Pepi II Neferkare

Pepi II Neferkare was the fifth king of the Sixth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, who reigned for about 94 years, the longest of any monarch in history. He ascended the throne at the age of six, after the death of his father Merenre I. His mother Ankhesenpepi II and his uncle Djau served as his co-regents during his minority. Pepi II continued the expansionist policy of his predecessors, sending several expeditions to Nubia, Sinai, and the Levant. He also maintained trade relations with Byblos, Punt, and the oases of the Western Desert. He was interested in the fauna and flora of foreign lands, and once wrote a letter to a governor named Harkhuf, asking him to bring back a live pygmy from his expedition to Nubia. Pepi II was a prolific builder, who erected many pyramids, temples, and statues throughout Egypt. He also left behind numerous inscriptions, which attest to his long and eventful reign. However, his long reign also marked the decline of the Old Kingdom, as the power of the central government weakened and the provincial nobles gained more autonomy. The country faced environmental challenges, such as low Nile floods and droughts, which affected the agricultural production and the royal revenues. Pepi II was also faced with internal strife, as some of his officials and relatives rebelled against him, such as his vizier Weni and his son Merenre II. Pepi II died at an advanced age, probably over 100 years old, and was buried in a pyramid complex in Saqqara. He was succeeded by either Merenre II or Nitocris I, who were the last rulers of the Sixth Dynasty and the Old Kingdom. Pepi II’s legacy was mostly forgotten by later generations, until modern archaeologists rediscovered his monuments and records. He is now regarded as one of the most important and fascinating pharaohs of ancient Egypt.