Merenre, fourthking of the6th dynasty (c. 2325–c. 2150bce) inancient Egypt, who extended the authority of one official over allUpper Egypt and encouraged intensive exploration and trade inNubia.

Merenre may have served briefly as coregent withPepi I (his father) before succeeding to the kingship. During his independent reign he visited the southern boundary ofEgypt atElephantine (present-dayAswān) and received there the homage of the chiefs of Nubia. He shared his father’s interest in the southern regions.Harkhuf, a resident of Elephantine whom Merenre appointed governor of the extreme south, led exploration and trade missions deep into Nubia.

Merenre elevated his father’s trusted minister,Uni, to the post of governor of Upper Egypt, an unprecedented honour that placed all Upper Egypt under a single official. The king also expanded the authority of the son of his father’s vizier over twonomes (administrative districts). These appointments undid a program ofdiffusion of government authority that had begun in the5th dynasty (c. 2465–c. 2325bce). In the process of conducting two major expeditions to Aswān to procure stone for his pyramid, Merenre cut five canals through the cataract rocks and recruited Nubian chieftains to cut timber and to build transport vessels for him. Merenre’s rule was brief, and he probably died at an early age.

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