AMENEMHET I

flourished 20th century BC king of Egypt (reigned 193808 BC), founder of the 12th dynasty who, with a number of powerful nomarchs (provincial governors), restored unity to Egypt after the civil war that followed the death of his predecessor, under whom he had served as vizier. Amenemhet, an experienced administrator, moved the capital from Thebes to a more central location at Itj-towy (near modern Al-Lisht), to the south of Memphis, and appointed his supporters to various posts within the administration. Levying troops from one of the nomarchies, Amenemhet sailed up the Nile River, destroying what resistance remained to his rule. To safeguard the Nile River delta, he built fortresses along the eastern and western frontiers. Amenemhet also added to the Temple of Amon at Thebes and built at various other sites in Upper Egypt. In the 20th year of his reign, 1918 BC, Amenemhet made Sesostris I, his son, coregent. The younger ruler assumed the task of extending Egyptian control into Nubia to the south, advancing as far as the Second Cataract of the Nile and building fortifications at strategic points. Under Amenemhet, the copper mines in Sinai were worked and punitive raids were made against the local Bedouin tribes. In the 30th year of his father's reign, on returning from a raid against the Libyans in the Western Desert, Sesostris received news of Amenemhet's assassination and hastened back to the capital to assume the kingship. The Instruction of Amenemhet, a political piece cast as an address of Amenemhet to Sesostris, described the assassination attempt and gave the new king advice concerning government. Another politically motivated work, The Story of Sinuhe, described Sesostris' receipt of the news, his reaction, and the glory of his reign.