My Vizier
In a world of statues of men
Vizier (Ancient Egypt)
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| Vizier (Tjaty) in hieroglyphs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Era: New Kingdom (1550–1069 BC) | ||||
The vizier 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]
Responsibilities[edit]
The viziers were appointed by the pharaohs. 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.[5] In the New Kingdom, there was a vizier for Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt each.[7]
Installation of the Vizier[edit]
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[edit]
Early Dynastic period[edit]
| Vizier | Pharaoh | Dynasty | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rekhit | Narmer | 1st Dynasty | Retired to look after the estates of Neithhotep their older years |
| Saiset | Hor-Aha | 1st Dynasty | Served as administrator of the Memphite region |
| Amka | Djer, Djet and Merneith's regency | 1st Dynasty | Served as administrator of Her-sekhenti-dju. Retired as overseer of Royal Estates in the Delta |
| Sewadjka | Djet and Den | 1st Dynasty | Retired as overseer of Her-sekhenti-dju, one of the most prestigious offices of the 1st Dynasty |
| Hemaka | Den | 1st Dynasty | Served as royal sealbearer and chancellor. First non-royal to hold such a position. First dual chancellor over Her-sekhenti-dju and Her-tepi-khet |
| Henu-Ka | Semerkhet and Qa'a | 1st Dynasty | Served both Pharaohs and supported Qa'a in his early reign |
| Menka | Ninetjer? | 2nd Dynasty | Earliest known holder of the simplified direct title known as 'Tjaty,' during an era of an overly complex state administration |
Old Kingdom[edit]
Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period[edit]
| 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.[5] |
| Senusret | Senusret I Amenemhat II | 12th Dynasty | |
| Ameny | Amenemhat II | 12th Dynasty | |
| Amenemhat-ankh | Amenemhat II (?)[8] | 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 | [9] |
| Zamonth | Amenemhat III | 12th Dynasty | [9] |
| Senewosret-Ankh (vizier) | End 12th Dynasty Beginning 13th Dynasty | ||
| Khenmes | [9] | 13th Dynasty | |
| Ankhu | Khendjer | 13th Dynasty | |
| Resseneb | 13th dynasty | Son of Ankhu[10] | |
| Iymeru | 13th Dynasty | Son of Ankhu[10] | |
| Neferkare Iymeru | Sobekhotep IV | 13th Dynasty | |
| Sobka called Bebi[11] | 13th Dynasty | ||
| Ibiaw[11] | Ibiaw or Ay | 13th Dynasty | |
| Sonbhenaf[11] | Ibiaw or Ay, or Djehuti | uncertain | |
| Aya[11] | 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[11] | 13th Dynasty | Ayameru was the younger son of Aya and succeeded him in office, as reported in the Juridical Stela |
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