohs and often belonged to a pharaoh's family. The vizier's paramount duty was to supervise the running of the country, much like a prime minister. At times this included small details such as sampling the city's water supply.[4] All other lesser supervisors and officials, such as tax collectors and scribes, reported to the vizier. The judiciary was part of the civil administration, and the vizier also sat in the High Court. At any time, the pharaoh could exert his own control over any aspect of government, overriding the vizier's decisions. The vizier also supervised the security of the pharaoh and the palace by overseeing the comings and goings of palace visitors.[5] The viziers often acted as the pharaoh's seal bearer as well, and the vizier would record trade.[6] From the Fifth Dynasty onwards, viziers, who by then were the highest civilian bureaucratic official, held supreme responsibility for the administration of the palace and government, including jurisdiction, scribes, state archives, central granaries, treasury, storage of surplus products and their redistribution, and supervision of building projects such as the royal pyramid.[7]In the New Kingdom, there were two viziers, one for Upper Egypt and one for Lower Egypt.[8]

Installation of the Vizier

Main article: Installation of the Vizier

According to the Installation of the Vizier, a New Kingdom document describing the office of the vizier, there were certain traits and behaviors that were required to be a vizier:

• Act by the law
• Judge fairly
• Do not act willfully or headstrong

List of viziers

Early Dynastic period

Viziers of the Early Dynastic period

Vizier	Pharaoh	Dynasty	Comments
Menka	Ninetjer?	2nd Dynasty	Earliest known holder of the title

Old Kingdom

Viziers of the Old Kingdom

Vizier	Pharaoh	Dynasty	Comments
Kagemni I	Sneferu	4th Dynasty	Purported author of the Instructions of Kagemni. Not attested in contemporary sources,
Nefermaat I	Khufu	4th Dynasty	Son of Sneferu and father of Hemiunu
Hemiunu	Khufu	4th Dynasty	Nefermaat's son, believed to have designed Khufu's pyramid
Kawab	Khufu	4th Dynasty	Eldest son and vizier of Khufu
Ankhhaf	Khafre	4th Dynasty	Son of Sneferu
Nefermaat II	Khafre	4th Dynasty	Nephew of Nefermaat the Elder, a son of Nefertkau I; a grandson of Sneferu
Minkhaf	Khafre	4th Dynasty	Son of Khufu, vizier under Khafre
Khufukhaef	Khafre	4th Dynasty	Son of Khufu, vizier under Khafre
Nikaure	Menkaure	4th Dynasty	Son of Khafre
Ankhmare	Menkaure	4th Dynasty	Son of Khafre
Duaenre	Menkaure	4th Dynasty	Son of Khafre, vizier during the late 4th dynasty
Nebemakhet	Menkaure	4th Dynasty	Son of Queen Meresankh III
Iunmin I	Menkaure	4th Dynasty	Possibly son of Khafre, vizier during the late 4th dynasty
Babaef II	Shepseskaf	4th Dynasty	Grandson of Khafre
Seshathotep Heti	Userkaf, early 5th Dynasty	5th Dynasty	It is not certain if Seshathetep held the titles of a vizier.
Sekhemkare	Userkaf and Sahure	5th Dynasty	Son of Khafre and queen Hekenuhedjet.
Werbauba	Sahure	5th Dynasty
Washptah	Sahure and Neferirkare Kakai	5th Dynasty
Minnefer	Nyuserre Ini	5th Dynasty
Ptahshepses	Nyuserre Ini	5th Dynasty	Became the son-in-law of Nyuserre Ini some time after his ascension to the throne.
Kay	Nyuserre Ini	5th Dynasty
Pehenuikai	Nyuserre Ini	5th Dynasty
Ptahhotep Desher	Menkauhor or Djedkare Isesi	5th Dynasty
Ptahhotep	Djedkare Isesi	5th Dynasty
Seshemnefer (III)	Djedkare Isesi	5th Dynasty
Ptahhotep I	Djedkare Isesi	5th Dynasty	Purported author of The Maxims of Ptahhotep
Akhethotep	Djedkare Isesi	5th Dynasty	Son of Ptahhotep I.
Senedjemib Inti	Djedkare Isesi	5th Dynasty
Ptahhotep II	Unas	5th Dynasty
Akhethetep Hemi	Unas	5th Dynasty
Ihy	Unas	5th Dynasty
Niankhba	Unas	5th Dynasty
Sekhem-ankh-Ptah		5th Dynasty or 6th Dynasty	Dating uncertain, may have been the son-in-law of a king.
Senedjemib Mehi		6th Dynasty	possible son-in-law of Unas (or Djedkare Isesi), vizier during the early 6th dynasty
Nefersheshemre	Teti	6th Dynasty
Kagemni	Teti	6th Dynasty	son-in-law of Teti
Mereruka	Teti	6th Dynasty	son-in-law of Teti
Khentika	Teti	6th Dynasty
Mehu	Teti	6th Dynasty
Ankhmahor	Teti - Pepi I	6th Dynasty
Merefnebef	Teti - Pepi I	6th Dynasty	Merefnebef is also known as Unis-ankh and Fefi in his tomb
Heri	Teti - Pepi I	6th Dynasty	May have participated in the assassination of Teti
Meryteti	Pepi I	6th Dynasty	grandson of Teti, son of Mereruka
Iunmin II	Pepi I	6th Dynasty
Nebet	Pepi I	6th Dynasty	First woman appointed vizier, mother-in-law of Pepi I
Tjetju	Pepi I	6th Dynasty
Qar	Pepi I	6th Dynasty
Djau	Pepi I	6th Dynasty	brother-in-law of Pepi I, son of Nebet
Rawer (vizier)	Pepi I	6th Dynasty
Shemay	Neferkaure - Neferkauhor	8th Dynasty	son-in-law of Neferkauhor, nomarch of Coptos, later vizier
Idy	Neferirkare(?)	8th Dynasty	son of Shemay

Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period

Viziers of the Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period

Vizier	Pharaoh	Dynasty	Comments
Bebi	Mentuhotep II	11th Dynasty
Dagi	Mentuhotep II	11th Dynasty
Amenemhat	Mentuhotep IV	11th Dynasty	He later became king as Amenemhat I, first Pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty
Ipi	Amenemhat I	12th Dynasty
Intefiqer	Amenemhat I Senusret I	12th Dynasty	He is indicated in the Wadi el-Hudi as being involved in military missions in Lower Nubia.[9]
Senusret	Senusret I Amenemhat II	12th Dynasty
Ameny	Amenemhat II	12th Dynasty
Amenemhat-ankh	Amenemhat II (?)[10]	12th Dynasty
Siese	Amenemhat II	12th Dynasty
Nebit	Senusret III	12th Dynasty
Khnumhotep III	Senusret III	12th Dynasty
Kheti	Amenemhat III	12th Dynasty
Ameny	Amenemhat III	12th Dynasty	[11]
Zamonth	Amenemhat III	12th Dynasty	[11]
Senewosret-Ankh (vizier)		End 12th Dynasty Beginning 13th Dynasty
Khenmes	[11]	13th Dynasty
Ankhu	Khendjer	13th Dynasty
Resseneb		13th dynasty	Son of Ankhu[12]
Iymeru		13th Dynasty	Son of Ankhu[12]
Neferkare Iymeru	Sobekhotep IV	13th Dynasty
Sobka called Bebi[13]		13th Dynasty
Ibiaw[13]	Ibiaw or Ay	13th Dynasty
Sonbhenaf[13]	Ibiaw or Ay, or Djehuti	uncertain
Aya[13]	Ini I	13th Dynasty	Aya was Governor of El Kab before being appointed vizier in year 1 of Ini I, as reported in the Juridical Stela
Ayameru[13]		13th Dynasty	Ayameru was the younger son of Aya and succeeded him in office, as reported in the Juridical Stela

New Kingdom

Viziers of the New Kingdom

Vizier of the South (Thebes)	Pharaoh	Dynasty	Comments
Tetinefer	Ahmose I?	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the North (Memphis)
Imhotep	Thutmose I	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Aakheperreseneb	Thutmose I	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Amethu called Ahmose	Thutmose I, Hatshepsut	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Hapuseneb	Hatshepsut	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Amethu called Ahmose	Thutmose II, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Useramen	Hatshepsut, Thutmose III	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Neferweben	Thutmose III	18th Dynasty	Likely Vizier of the North
Rekhmire	Thutmose III	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Amenemipet called Pairy	Amenhotep II, Thutmose IV	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Seny	Thutmose IV	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Hepu	Thutmose IV	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Thutmose	Thutmose IV	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Ptahmose	Amenhotep III	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Amenhotep-Huy	Amenhotep III	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Aperel	Amenhotep III, Akhenaten	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Ramose	Amenhotep III, Akhenaten	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Nakhtpaaten	Akhenaten	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Pentu	Tutankhamen	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Usermontu	Tutankhamen	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Ay ?	Tutankhamen	18th Dynasty	Vizier of the South, succeeded Tutankhamen as Pharaoh
Paramessu	Horemheb	18th Dynasty	Later took the throne as Ramesses I
Nebamun	Horemheb, Sethi I	18th Dynasty, 19th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Prince Sethi	Ramesses I	19th Dynasty
Hatiay	Sethi I, Ramesses II	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the North?
Paser (Vizier)	Sethi I, Ramesses II	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Nehi	Ramesses II	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Khay	Ramesses II	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the South, ca. Year 27-45
Thutmose	Ramesses II	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the South, ca. Year 45-50.
Prehotep I	Ramesses II	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the North in ca year 40.
Prehotep II	Ramesses II	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the North in ca year 50.
Neferronpet	Ramesses II	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the South in ca year 50
Panehesy	Merenptah	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Pensekhmet	Merenptah	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the South, Year 8
Merysekhmet	Merenptah	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the North, Year 3?
Amenmose	Seti II and Amenmesse	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Khaemtir	Seti II and Amenmesse	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Paraemheb	Seti II and Amenmesse	19th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Hori II	Seti II, Siptah, Twosret, Sethnakht and Ramesses III	19th Dynasty
Iuty		20th Dynasty	Vizier of the North?
Nehi?	Ramesses III	20th Dynasty
Hewernef	Ramesses III	20th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
To	Ramesses III	20th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Neferronpe	Ramesses IV to Ramesses VI	20th Dynasty	Vizier
Nehy	Ramesses VI	20th Dynasty	Vizier, son of Neferronpe
Mentehetef (Montu-hir-hetef)	Ramesses IX	20th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Wennefer	Ramesses IX	20th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Nebmarenakht also called Saht(a)-nefer	Ramesses IX, Ramesses X and Ramesses XI	20th Dynasty
Khaemwaset	Ramesses IX	20th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Herihor	Ramesses XI	20th Dynasty	Vizier of the South

Third Intermediate Period

Viziers of the South[14]

Vizier	Pharaoh	year	Dynasty	Comments
Herihor	Smendes I	c. 1075 B.C.	21st Dynasty
Pinedjem I	Smendes I	c. 1070 B.C.	21st Dynasty
Amenhirpamesha	Psusennes I	c. 1040 B.C.	21st Dynasty
Neseramun (A)	Siamun	c. 960 B.C.	21st Dynasty	Son of Nebneteru (ii) a Letter Writer to the Pharaoh
Padimut (A)	Shoshenq I	c. 930 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Ia-o	Osorkon I	c. 900 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Rudpamut	Takelot I	c. 880 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Hor(y)	Takelot I	c. 876 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Hori	Takelot II	c. 845? B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Son of Iutjek?
Nespakheshuty A	Takelot II	c. 835 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Harsiese D	Shoshenq III	c. 825 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Hor (viii)	Shoshenq III	c. 820 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Pentyefankh	Pedubast I	c. 815 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Harsiese E	Shoshenq III / Shoshenq IV	c. 790 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Djedkhonsefankh E	Shoshenq III / Osorkon III	c. 780 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Nakhtefmut C	Shoshenq III / Osorkon III	c. 775 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Hor x	Osorkon III	c. 770 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Son of Nakhtefmut C
Pamiu	Osorkon III	c. 765 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Pakharu	Takelot III	c. 760 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Son of Pamiu
Ankh-Osorkon	Rudamun	c. 755 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Pediamonet	Iuput II	c. 750 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Son of Pamiu
Harsiese F	Iuput II	c. 745 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Nesmin A	Iuput II	c. 740 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Son of Harsiese F
Ankh-hor	Iuput II	c. 730 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Nespakheshuty B	Iuput II	c. 725 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty
Pediese	Iuput II	c. 720 B.C.	22nd-23rd Dynasty	Son of Harsiese F?

Late Period

Viziers of the Late Period[15]

Vizier	Pharaoh	Dynasty	Comments
Khamhor A		25th Dynasty	Vizier of the South, Son of Harsiese F
Harsiese G Pahrer		25th Dynasty	Vizier of the South, Son of Khamhor A
Nesmin B		25th Dynasty	Vizier of the South, Son of Khamhor A
Mentuhotep (Vizier)		25th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Nespaqashuty C	Shebitku	25th-26th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Harsiese R		25th-26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Nespamedu	Taharqa	25th-26th Dynasty	Vizier of the South, Son of Nespaqashuty C
Nespaqashuty D		25th-26th Dynasty	Vizier of the South, buried in TT312, Son of Nespademu
Djedkare (Vizier)		25th-26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Sasobek	Psamtik I	25th-26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Nasekheperensekhmet	Psamtik I	26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Bakenrenef	Psamtik I	26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Ankhwennefer	Psamtik I	26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Iry		26th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Djedwebasettiuefankh		26th Dynasty	Vizier of the South
Iufaa		26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North, father of Gemenefhorbak
Gemenefhorbak		26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Harsomtusemhat		26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Psamtek-Meryneit	Amasis II	26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Pasherientaihet	Amasis II	26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Horsiese		26th Dynasty	Vizier of the North
Psamtikseneb	Nectanebo II	30th Dynasty

See also

• Prime Minister
• Vizier
• Shogun

References

1. Shaw, Ian (2002). The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-19-280293-4.
2. Gardiner, Alan Henderson (1957). Egyptian Grammar; Being an Introduction to the Study of Hieroglyphs (3rd ed.). Oxford: Griffith Institute, Ashmolean Museum. p. 43. ISBN 0 900416 351.
3. M. Heimlich, Ancient Egyptian Literature, vol.2, pp.21ff.
4. Goddard, J (2012). Public Health Entomology. Starkville: CRC Press.
5. Ancient Egyptian administration. Moreno Garcia, Juan Carlos. Leiden, The Netherlands. 2013. ISBN 9789004249523. OCLC 849248179.CS1 maint: others (link)
6. Archived September 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
7. Ancient Egyptian administration. Moreno Garcia, Juan Carlos. Leiden, The Netherlands. 2013. ISBN 9789004249523. OCLC 849248179.CS1 maint: others (link)
8. Jane Bingham, Fiona Chandler, Jane Chisholm, Gill Harvey, Lisa Miles,Struan Reid, and Sam Taplin "The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World" page 80
9. Ancient Egyptian administration. Moreno Garcia, Juan Carlos. Leiden, The Netherlands. 2013. ISBN 9789004249523. OCLC 849248179.CS1 maint: others (link)
10. W. Grajetzki: Court Officials of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom, London 2009, ISBN 978-0-7156-3745-6, p. 169
11. Grajetzki: Court Officials, 169
12. Grajetzki: Court Officials, 170
13. Kim Ryholt, The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period c.1800-1550 B.C." Museum Tuscolanum Press, 1997. p.192 (ISBN 87-7289-421-0)
14. Kitchen, Kenneth A. The Third Intermediate Period in Egypt, 1100-650 B.C. (Book & Supplement) Aris & Phillips. 1986 , Table 15, pg 483
15. Viziers by Anneke Bart

External links

• The vizierate
• aldokkan.com