Senusret I

Reign

He continued his father's aggressive expansionist policies against Nubia by initiating two expeditions into this region in his 10th and 18th years and established Egypt's formal southern border near the second cataract where he placed a garrison and a victory stele. He also organized an expedition to a Western Desert oasis. Senusret I established diplomatic relations with some rulers of towns in Syria and Canaan. He also tried to centralize the country's political structure by supporting nomarchs who were loyal to him. His pyramid was constructed at el-Lisht. Senusret I is mentioned in the Story of Sinuhe where he is reported to have rushed back to the royal palace in Memphis from a military campaign in Libya after hearing about the assassination of his father, Amenemhat I.

Accession

Coregency

In Year 21 of Amenemhat I, a coregency was established with Senusret I celebrating his Year 1 as junior coregent (Horus), while his father became senior coregent (Osiris). A double dated stele from Abydos and now in the Cairo Museum (CG 20516) is dated to the Year 30 of Amenemhat I and to the Year 10 of Senusret I.

Sole Reign

Assassination of Amenemhat. In Year 30 of Amenemhat I and Year 10 of Senusret I of the coregency, his father Amenemhat I was assassinated. At the time, Senusret I was leading a campaign in Libya, likely to conduct raids that would fund the extravagant costs of the upcoming Sed festival of his father. This marked the beginning of the sole reign of Senusret I. As recounted in the Story of Sinuhe, a famous text of Egyptian literature:

Year 30, third month of the Inundation season, day 7, the god mounted to his horizon, the King of Upper and Lower Egypt Sehetepibre (Amenemhat I) went aloft to heaven and became united with the sun's disk, the limb of the god being merged in him who made him; whilst the Residence was hushed, hearts were in mourning, the Great Gates were closed, the courtiers crouched, head on lap, and the nobles grieved. Now His Majesty had sent an army to the land of the Tjemeh (Libyans), his eldest son as the captain thereof, the god Senusret (Senusret I). He had been sent to smite the foreign countries, and to take prisoner the dwellers in the Tjehnu-land, and now indeed he was returning and had carried off living prisoners of the Tjehnu and all kinds of cattle limitless. And the Companions of the Palace sent to the western side to acquaint the king's son concerning the position that had arisen in the Royal Apartments, and the messengers found him upon the road, they reached him at time of night. Not a moment did he linger, the falcon flew off with his followers, not letting his army know. But the king's children who accompanied him in this army had been sent for and one of them had been summoned. (...)

As Senusret was informed of the attack by a messenger while still on campaign, he likely also learned that several of his brothers, present in the army, may have been involved in the conspiracy that lead to Amenemhat's assassination. Without alerting anyone, he returned hastily to the palace, leaving his forces behind, fearing he might also become a target. The exact means by which he regained control of the government or secured the throne remain unknown. It is historically attested that a civil war broke out shortly afterwards and that Senusret was forced to brutally suppress seditious forces aligned against him.

Nubian campaign. In Year 18 of Senusret I, he launched a military campaign against Lower Nubia and conquered the region down to the Second Cataract. The date of the expedition is mentioned on a stela from Buhen. The military campaign is mentioned in several inscriptions of this king's reign. Several local officials were involved with the military expedition. Amenemhat, governor of the Oryx nome went there with the title overseer of troops.

Famine. In Year 25, Egypt was devastated by a famine caused by a low Nile flood.

Elephantine. In Year 43, a rock inscription is dated to the king by Ameny (PD 91; title: jrj-pꜥt; ḥꜣtj-ꜥ; ḫtmw-bjtj; smr-wꜥtj; jmj-rꜣ sḫtjw jmnjj).

Expeditions

Senusret I dispatched several quarrying expeditions to the Sinai Peninsula and Wadi Hammamat.

In Wadi Hammamat, a series of inscriptions are known: Hammamat 3042 (royal name), Hammamat G 61 (Year 38), Hammamat G 62, Hammamat G 63, Hammamat G 64 = M 123 (Year 16), Hammamat G 65 (royal name), Hammamat G 66 (royal name), Hammamat G 67 (Year 2), Hammamat G 75 (Year 33 of unnamed king), Hammamat G 83, Hammamat G 86, Hammamat M 87 (Year 38), Hammamat M 116, Hammamat M 117 (royal name), Hammamat M 120 (Year 16?), Hammamat M 121 (Year 16?), Hammamat M 122 (Year 16?), Hammamat M 124 (Year 16?), and Hammamat Kischel GM 175.

Building program

He built numerous shrines and temples throughout Egypt and Nubia during his long reign.

Heliopolis. He rebuilt the important temple of Re-Atum in Heliopolis which was the centre of the sun cult. He erected 2 red granite obelisks there to celebrate his Year 30 Heb Sed Jubilee. One of the obelisks still remains and is the oldest standing obelisk in Egypt. It is now in the Al-Masalla (Obelisk in Arabic) area of Al-Matariyyah district near the Ain Shams district (Heliopolis). It is 67 feet tall and weighs 120 tons or 240,000 pounds.

Abydos. Senusret remodelled the Temple of Khenti-Amentiu Osiris at Abydos.

Karnak. A shrine (known as the White Chapel or Jubilee Chapel) with fine, high quality reliefs of Senusret I, was built at Karnak to commemorate his Year 30 jubilee. During the New Kingdom it was demolished and used as filler for the Third Pylon of the temple of Karnak, Precinct of Amun-Re. It has subsequently been successfully reconstructed from various stone blocks discovered by Henri Chevrier in 1926.

Elephantine. He did work at the Temple of Satet on Elephantine.

Building projects at other major temples include the temple of Min at Koptos, the Montu-temple at Armant and the Montu-temple at El-Tod, where a long inscription of the king is preserved.

Succession

Coregency

In Year 43 of Senusret, he appointed his son Amenemhat II as his junior coregent (Horus). Most likely in his 60s, Senusret I became the senior coregent (Osiris) with a more retiring administrative role. The stele of Wepwawet-aa is dated to Year 44 of Senusret I and Year 2 of Amenemhet II, thus a coregency was established in Year 43. Others suggest the two dates only refer to the period Wepwawet-aa was in office.

Reign length

The Turin King List 6:21 provides a reign length of 45 regnal years. The number of months and days are missing. His highest attested date is Year 44, such as the stele of Wepwawet-aa.

Royal Court

Some of the key members of the court of Senusret I are known.

The Vizier

The royal court was headed by the vizier. The vizier at the beginning of his reign was Intefiqer, who is known from many inscriptions and from his tomb next to the pyramid of Amenemhat I. He seems to have held this office for a long period of time and was followed by a vizier named Senusret.

The Treasurer

Two treasurers are known from the reign of the king: Sobekhotep (year 22) and Mentuhotep. The latter had a huge tomb next to the pyramid of the king and he seems to have been the main architect of the Amun temple at Karnak.

The High Stewards

Several high stewards are attested. Hor is known from several stelae and from an inscription in the Wadi el-Hudi where he was evidently the leader of an expedition for amethyst. One of the stelae is dated to Year 9 of the king. A certain Nakht followed in office attested around Year 12 of the king. He had a tomb at Lisht. A certain Antef, son of a woman called Zatamun is known again from several stelae, one dates to Year 24 another one to Year 25 of Senusret I. Another Antef was the son of a woman called Zatuser and was most likely also high steward in the king's reign.

The Nomarchs

A nomarch was a governor of a province into which Upper and Lower Egypt was subdivided.

• Amenemhat Oryx (UE 16)
• Djefaihapi of Asyut (UE 13; PD 777)
• Sarenput I of Elephantine (UE 01)

Death

In Year 45 of Senusret I, he died and Amenemhat II became sole ruler. Senusret is thought to have died during his 46th year on the throne since the Turin Canon ascribes him a reign of 45 Years. When the co-regencies with Amenemhat I and Amenemhat II are deducted, he ruled as sole king for just over 30 years.

Pyramid

At Lisht, Senusret I was buried in his Pyramid Complex inside the Pyramid of Senusret I.

Ancestry