Assyrians then adopted an
overlordship policy with Egypt. Ashurbanipal had appointed Nekau I
(a.k.a Necho I) as king of Sais and Psamtik I, Nekau's son, as king
of Athribis (both cities are in Delta).
After Nekau's death, Psamtik I (a.k.a. Psammetichus I) (r. 664 - 610)
was confirmed to rule Egypt by Assyrians.
Typical art style of Assyrians
image 2004 ©
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Psamtik's era was a start of a renewed prosperity in Egypt.
He could unite Egypt and free it from Assyrians, after which he took
Sais as his capital. Psamtik reigned as king for half a century in
which Egypt restored stability and great deal of its past wealth.
Now art and architecture have good environment to flourish once again.
Economy also regained its heydays.
Now Assyria's collapse was very close due to internal problems. Psamtik
realized that some rival civilizations like those of Babylonians,
Medes and Scythians could be more dangerous to Egypt than the Assyrians
themselves. So he decided to help the Assyrians but it was too late
as the Babylonian army captured Nineveh, Capital of Assyria in 612.
In Egypt Nekau II (Necho II) (r. 610 - 595)
succeeded his father Psamtik I. He marched to meet the Babylonian
army but was blocked by the Judah kingdom's army led by Josiah. Josiah
was defeated and killed in the battle at Megiddo, as narrated by the
bible (Nekau is called nechoh here):
"[28]
Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they
not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
[29] In his days Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt went up against
the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went
against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.
[30] And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from
Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own
sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah,
and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead.
[31] Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began
to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's
name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
[32] And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD,
according to all that his fathers had done.
[33] And Pharaoh-nechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the
land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the
land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent
of gold.
[34] And Pharaoh-nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king
in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim,
and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.
[35] And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh;
but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment
of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of
the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto
Pharaoh-nechoh.
[36] Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began
to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's
name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
[37] And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD,
according to all that his fathers had done." (2Kgs.23: 28-37)
Nekau met the Babylonians and defeated them but few years later
he met them again and lost ground before them in 605 BC. Nekau,
thereinafter, decided to return to Egypt and consider seriously
upgrading his army and so he reinforced his fleet in the Mediterranean
Sea:
"And the king of Egypt came not again
any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from
the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to
the king of Egypt." (2Kgs.24: 7)
One of his biggest achievements is the canal he dug to link between
the Nile and the Red Sea.
Nekau's son, Psamtik II (Psammetichus II) (r. 595 - 589) succeeded
him and ruled for 6 years. He marched in Nubia
as far as the third cataract.
Psamtik II's son, Wahibre (Apries), succeeded him and maintained
the same policies of his father especially towards Palestine.
Wahibre (r. 589 - 570) was deeply involved in wars in Phoenicia.
He supported Jerusalem against Babylonia but the former was seized
in 587 BC. Wahibre received Jews who fled to Egypt.
Locally, the society was on the verge of unrest, as foreign mercenaries
were granted special privileges at the expense of Egyptians. The
army needed to be untied under a strong leadership to face different
dangers. An army general called Ahmose II (Amasis) was chosen for
this task.
A civil war erupted between Wahibre who was aided by Greek mercenaries
and Ahmose II aided by the army. Wahibre died in the insurrection
and Ahmose II rose in his place.
Ahmose II (r. 570 - 526), in attempts to contain the interracial
conflicts, developed a special trade zone of Greek nature in Naukratis
in the Delta
to segregate them from people. He also forged trade with the Mediterranean
nations, especially with the Greeks.
While on the eastern front there were Babylonian activities, a new
power rose from Persia. The Persians carried out wars against Greeks.
They were eyeing then targeting Egypt.
At that time King Psamtik III (Psammetichus)
(r. 526 - 525) ascended the Egyptian throne and shortly after his
takeover found himself facing the Persian attack.
He was defeated at Pelusium at the eastern gateway of Egypt and
so he fled to Memphis
where he was captured and moved to the Persian capital, Susa. It
is said that he was well treated there but anyway he finally committed
suicide.
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