Predecessor Smendes Successor Psusennes I Name Amenemnisu Amenemnisu | Role Pharaoh Died 1047 BC | |
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Reign 1051–1047 BCE (21st Dynasty) Similar Smendes, Amenemope, Psusennes I, Ramesses XI, Herihor | ||
Neferkare Amenemnisu was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 21st Dynasty.
Reign
Amenemnisu's existence was only confirmed in 1940 when the Tanite tomb of his successor Psusennes I was discovered by Pierre Montet: a gold bow cap inscribed with both Amenemnisu's royal name, Neferkare, and that of his successor Psusennes I was found within the tomb. Previously, his existence had been doubted as no objects naming him had been discovered. However, the memory of his short rule as the second pharaoh of the 21st Dynasty was preserved in Manetho's Epitome as a king Nephercheres who is assigned a short reign of four years.
While his reign is generally obscure, the then High Priest of Amun at Thebes, Menkheperre, is known to have pardoned several leaders of a rebellion against the High Priest's authority during Amenemnisu's reign. These rebels had previously been exiled to the Western Oasis of Egypt in Year 25 of Smendes. These events are reported on the so-called Banishment Stela (Louvre C. 256), likely made during the brief reign of Amenemnisu.