7th century BCE – 7th century BCE
Kush and Egypt
Tanwetamani was the successor of Taharqa at Napata who led a final Kushite advance into Egypt in 664 BC. He penetrated the Delta and apparently killed Necho of Sais, but Assyrian forces drove him back, extended their control into Upper Egypt, and sacked Thebes.
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The Story
Tanwetamani succeeded Taharqa at Napata during the continuing contest between Kush and Assyria for control of Egypt. His accession did not end Kushite ambitions in the Nile Valley. Instead, he marched north in 664 BC and penetrated into the Egyptian Delta.
During this advance, Tanwetamani apparently killed Necho, the chief of Sais. The wording preserves uncertainty about the precise event, but the political consequences were substantial. Assyrian forces responded by driving Tanwetamani back and then pushing into Upper Egypt.
The Assyrian counter-offensive culminated in the ruinous sack of Thebes in 663 BC. Tanwetamani’s defeat therefore marked the collapse of the Kushite attempt to retain power in Egypt and prepared the political conditions from which Psamtek of Sais later emerged as ruler of a reunited Egypt.
7th century BCE – 7th century BCE
Kush and Egypt
Continue exploring
The Story
During this advance, Tanwetamani apparently killed Necho, the chief of Sais. The wording preserves uncertainty about the precise event, but the political consequences were substantial. Assyrian forces responded by driving Tanwetamani back and then pushing into Upper Egypt.
The Assyrian counter-offensive culminated in the ruinous sack of Thebes in 663 BC. Tanwetamani’s defeat therefore marked the collapse of the Kushite attempt to retain power in Egypt and prepared the political conditions from which Psamtek of Sais later emerged as ruler of a reunited Egypt.
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