Pepy I
Pepy I
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Pepy I became pharaoh after his
mother Iput, daughter of King Unis and Tati’s widow, reigned in his
place because he was still too young. His reign lasted from 2330 to 2280
BC. Pepy I risked to be killed after a conspiracy plotted from inside.
To plat against the sovereign was his wife. Pepy I discovered the deceit,
got her arrested and forced her to undergo a drial that was performed
secretly before a single functionary. This man, who candemned the queen,
was called Uni and he worked for the firts three pharaohs of the VI
dynasty. After a while from the scandal involving the queen, Pepy I
decided to get married again. But one wife wasn’t enough, he chose two
wives, both of theme were daughters of a noble in Abydos called Khui.
The choice to have two marriages come probably from the desire of being
sure of giving the throne to heirs worthy of the royal title, avoiding
claims by those who had no right. From these women who took up the names
Ankhenesmeira I and II, Pepy I had various children. From the former
princess Neith and Menenra were born, who ascended to the throne after
his father’s death. (But some declare that actually Menenra was then
adopted by the King’s wife). It’s sure, instead, that ankhenesmeira,
gave birth to the future king, Pepy II, whi then got married with his
half-sister Neith. Pepy I, with his double marriage had given a great
power to the high class in Abydos: the city chosen by the king to bring
back to the central power the regions of middle and upper Egypt, that
had an important role in the central of the commercial traffic. The king
enforced the nobles’ power, mostly the nomarchs’ one . With Pepy I,
Egypt lived a moment of great prosperity. Many temples were built and
the commercial expeditions were multiplied and the troops reached Syria
and Sinai. The king’s soldiers had to face armed battles against the beduins. Except for these enemies, the King was able to keep the Country in a peaceful condition that allowed a politic of expansion, followed also by Pepy’s heirs.
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