Middle Kingdom
Mentuhotep IV (Nebtawyre)
11th Dynasty (all Egypt) · 2055-1985 BCE
Open full-size illustration →Full profile
An obscure final reign
Mentuhotep IV is the final and most obscure ruler of the 11th Dynasty. Curiously, his name was deliberately omitted from several later official king lists, suggesting his rule may have been contested or ended illegitimately.
The rise of Amenemhat
His reign is best known for a massive quarrying expedition sent to the Wadi Hammamat. This expedition of 10,000 men was led by his powerful vizier, Amenemhat. Ancient inscriptions claim the journey was blessed by miracles, including a pregnant gazelle giving birth on the exact stone they needed. Historians heavily suspect that this same vizier eventually orchestrated a coup, overthrowing Mentuhotep IV to crown himself as Amenemhat I—the founder of the legendary 12th Dynasty.