Djedkare Isesi

Djedkare Isesi
Djedkara, Izezi, Izzj, Asosi, Tankeris
Relief of Djedkare Isesi, Egyptian Museum of Berlin
Pharaoh
Reign	Duration uncertain, at least 33 years and possibly more than 44 years, in the late-25th to mid-24th century BC(Fifth Dynasty)
Predecessor	Menkauhor Kaiu
Successor	Unas
Royal titulary
Consort	possibly Meresankh IV?
Children	Neserkauhor ♂, Kekheretnebti ♀, Meret-Isesi ♀, Hedjetnebu ♀, Nebtyemneferes ♀ Uncertain: Raemka ♂, Kaemtjenent ♂, Isesi-ankh ♂ Conjectural: Unas ♂
Burial	Pyramid of Djedkare Isesi

Djedkare Isesi (known in Greek as Tancherês) was an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh, the eighth and penultimate ruler of the Fifth Dynasty in the late 25th century to mid-24th century BC, during the Old Kingdom period. Djedkare succeeded Menkauhor Kaiu and was in turn succeeded by Unas. His relations to both of these pharaohs remain uncertain, although it is often conjectured that Unas was Djedkare's son, owing to the smooth transition between the two.

Djedkare likely enjoyed a reign of more than 40 years, which heralded a new period in the history of the Old Kingdom. Breaking with a tradition followed by his predecessors since the time of Userkaf, Djedkare did not build a temple to the sun god Ra, possibly reflecting the rise of Osiris in the Egyptian pantheon. More significantly, Djedkare effected comprehensive reforms of the Egyptian state administration, the first undertaken since the inception of the system of ranking titles. He also reorganised the funerary cults of his forebears buried in the necropolis of Abusir and reformed the corresponding priesthood. Djedkare commissioned expeditions to Sinai to procure copper and turquoise, to Nubia for its gold and diorite and to the fabled Land of Punt for its incense. One such expedition had what could be the earliest recorded instance of oracular divination undertaken to ensure an expedition's success. The word "Nub", meaning gold, to designate Nubia is first recorded during Djedkare's reign. Under his rule, Egypt also entertained continuing trade relations with the Levantine coast and made punitive raids in Canaan. In particular, one of the earliest depictions of a battle or siege scene was found in the tomb of one of Djedkare's subjects.