Pepi I Meryre

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Pepi I Meryre (reigned 2332 – 2283 BC) was the third king of the Sixth dynasty of Egypt. The throne name Meryre means "beloved of Re".

Pepi was the son of Teti and needed the support of powerful individuals in Upper Egypt in order to put down an usurper named Userkare who had murdered his father and win back his rightful throne. These individuals would remain a strong presence in his court thereafter, and two of his queens were daughters of his Upper Egyptian vizier. Pepi I's reign was marked by aggressive expansion into Nubia, the spread of trade to far-flung areas such as Lebanon and the Somalian coast, but also the growing power of the nobility. One of the king's officials named Weni fought in Asia on his behalf. His mortuary complex gave name to Memphis.

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Reign Length

An analysis of the damaged Dynasty 6 South Saqqara Stone Annal document gives him a reign of c.48-49 Years but this is not confirmed by the Turin King List which apparently assigns him 44 Years, according to Kim Ryholt's analysis of this document. The latter figure may be closer to the truth since it would imply that Pepi I's cattle count dating system was not always biennial. That this is the case is suggested by a famous Year after the 18th Count, 3rd Month of Shemu day 27 inscription from Wadi Hammamat No.74-75 which mentions the "first occurrence of the Heb Sed" in that year, according to Spalinger. (this would be Year 36 if Biennial) This information is significant because the Heb Sed Feast was always celebrated in a king's Year 30; if Pepi I was following a biennial counting system, the inscription should have been dated to the Year after the 15th Count instead.

Pepi I's highest dated document is the Year of the 25th Count, 1st Month of Akhet day [lost] from Hatnub Inscription No.3. The South Saqqara Stone explicitly confirms that Pepi I's last year was his Year of the 25th Count.

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