c.1585 BCE
17th Dynasty of Egypt
c. 1580–1550 BCE
The 17th Dynasty was the Theban house that opened the war against the Hyksos. Seqenenre Taa's mummy shows battle wounds, and his successor Kamose recorded his campaign toward Avaris on stelae set up at Karnak.
Kamose's brother Ahmose I finished the task, expelled the Hyksos and founded the 18th Dynasty. Royal inscriptions of this phase mix real events with royal propaganda and should be read with care.
- Dates
- c. 1580–1550 BCE
- Rulers profiled
- 5
Rulers of the 17th Dynasty
Best-known rulers: Seqenenre Taa; Kamose; Ahmose I. Every ruler profile in the archive for this dynasty, in the order used by the chronology. Each name links to a full profile with dates, background, sources and illustrations.
c.1570 BCE
c.1560 BCE
c.1558–1554 BCE
1555–1550 BCE
Major monuments
- Deir el-Ballas
- Kamose stelae
- Seqenenre mummy
Key events
- Campaigns against Avaris and eventual reunification.
Reading the evidence
Royal proclamations and later stories need distinction.
Sources: UCL Digital Egypt; Metropolitan Museum; Shaw (2000). See the full bibliography.