Twelfth Dynasty ( 1991 - 1802 BC )

 This dynasty ruled for nearly two centuries and consists of kings known as Amenemhat and Senusret respectively, and they are as follows:

The family tree of 12th Dynasty

-King Amenemhat I

-King Senusret I

-King Amenemhat II

-King Senusret II

-King Snow

• King Amenemhat I ( 1991 - 1962 BC 

Egypt flourished greatly during his reign, and one of the most important actions of King Amenemhat I was that he organized the government, limited the power of the nobles, and moved the capital from Thebes in the south to Athetawi, meaning (holding the two lands) in the north it is near the area of Lisht, which is the area chosen by King Amenemhat I to build his pyramid. He was interested in the temples of the gods and was also interested in the city of Lisht because he chose it to build his pyramid group. He was also interested in the political and social aspects and the administrative state in the state, he ruled Egypt for 30 years, including 10 years in which his son Senusret I shared the rule with him, and in a papyrus known as “King Amenemhat I’s Advice to His Son,” in which he explains matters of government and explains to him how did the enemies kill him .

Cartouche of Amenemhat I, detail of a wall-block from Koptos

Horus name of King Amenemhat I, from Koptos

Pyramid of Amenemhet I at el-Lisht

• King Senusret I ( 1971 - 1926 BC )

Statue of Senusret I

Statue of King Senusret I in the white Hedjet crown of Upper Egypt

Osiride statue of Senusret I

• King Senusret II ( 1897 - 1878 BC )

The statue of Senusret II

He is the son of Amenemhat II. He shared rule with his father for two years, and after that he ruled alone for 19 years. He followed his father's policies, whether internal or external, and it seems that he preferred, like his father, a life of peace. We did not find texts indicating that he waged wars of revenge in Africa or Asia. He was content with exploiting mines and quarries in Sinai and Wadi Hammamet He took care of the city of Fayoum and established irrigation projects there. He built his pyramid near Al-Lahun at the entrance to Fayoum. It seems that he did not care about the established traditions that were recognized by him in the Old and Middle Kingdom regarding the construction of the pyramid, as he made its entrance on the southern facade (which is often on the northern facade).With the death of this great king, a bright period of Pharaonic history ended in which the four kings of this dynasty united Egypt economically, socially, and politically. They tried their best to avoid wars with their neighbors, and the Pharaoh at that time had prestige everywhere.

The Pyramid of Senusret II at El-Lahun

Limestone slab showing the cartouche of Senusret II and the name and image of the goddess Nekhbet. From Mastaba 4, north side of Senusret II Pyramid at Lahun, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.

• King Senusret III ( 1878 - 1839 BC )

He is the son of Senusret II and ruled Egypt for about 35 years, In it, he was able to eliminate the influence of the regional rulers after their wealth and influence increased, and after that they became employees, nothing more and nothing less Thus, the prestige of the ruling king returned to Egypt, and King Senusret III made a great effort to assert his authority over Nubia, as he launched four disciplinary campaigns It ended with Nubia's final annexation of Egypt. As for the northeast, Senusret also launched campaigns to strengthen the Sultan of Egypt, whether in Palestine or Syria. Senusret III died after building his pyramid in Dahshur, and Egypt was at the height of its glory and thanks to him it became safe from southern and eastern invasions. 

King Senusret III

Granite statue of Senwosret III - he is shown wearing the nemes headcloth with a cobra image of Wadjet at the front, the pleated shendyt kilt, and the bull's tail, visible between his legs; beneath his feet are nine bows, symbolizing Egypt's traditional enemies under his power; unlike his predecessors, who were shown with idealized facial features, Senwosret has heavily lidded eyes, lined and haggard cheeks, and pursed lips; the reason for this stylistic change is not known, but imitations of his features by later kings and private individuals suggest that Senwosret's features were intended to convey his virtuous qualities. Brooklyn Museum ( Wikipedia )

The stela of Senusret III

• King Amenemhat III

Everything that his father, Senusret III, did, whether internally in terms of reforms or externally in terms of wars, had an impact on the life of prosperity and peace that his son Amenemhat III 

Statue of Amenemhat III

lived as king of Egypt, which lasted 45 years, all of which he devoted to economic aspects for the benefit of the country . He was interested in sending missions to the Sinai mines to exploit copper and turquoise, as more than 59 inscriptions recorded by the foremen there in his name and dating back to his era were found there. He also sent missions to the Wadi Hammamet quarries to extract basalt, to the Tura quarries to extract white limestone, and to Nubia to extract gold. He also paid attention to irrigation projects, where he reclaimed lands flooded with water and stored that water for use in times of drought. King Amenemhat III built two pyramids for him, the first in Dahshur and the second in Hawara near Fayoum. With the death of Amenemhat III, a bright period in the history of Egypt ended, and his son, King Amenemhat IV, assumed power after him, who ruled according to the Turin Papyrus for 9 years. We do not know exactly the period during which he shared the rule with his father, then his sister Sobekneferu came after him and ruled for three years, and her name was found on many antiquities dating back to this period. After that, the 12fth Dynasty and thus the Middle Kingdom collapsed.

The pyramid of Amenemhat III at Hawara

The Black Pyramid of Amenemhat III