Twenty-second Dynasty of Egypt

The Twenty-First, Twenty-Second, Twenty-Third, Twenty-Fourth and Twenty-Fifth Dynasties of ancient Egypt are often combined under the group title, Third Intermediate Period.

The 22nd dynasty is also known as the Bubastite Dynasty, since the pharaohs originally ruled from the city of Bubastis. [It was founded by Shoshenq I.

The kings of the Twenty-Second Dynasty of Egypt were a series of Meshwesh Libyans who ruled from c. 943 BC until 720 BC. They had settled in Egypt since the Twentieth Dynasty. Manetho states that the dynasty originated at Bubastis, but the kings almost certainly ruled fromTanis, which was their capital and the city where their tombs have been excavated.

Another king who belongs to this group is Tutkheperre Shoshenq, whose precise position within this dynasty is currently uncertain although he is now thought to have ruled Egypt early in the 9th century BC for a short time between Osorkon I and Takelot I. The so-called Twenty-Third Dynasty was an offshoot of this dynasty perhaps based in Upper Egypt, though there is much debate concerning this issue. All of its kings reigned in Middle and Upper Egypt including the Western Desert Oases. The next ruler at Tanis after Shoshenq V was Osorkon IV but this king is not believed to be a member of the 22nd Dynasty since he only controlled a small portion of Lower Egypt together with Tefnakhte of Sais-whose authority was recognised at Memphis-and Iuput II of Leontopolis.