| Amenemnisu | |
|---|---|
 Drawing of the bowcaps containing both Amenemnisu and Psusennes' names | |
| Pharaoh | |
| Reign | 4 regnal years 1051–1047 BC |
| Predecessor | Smendes |
| Successor | Psusennes I |
| Children | No issue known |
| Father | Smendes (?) |
| Mother | Tendamun B(?) |
| Died | 1047 BC |
| Dynasty | 21st Dynasty |
Neferkare Amenemnisu was anancient Egyptianpharaoh, the second king of the21st Dynasty.
Amenemnisu may have been the son ofSmendes and born toTentamun B, the daughter of Ramesses XI. Thus, he was the maternal grandson of Ramesses XI, the last ruler of the 20th Dynasty.
No wives or children are known.
Amenemnisu succeededSmendes on the throne.
| Reg Yr | Event |
|---|---|
| 00 | Accession Year of Amenemnisu |
| 01 | Amenemnisu celebrates the start of his reign on 1 Akhet Day 1 (New Year). |
| 02 | - |
| 03 | - |
| 04 | Amenemnisu dies. Accession Year of Psusennes I. |
Amenemnisu's existence was only confirmed in 1940 when theTanite tomb of his successorPsusennes I was discovered byPierre Montet: a gold bow cap inscribed with both Amenemnisu's royal name, Neferkare, and that of his successor Psusennes I was found within the tomb.[1] Previously, his existence had been doubted as no objects naming him had been discovered. However, the memory of his short rule as the second pharaoh of the 21st Dynasty was preserved inManetho'sEpitome as a kingNephercheres who is assigned a short reign of four years.[2]
While his reign is generally obscure, the thenHigh Priest of Amun atThebes,Menkheperre, is known to havepardoned several leaders of arebellion against the High Priest's authority during Amenemnisu's reign.[1] These rebels had previously beenexiled to the Western Oasis of Egypt in Year 25 ofSmendes. These events are reported on the so-calledBanishment Stela (Louvre C. 256), likely made during the brief reign of Amenemnisu.[3]
Amenemnisu is thought to have ruled about 4 regnal years.
Manetho assigns him a reign of four years under the name Nephercheres, the Greek rendering of Amenemnisu's throne name, Neferkare. Manetho's Aegyptiaca only exists in fragments and summaries by later writers, Africanus (Syncellus) lists Nephercherês (the third king in his sequence) as reigning for 4 years, Eusebius (Syncellus) lists Nephercherês with a reign of 4 years, Armenian Version of Eusebius records Nephercheres as ruling for 4 years. However, there are discrepancies in Manetho's record regarding the chronology, Nephercheres being placed after Psusennes I.
A gold bow cap found by Pierre Montet, confirms he was actually the second king and Psusennes' predecessor. Before the 1940 discovery of that bow cap, Amenemnisu was known only through Manetho’s lists, leading some early historians to doubt his existence.
Amenemnisu was not succeeded by any of his children, but by his cousin Psusennes I - another maternal grandson of Ramesses XI.
At Tanis, Amenemnisu was buried along with his successor Psusennes I (NRT III). No tomb with the name of Amenemnisu have been found.
