The Second period intermediate is one period of instability in the history of the ancient Egypt which is located between the Moyen Empire and the Nouvel Empire.

Although the tradition conveyed by Manéthon makes of it a clear cut with the Moyen Empire because of the invasion of the Low-Egypt by the Hyksôs, the studies tend to show that it of it is nothing.

Indeed, the passage between the queen-Pharaon Néférousébek (last sovereign of) and Ougaf (the first Pharaon of) seem to be done without clash. Moreover, to the king Sekhemrê Khoutaoui, the Pharaons of this dynasty seem to reign on the whole of the territory (Delta and Nubie included/understood). It is only gradually, with the weakening of the central capacity, that the Pharaons will lose ground.

It is under the reign of Néferhotep {{Ier}}, that appears in the Delta, which is created in the sixth names of Low-Egypt and whose capital is Xoïs. Little time after, another dynasty will occur with Avaris, in the east of the Delta. This dynasty, is formed by the Hyksôs (which means “chiefs of the foreign countries”) whose one is unaware of the exact origin but which was to be, either people of the Middle-East, or a coalition of the people which had immigrant in the Delta since the Average Empire. The Pharaons of control on the remainder of the country until Dédoumésiou {{Ier}} (or Didoumès). At that time, the sovereign Hyksôs Salitis seizes most of the country, grace in particular to their technological advance as regards armament which the Cavalerie represents, the charrery, armours or, the Cimeterre S.

All the provinces make allegiance with the Hyksôs sovereigns. Even Thèbes, which will be later the hearth of the rebellion, seems to yield there. And S do not die out therefore, but lose a share of their autonomies. It is at that time that in Thèbes the exit is born from a local branch from and whose first representative is the king Antef {{V}}. The dynasty will reign on the eight first name of High-Egypt. Under Sobekemsaf {{II}} (), Nédjeh founds a Nubian kingdom between Éléphantine and the second cataract whose capital is Bouhen. Of Xoïs éteind about 1650 and XIIIe dynasty is prolonged a little after this date, until seems you it about 1634 (There is no consensus on this date).

The situation will remain fixed until the reign of Sénakhtenrê Taâ {{Ier}} () and of its Hyksôs competitor, Apophis {{Ier}}. It is indeed during their reigns that a long war of liberation will be engaged by the thébains. It will be continued by Séqénenrê Taâ {{II}}, then Kamosé which will push back the Northern border of its kingdom until the Delta of the Nile. It will be completed by Ahmosé which in addition to driving out Hyksôs as far as minor Asia, will be made also main of the Nubie, putting fine at Hyksôs and the kingdom Kouchite de Bouhen (where it will install an important garrison). With him opens it and the Nouvel Empire.

The history of the reconquest of the country by the kings thébains is known to us by two literary sources: a tale of the New Empire, the Quarrel of Apophis and Séqénenrê ( Papyrus Sallier , British Museum) and the funerary account of a veteran of this war, Ahmès wire of Abana.

Succession of the dynasties

Note : It is a question here only of showing the succession of the dynasties and not a homogeneous chronology. The duration of each phase is not represented in this table.

References