BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: TANTAMANI-THE LAST KUSHITE/EGYPTIAN PHARAOH OF THE 25TH DYNASTY

By: Leon Kwasi Kuntuo-Asare

ORIGINS

Tantamani was the king of the Nile Kingdom of Kush/Nubia (located in Northern Sudan), and the last Pharaoh of the 25th Dynasty of Egypt. His prenomen (throne name), was Bakare, which translates to “glorious is the soul of Re”, which was the ancient Egyptian deity of the sun. It is believed that he is the son of Pharaoh Shabaka and the nephew of his predecessor Pharaoh Taharqa. Some scholars think he may of actually been the son of Shebitku. The date of his birth is uncertain, but it is believed that he died in 653 BC.

CONFLICT WITH THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE

Assyrian siege of an Egyptian fort, probably a scene from the war in 667-663 BCE. Sculpted in 645 – 635 BCE, under Ashurbanipal. British Museum.

When the Assyrians placed Necho I, (king of the 26th Dynasty of Egypt), on the throne, this motivated Tantamani to invade Egypt in hopes of recovering his family’s recently loss territory of Kemet. Tantamani would march with his army along the Nile river from Kush (he would recapture all of Egypt). Necho I, the Assyrians puppet ruler in Egypt would be killed in Tantamani’s military campaign in 664 BC.

Kneeling statuette of a king Necho. It may depict either Necho I or II. Brooklyn Museum

This renewed the Kushites’ conflict with Ashurbanipal (the king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire), who returned to Egypt with a powerful Assyrian force. Joined with the army of Psamtik I (who would soon be installed as the Pharaoh of the 26th Dynasty of Egypt), he would also be accompanied by Carian mercenaries.

Capture of Memphis by the Assyrians in 663 BCE

Despite taking on multiple enemies at the Sametime, Tantamani would meet the combined military forces in a pre-arranged battlefield in North Memphis, near the Temple of the Egyptian goddess Isis. Ultimately, Tantamani’s army would be defeated by the combined forces, and he would be forced to flee to upper Egypt.

After about a month and a half After the battle, Ashurbanipal’s army would arrive in Thebes. However, at the time, Tantamani had already for the city of Kipkipi (a location that may be the town of Kom Ombo), a city over 100 miles from Thebes.

Thebes would be plundered and pillaged; it is believed that about 166,500 lbs of gold, precious stones, clothes, horses, art, animals, two large obelisks covered in electrum weighing 2.500 talents (75.5 tons, or 166,500 lb), among many other things that would be stolen.

“This city, the whole of it, I conquered it with the help of Ashur and Ishtar. Silver, gold, precious stones, all the wealth of the palace, rich cloth, precious linen, great horses, supervising men and women, two obelisks of splendid electrum, weighing 2,500 talents, the doors of temples I tore from their bases and carried them off to Assyria. With this weighty booty I left Thebes. Against Egypt and Kush I have lifted my spear and shown my power. With full hands I have returned to Nineveh, in good health.”

— Rassam cylinder of Ashurbanipal

THE FALL OF THE 25th DYNASTY OF EGYPT

The Assyrian reconquering of Egypt would effectively end the Nubian’s control over Egypt. However, Tantamani was still recognized in until his 8th year on the throne in 656 BCE, when the navy of Psamtik I, took control of Thebes without bloodshed and unified all of Egypt, creating the 26th Dynasty of Egypt.

Bust of Pharaoh Psamtik I (26th Dynasty), Metropolitan Museum of Art

NUBIA: LATER IN LIFE AND DEATH

After the conflicts and the loss of Egypt, Tantamani would return to Kush, andc rule it as a single kingdom. He died in 653 BC and the Kushite king of Atlanersa, who was the son of Pharaoh Taharqa would succeed him. He would be buried at the family cemetery at El-Kuru.