The vizier was the highest official in ancient Egypt to serve the pharaoh (king) during the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. Vizier is the generally accepted rendering of ancient Egyptian , etc., among Egyptologists. The Instruction of Rekhmire (Installation of the Vizier), a New Kingdom text, defines many of the duties of the , and lays down codes of behavior. The viziers were often appointed by the pharaoh. During the 4th Dynasty and early 5th Dynasty, viziers were exclusively drawn from the royal family; from the period around the reign of Neferirkare Kakai onwards, they were chosen according to loyalty and talent or inherited the position from their fathers.M. Heimlich, “Ancient Egyptian Literature”, vol.2, pp.21ff.

Responsibilities

The viziers were appointed by the pharaohs. The vizier's paramount duty was to supervise the running of the country, much like a prime minister. At times this included small details such as sampling the city's water supply. All other lesser supervisors and officials, such as tax collectors and scribes, reported to the vizier. The judiciary was part of the civil administration, and the vizier also sat in the High Court. At any time, the pharaoh could exert his own control over any aspect of government, overriding the vizier's decisions. The vizier also supervised the security of the pharaoh and the palace by overseeing the comings and goings of palace visitors. The viziers often acted as the pharaoh's seal bearer as well, and the vizier would record trade. From the Fifth Dynasty onwards, viziers, who by then were the highest civilian bureaucratic official, held supreme responsibility for the administration of the palace and government, including jurisdiction, scribes, state archives, central granaries, treasury, storage of surplus products and their redistribution, and supervision of building projects such as the royal pyramid. In the New Kingdom, there was a vizier for Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt each.Jane Bingham, Fiona Chandler, Jane Chisholm, Gill Harvey, Lisa Miles, Struan Reid, and Sam Taplin "The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World" page 80

Installation of the Vizier

According to the Installation of the Vizier, a New Kingdom document describing the office of the vizier, there were certain traits and behaviors that were required to be a vizier:

Act by the law Judge fairly Do not act willfully or headstrong

List of viziers

Early Dynastic period

+Viziers of the Early Dynastic period Vizier Pharaoh Dynasty Comments Rekhit Narmer 1st Dynasty Retired to look after the estates of Neithhotep in their older years Saiset Hor-Aha 1st Dynasty Served as administrator of the Memphite region Amka Djer, Djet and Merneith's regency 1st Dynasty Served as administrator of Her-sekhenti-dju. Retired as overseer of Royal Estates in the Delta. Sewadjka Djet and Den 1st Dynasty Retired as overseer of Her-sekhenti-dju, one of the most prestigious offices of the 1st Dynasty Hemaka Den 1st Dynasty Served as royal sealbearer and chancellor. First non-royal to hold such a position. First dual chancellor over Her-sekhenti-dju and Her-tepi-khet. Henu-Ka Semerkhet and Qa'a 1st Dynasty Served both Pharaohs and supported Qa'a in his early reign Menka Nynetjer? 2nd Dynasty Earliest known holder of the simplified direct title known as 'Tjaty'

Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period

+Viziers of the Old Kingdom Vizier Pharaoh Dynasty Comments Kagemni I Sneferu 4th Dynasty Purported author of the Instructions of Kagemni. Not attested in contemporary sources. Nefermaat Khufu 4th Dynasty Son of Sneferu and father of Hemiunu Hemiunu Khufu 4th Dynasty Nefermaat's son, believed to have designed Khufu's pyramid Kawab Khufu 4th Dynasty Eldest son and vizier of Khufu Ankhhaf Khafre 4th Dynasty Son of Sneferu Nefermaat II Khafre 4th Dynasty Nephew of Nefermaat the Elder, a son of Nefertkau I; a grandson of Sneferu Minkhaf I Khafre 4th Dynasty Son of Khufu, vizier under Khafre Khufukhaf I Khafre 4th Dynasty Son of Khufu, vizier under Khafre Nikaure Likely Menkaure 4th Dynasty Son of Khafre Ankhmare Menkaure 4th Dynasty Son of Khafre Duaenre Menkaure 4th Dynasty Son of Khafre, vizier during the late 4th dynasty Nebemakhet Menkaure 4th Dynasty Son of Queen Meresankh III Iunmin I Possibly Menkaure 4th Dynasty Possibly son of Khafre, vizier during the late 4th dynasty Babaef II Shepseskaf 4th Dynasty Likely a grandson of Khafre Kanefer4th or 5th Dynasty Possibly Seshathotep Possibly Userkaf 5th Dynasty It is not certain if Seshathetep held the titles of a vizier Sekhemkare Userkaf and Sahure 5th Dynasty Son of Khafre and queen Hekenuhedjet Werbauba Sahure 5th Dynasty Washptah Neferirkare Kakai 5th Dynasty Minnefer Nyuserre Ini 5th Dynasty Ptahshepses Nyuserre Ini 5th Dynasty Became the son-in-law of Nyuserre Ini some time after his ascension to the throne. Seshemnefer III Nyuserre Ini 5th Dynasty Kay Possibly Nyuserre Ini 5th Dynasty Pehenuikai Possibly Nyuserre Ini 5th Dynasty Ptahhotep Desher Menkauhor Kaiu and/or Djedkare Isesi 5th Dynasty RashepsesDjedkare Isesi5th Dynasty Ptahhotep Likely Djedkare Isesi 5th Dynasty Ptahhotep I Djedkare Isesi 5th Dynasty Purported author of The Maxims of Ptahhotep Akhethotep Djedkare Isesi 5th Dynasty Son of Ptahhotep I Senedjemib Inti Djedkare Isesi 5th Dynasty Senedjemib Mehi Djedkare Isesi and Unas 5th Dynasty possible son-in-law of Unas (or Djedkare Isesi), vizier during the early 6th dynasty Ptahhotep II Unas 5th Dynasty Akhethetep Hemi Unas 5th Dynasty Ihy Unas 5th Dynasty Niankhba Unas 5th Dynasty Sekhem-ankh-Ptah 5th or 6th Dynasty Dating uncertain, may have been the son-in-law of a Pharaoh Nefersheshemre Teti 6th Dynasty Kagemni Teti 6th Dynasty son-in-law of Teti Mereruka Teti 6th Dynasty son-in-law of Teti Khentika Teti 6th Dynasty Mehu Teti or Pepi I 6th Dynasty Ankhmahor Teti – Pepi I 6th Dynasty Merefnebef Possibly Userkare 6th Dynasty Merefnebef was also named Fefi and Unasankh Heri Teti – Pepi I 6th Dynasty May have participated in the assassination of Teti Meryteti Pepi I 6th Dynasty grandson of Teti, son of Mereruka Iunmin II Pepi I 6th Dynasty Nebet Pepi I 6th Dynasty First woman appointed vizier, mother-in-law of Pepi I Inenek-Inti Pepi I 6th Dynasty Consort of Pepi I Tjetju Pepi I 6th Dynasty Qar Pepi I 6th Dynasty Djau Pepi I 6th Dynasty brother-in-law of Pepi I, son of Nebet Rawer Pepi I 6th Dynasty Weni Merenre Nemtyemsaf I 6th Dynasty Likely the same person as vizier Neferwenmeryre Teti Pepi II 6th Dynasty Hemre, Isi 6th or 8th Dynasty Pepyankh the Middle 6th or 8th Dynasty Pepy-ankh the black6th or 8th Dynasty Shemay Neferkaure and Neferkauhor 8th Dynasty son-in-law of Neferkauhor, nomarch of Coptos, later vizier Idy Possibly Neferirkare 8th Dynasty son of Shemay

Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period

+Viziers of the Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period Vizier Pharaoh Dynasty Comments Bebi Mentuhotep II 11th Dynasty Dagi Mentuhotep II 11th Dynasty Amenemhat Mentuhotep IV 11th Dynasty Later succeeded Mentuhotep IV on the throne as Amenemhat I, first Pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty Ipi Amenemhat I 12th Dynasty Intefiqer Amenemhat I Senusret I 12th Dynasty He is indicated in the Wadi el-Hudi as being involved in military missions in Lower Nubia. Senusret Senusret I Amenemhat II 12th Dynasty Ameny Amenemhat II 12th Dynasty Amenemhatankh Possibly Amenemhat IIW. Grajetzki: Court Officials of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom, London 2009, , p. 169 12th Dynasty Siese Amenemhat II 12th Dynasty Nebit Senusret III 12th Dynasty Khnumhotep III Senusret III 12th Dynasty Kheti Amenemhat III 12th Dynasty Ameny Amenemhat III 12th Dynasty Grajetzki: Court Officials, 169 Zamonth Amenemhat III 12th Dynasty Senewosret-Ankh 12th-13th Dynasty Khenmes 13th Dynasty Ankhu Khendjer 13th Dynasty Resseneb 13th dynasty Son of AnkhuGrajetzki: Court Officials, 170 Iymeru 13th Dynasty Son of Ankhu Neferkare Iymeru Sobekhotep IV 13th Dynasty Sobka called Bebi 13th Dynasty Ibiaw Wahibre Ibiau or Merneferre Ay 13th Dynasty SonbhenafKim Ryholt, The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period c.1800-1550 B.C." Museum Tuscolanum Press, 1997. p.192 () Wahibre Ibiau or Merneferre Ay, or Sekhemre Sementawy Djehuty uncertain Aya Ini I 13th Dynasty Aya was Governor of El Kab before being appointed vizier in year 1 of Ini I, as reported in the Juridical Stela Ayameru 13th Dynasty Ayameru was the younger son of Aya and succeeded him in office, as reported in the Juridical Stela

New Kingdom

+Viziers of the New Kingdom Vizier Pharaoh Dynasty Comments Tetinefer Ahmose I? 18th Dynasty Vizier of the North (Memphis) Imhotep Thutmose I 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South (Thebes) Aakheperreseneb Thutmose I 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Amethu called Ahmose Thutmose II, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Useramen Hatshepsut, Thutmose III 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Neferweben Thutmose III 18th Dynasty Likely Vizier of the North Rekhmire Thutmose III 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Amenemipet called Pairy Amenhotep II, Thutmose IV 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Seny Thutmose IV 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Hepu Thutmose IV 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Thutmose Amenhotep III 18th Dynasty Vizier of the North Ptahmose Amenhotep III 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Amenhotep-Huy Amenhotep III 18th Dynasty Vizier of the North Aperel Amenhotep III, Akhenaten 18th Dynasty Vizier of the North Ramose Amenhotep III, Akhenaten 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Nakhtpaaten Akhenaten 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Pentu Tutankhamun 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Usermontu Tutankhamun 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South Ay Tutankhamun 18th Dynasty Vizier of the South, later succeeded Tutankhamun on the throne as Ay Seti some time between Amenhotep III and Ramesses I 18th Dynasty His title appears on monuments of his son Ramesses I, p.174 Paramessu Horemheb 18th Dynasty Later succeeded Horemheb on the throne as Ramesses I, first Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty Seti Ramesses I 19th Dynasty Was already the heir apparent to his father Ramesses I when made vizer. Later succeeded Ramesses I on the throne as Seti I Nebamun Horemheb, Ramesses I, Seti I, Ramesses II 18th Dynasty, 19th Dynasty Vizier of the North Paser Seti I, Ramesses II 19th Dynasty Vizier of the South Nehi Ramesses II 19th Dynasty Vizier of the South Khay Ramesses II 19th Dynasty Vizier of the South, ca. Year 27–45 Thutmose Ramesses II 19th Dynasty Vizier of the South, ca. Year 45–50. Prehotep I Ramesses II 19th Dynasty Vizier of the North in ca year 40. Prehotep II Ramesses II 19th Dynasty Vizier of the North in ca year 50. Neferronpet Ramesses II 19th Dynasty Vizier of the South in ca year 50 Panehesy Merneptah 19th Dynasty Vizier of the South Pensekhmet Merneptah 19th Dynasty Vizier of the South, Year 8 Merysekhmet Merneptah 19th Dynasty Vizier of the North, Year 3? Amenmose Seti II and Amenmesse 19th Dynasty Vizier of the South Khaemtir Seti II and Amenmesse 19th Dynasty Vizier of the South Paraemheb Seti II and Amenmesse 19th Dynasty Vizier of the South Hori II Seti II, Siptah, Tausret, Sethnakht and Ramesses III 19th Dynasty Iuty 20th Dynasty Vizier of the North? Nehi? Ramesses III 20th Dynasty Hewernef Ramesses III 20th Dynasty Vizier of the South To Ramesses III 20th Dynasty Vizier of the South Neferronpe Ramesses IV to Ramesses VI 20th Dynasty Vizier Nehy Ramesses VI 20th Dynasty Vizier, son of Neferronpe Mentehetef (Montu-hir-hetef) Ramesses IX 20th Dynasty Vizier of the South Wennefer Ramesses IX 20th Dynasty Vizier of the South Nebmarenakht also called Sahta-nefer Ramesses IX, Ramesses X and Ramesses XI 20th Dynasty Vizier of the South Khaemwaset Ramesses IX 20th Dynasty Vizier of the South Nebmarenakht also called Sahta-nefer (again) Ramesses IX 20th Dynasty Vizier of the South Herihor Ramesses XI 20th Dynasty Vizier of the South

Third Intermediate Period