List of Egyptian Pharaohs, by Dynasty

Egypt was ruled by pharaohs for roughly three thousand years — longer than the gap between Cleopatra and the present day. Over 170 rulers are known by name, and many more only from broken king lists.

This is a filterable list of the rulers who matter most: the ones whose reigns are securely attested and whose decisions are still visible in the archaeology. Search by name, dynasty or achievement, or filter by period.

A Note on the Dates

Every date above is approximate, and you will find different figures in other sources. That is not carelessness — Egyptian chronology genuinely is uncertain, and the further back you go the wider the margin becomes.

The reason is how Egyptians recorded time. For much of the Old Kingdom they dated events by counting periodic cattle censuses rather than regnal years, and whether those counts happened annually or every second year varies by reign. That single ambiguity can shift a king’s dates by decades, as our article on the ancient Egypt census explains.

For the New Kingdom onward the margins narrow considerably, because astronomical observations and better-preserved records allow cross-checking. Dates for Cleopatra are firm to the year; dates for Narmer are an educated estimate.

Which rulers are included

This list covers securely attested rulers with a meaningful historical footprint. It leaves out the many short-lived or disputed kings of the Intermediate Periods, where rival dynasties ruled simultaneously and the king lists contradict each other.

Four women appear: Sobekneferu, Hatshepsut, Tausret and Cleopatra VII, plus Neferneferuaten, whose identity is disputed. Only Hatshepsut ruled long enough to leave a substantial building record.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pharaohs ruled ancient Egypt?

Over 170 are known by name across roughly thirty dynasties and three thousand years, though the exact count depends on how you treat rival rulers during the Intermediate Periods, when more than one dynasty held power at the same time.

Who was the first pharaoh of Egypt?

Narmer is usually named as the first, around 3100 BC, credited with uniting Upper and Lower Egypt. Some scholars identify him with Hor-Aha, and the unification was probably a process rather than a single event.

Who was the last pharaoh of Egypt?

Cleopatra VII, who died in 30 BC. The last native Egyptian pharaoh was Nectanebo II, who fled the Persian conquest in 343 BC — Cleopatra’s family was Macedonian Greek.

Which pharaoh ruled the longest?

Pepi II is traditionally credited with 94 years, but that figure is disputed and may be a misreading. The longest reign that is firmly documented is Ramesses II, at 66 years.

Were there female pharaohs?

Yes, though very few. Sobekneferu, Hatshepsut, Tausret and Cleopatra VII all held the title outright, and Neferneferuaten did too, though her identity is debated. Hatshepsut’s twenty-year reign was by far the most substantial.

Why are the dates different in other sources?

Because Egyptian chronology is reconstructed rather than recorded. Old Kingdom dates rest on cattle-count records whose interval is uncertain, so estimates vary by decades. Later periods can be cross-checked against astronomical records and are much firmer.