Middle Kingdom · 12th Dynasty

Amenemhat I

Reign: 1939/38–1909 (1976–1947) BC
Throne name: Sehotep-ib-Re
Other names: Wehem-mesut, Ammenemes I
Dynasty: 12th Dynasty
Period: Middle Kingdom, c. 2040–1780 BC
Capital at the time: Thebes, then Itjtawy (near el-Lisht)

Amenemhat I is listed in the king list under ‘12th Dynasty’ and so belongs to this period: Middle Kingdom (c. 2040–1780 BC). Reign: 1939/38–1909 (1976–1947) BC. The figures in brackets give the alternative dating by the Egyptologist Jürgen von Beckerath. The throne name is Sehotep-ib-Re. Other recorded names: Wehem-mesut, Ammenemes I.

What is known about Amenemhat I

Before coming to power, Amenemhat I was perhaps a vizier under Mentuhotep IV. He completed the unification of the realm and made his son Senusret I co-regent in his 20th regnal year. He built a pyramid at El-Lisht.
From the German Wikipedia list of pharaohs, CC BY-SA 4.0, translated and edited.

The period: Middle Kingdom

After reunification, literature, art and administration flourish. Later generations regarded the language of this period as ‘classical’ Egyptian.

c. 2040 BCMentuhotep II reunites the country and builds his mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari.
c. 1950 BCAmenemhat I moves the royal residence to Itjtawy; the ‘Story of Sinuhe’ is composed under Senusret I.
c. 1870 BCSenusret III secures the southern frontier with a chain of mighty fortresses in Nubia, such as those at Semna and Buhen.
c. 1840 BCAmenemhat III has the Faiyum opened up through irrigation; the Greeks called his mortuary temple at Hawara the ‘Labyrinth’.

More about this period: Middle Kingdom

Amenemhat I

What is known about Amenemhat I

The period: Middle Kingdom

12th Dynasty: all rulers

Further reading