Rahotep

The first king of the 17th Dynasty

Rahotep is generally considered the founder of the 17th Dynasty in Thebes. His exact rise to power remains unclear; he may have married into the preceding 16th Dynasty or been installed as a vassal by the Hyksos following a raid. Regardless of his origins, his authority was strictly limited to the immediate Theban region. He held very little real power and was forced to share political control with other influential local families.