Khyan (Seuserenre)

International diplomacy

Khyan ruled over a highly prosperous Hyksos kingdom. Taking advantage of the favorable climate and strategic Mediterranean trade routes, he elevated Avaris into a major international hub. He actively exchanged gifts with foreign leaders across the ancient world. Archaeological evidence confirms his wide-reaching influence; stone bowls bearing his name have been discovered at Hattusa, the future capital of the Hittite Empire in central Turkey, and at the Minoan capital of Knossos on the Greek island of Crete.

Claiming the two lands

As the Hyksos became more entrenched in Egyptian culture, Khyan's ambitions grew. Moving beyond his proud identity as a foreign ruler, he explicitly adopted traditional Egyptian royal iconography. He added the ambitious phrase "he who embraces the banks of the Nile" to his Horus name, directly signaling his intent to rule all of Egypt, not just the northern delta.