The Twenty-eighth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (notated Dynasty XXVIII, alternatively 28th Dynasty or Dynasty 28) is usually classified as the third Dynasty of the Ancient Egyptian Late Period. The 28th Dynasty lasted from 404 BC to 398 BC. It included only one Pharaoh, Amyrtaeus (Amenirdis), also known as Psamtik V or Psammetichus V. Amyrtaeus was probably the grandson of the Amyrtaeus of Sais. They rebelled in 465–463 BC with the Egyptian chief, Inarus (a grandson of Psamtik III), against the satrap Achaemenes of Achaemenid Egypt.
History of the Twenty-eighth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt
As early as 411 BC, Amyrtaeus, a native Egyptian, revolted against Darius II, the Achaemenid Persian King and the last Pharaoh of the 27th Dynasty. Although Artaxerxes II, Darius’ successor as King of Persia, attempted to lead an expedition to retake Egypt, he could not do so due to political problems with his brother, Cyrus the Younger. Amyrtaeus succeeded in expelling the Persians from Memphis in 405 BC with assistance from Cretan mercenaries, and in 404 BC, following the death of Darius, proclaimed himself Pharaoh of Egypt. This allowed Amyrtaeus to solidify Egyptian rule over Egypt.
Very little is known about Amyrtaeus’ reign. No monuments from this Dynasty have been found.
In 398 BC, Amyrtaeus was overthrown and executed by King Nefaarud I, ending the 28th Dynasty and beginning the 29th Dynasty.
Pharaohs of the 28th Dynasty
Amyrtaeus (Greek: Ἀμυρταῖος Amyrtaios, a Hellenization of the original Egyptian name Amenirdisu) of Sais is the only pharaoh of the Twenty-eighth Dynasty of Egypt and is thought to be related to the royal family of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty (664–525 BC). He ended the first Persian occupation of Egypt (i.e. the Twenty-seventh Dynasty: 525–404 BC) and reigned from 404 BC to 399 BC. Amyrtaeus’ successful insurrection inaugurated Egypt’s last significant phase of independence under native sovereigns, lasting about 60 years until the Persians conquered the country again.
