The Eleventh (all of Egypt), Twelfth, 'Thirteenth' and Fourteenth 'Dynasties' of ancient Egypt are often combined under the group title
Middle Kingdom.
The 'Thirteenth Dynasty' begins the
Second Intermediate Period, which encompasses the overlapping Fourteenth through Seventeenth Dynasties. The Thirteenth Dynasty was from approximately 1782-1700 BCE.
Rulers
Known rulers, in the
History of Egypt, for the 'Thirteenth Dynasty' are as follows:
In later texts, this dynasty is usually described as an era of chaos and disorder. However, the period may have been more peaceful than was once thought since the central government in
Itj-tawy near the
Faiyum was sustained during most of the dynasty and the country remained relatively stable. Unfortunately, the true chronology of this dynasty is difficult to determine as there are few monuments dating from the period. Many of the kings' names are only known from an odd fragmentary inscription or from
scarabs.
Merneferre Ay
Merneferre Ay (also called Merneferre Ai) was the last king of the dynasty to be mentioned by name on monuments in Upper and Lower Egypt, with the eastern Delta breaking away under its own kings about the time of his death.
Successors
After allowing discipline at the southern forts to deteriorate, the government eventually withdrew its garrisons and, not long afterward, the forts were reoccupied by the rising Nubian state of Kush. In the north, parts of Lower Egypt became heavily settled by an immigrant Asiatic population. An independent line of kings created the Fourteenth Dynasty that arose in the western Delta during the later Thirteenth Dynasty. According to
Manetho, into this unstable mix came invaders from the east called the
Hyksos. Their regime, called the Fifteenth Dynasty, replaced the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Dynasties in most of the country.
References
★ Clayton, Peter A. "Chronicle of the Pharaohs: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers and Dynasties of Ancient Egypt", Thames & Hudson Ltd., London, 2006. ISBN 0500286280.