Twentieth dynasty of Egypt
| Dynasties of Pharaohs in Ancient Egypt |
| Protodynastic Period |
| Early Dynastic Period |
| 1st 2nd |
| Old Kingdom |
| 3rd 4th 5th 6th |
| First Intermediate Period |
| 7th 8th 9th 10th |
| 11th (Thebes only) |
| Middle Kingdom |
| 11th (All Egypt) |
| 12th 13th 14th |
| Second Intermediate Period |
| 15th 16th 17th |
| New Kingdom |
| 18th 19th 20th |
| Third Intermediate Period |
| 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th |
| Late Period |
| 26th 27th 28th |
| 29th 30th 31st |
| Graeco-Roman Period |
| Ptolemaic Roman Empire |
History of Ancient Egypt, Twentieth Dynasty
| Name | Dates |
|---|---|
| Setnakhte | 1188-1186 |
| Rameses III | 1186-1154 |
| Rameses IV | 1154-1148 |
| Rameses V | 1148-1144 |
| Rameses VI | 1144-1136 |
| Rameses VII | 1136-1129 |
| Rameses VIII | 1129 |
| Rameses IX | 1129-1111 |
| Rameses X | 1111-1101 |
| Rameses XI | 1101-1073 |
The Twentieth Dynasty was founded by Setnakhte, but its only important member was Rameses III, who modelled his career after Rameses II the Great.
This dynasty is also notable for the beginning of systematic robbing of the Royal Tombs. Many surviving documents from this period are records of investigations and punishment for these crimes, especially in the reigns of Rameses IX and Rameses XI.
Like the Nineteenth Dynasty, this dynasty struggled under the effects of the bickering between the heirs of Rameses III, whom Diodorus Siculus described as "confirmed sluggards devoted only to indulgence and luxury," without "any deed worthy of historical note." However, at this time Egypt was increasingly beset by a series of droughts, below-normal flooding levels of the Nile, famine, civil unrest and official corruption -- all of which would limit the abilities of any king. The power of the last king, Rameses XI, grew so weak that in the south the High Priests of Amun became the effective rulers of Upper Egypt, while Smendes I gained power over Lower Egypt and founded the Twenty-first dynasty at Tanis.
This dynasty is considered the last one of the New Kingdom of Egypt, and is followed by the Third Intermediate Period.