Necho I

Portrait of a pharaoh of the Saite dynasty (Allard Piersonmuseum, Amsterdam)

Necho I: ruler of the Western Delta between 672 and 664 BCE, founder of the Saite dynasty.

Egyptian names: Mencheperre Nekau

Relatives:

children: Psammetichus I

Main deeds:

673: The first Assyrian invasion of Egypt is repelled
671: Second Assyrian invasion: Esarhaddon captures Memphis and forces pharaoh Taharqo (Kushite dynasty) to flee to the south
Necho is recognized as governor of the western Delta
669: Taharqo returns to the north, Esarhaddon gathers his troops, but dies; Taharqo captures Memphis and forces the local leaders to support him again
667/666: The Assyrian king Aššurbanipal attacks Egypt again, sacks Thebes, and deports the local leaders from Lower Egypt
666: Necho returns, appointed as viceroy of Memphis and Sais; his son Psammetichus is intended successor
664: Death of Taharqo; his successor Tanwetamani proceeds to Memphis, but is defeated by Necho, who is killed in action (Herodotus, Histories 2.152)
Psammetichus flees to Assyria, receives Assyrian support, and is put on the throne

Succeeded by: Psammetichus I

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