Piye conquers Egypt
728 BCE · Memphis (modern Egypt) · World · Ancient
Piye led his army north along the Nile, taking Hermopolis, Memphis and other key places in succession, and forced the local rulers of Lower Egypt to submit one by one.
Belligerents
Kush (Nubia)
- Commanders
- Piye
- Strength
- Kushite expeditionary army and Nile fleet
Coalition of Lower Egyptian nomarchs
- Commanders
- Tefnakht
- Strength
- Coalition of Lower Egyptian local rulers
Background
The Kingdom of Kush, south of Upper Egypt, had long revered Egyptian religious traditions; taking advantage of the infighting among the rulers of Lower Egypt, it marched north and unified Egypt in the name of restoring order.
Course of the battle
- Takes city after city along the riverThe Kushite army took one Lower Egyptian town after another along the Nile
- Memphis stormedThe Kushite army stormed and took Memphis
- Local rulers submit one by oneThe remaining rulers of Lower Egypt submitted to Piye one by one
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 728 BCE |
|---|---|
| Place | Memphis (modern Egypt) |
| Result | Piye led his army north along the Nile, taking Hermopolis, Memphis and other key places in succession, and forced the local rulers of Lower Egypt to submit one by one. |
| Winner | Kush (Nubia) |
| Casualties | The garrisons of the Lower Egyptian coalition were defeated in many places, though no precise figures are recorded. |
| Territorial change | Kush founded the 25th Dynasty, which ruled all of Egypt. |
Impact
The 25th Dynasty founded by the Nubians ruled Egypt for nearly a century, fostering a deep blending of Kushite and Egyptian culture.
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