Tefnakht

The coalition of the north

Tefnakht was a powerful local ruler based in the western delta city of Sais and the founder of the 24th Dynasty. As the Kushite kings expanded their influence northward, Tefnakht rallied the fragmented Libyan chiefdoms and petty kings of Lower Egypt into a military coalition to confront them. He successfully expanded his domain to include Memphis and laid siege to Herakleopolis. When the Kushite king Piye pushed north, Tefnakht’s forces were severely beaten. He sued for peace and swore an oath of fealty, but the moment Piye returned to Nubia, Tefnakht reneged on his promise and reasserted his independent royal titles.