Shoshenk III

King c.825-773 BC.

    Shoshenk III, a descendant of those *Libyan chiefs who had established the Twenty-second Dynasty, was no more capable of holding the kingdom together than his predecessors had been, and in c.800 BC there were two rival royal claims. Pedubast I established himself as pharaoh at Leontopolis and founded the Twenty-third Dynasty, while Shoshenk III continued the Twenty-second Dynasty at Tanis. Some years later the competition for the kingship had become even more intense and there were another two lines of pharaohs in Upper Egypt as well as a motley collection of principalities throughout the Delta, ruled by the descendants of the *Libyan chiefs. It was only the invasion from the south, establishing the Twenty-fifth or Ethiopian Dynasty, that succeeded in restoring unity to Egypt.

    Shoshenk III had taken the kingdom in place of Prince Osorkon, son of King Takeloth I, and he used royal titles based on those of *Ramesses II, but his reign witnesses further disintegration and anarchy. He managed to remain ruler for at least fifty-two years and was eventually succeeded by King Pemay.

    The burial of Shoshenk III was discovered at Tanis by Montet in 1939, and King Farouk was present at the opening of the coffin. It was believed that this would hold the remains of *Psusennes I, but instead it was found to belong to Shoshenk III.

BIBL. Montet, P. La Necropole royale de Tanis. Vol. 3, Chechanq III. Paris: 1960; Kitchen, K.A. 3rd Int. pp. 334-47.

Biographical Dictionary of Ancient Egypt by Rosalie and Antony E. David