Twenty-sixth dynasty of Egypt
| Egypt | ||||||||||
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| Capital | Sais | |||||||||
| Languages | Egyptian language | |||||||||
| Religion | Ancient Egyptian religion | |||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | |||||||||
| Pharaoh | ||||||||||
| • | 664-610 BC | Psamtik I (first) | ||||||||
| • | 526-525 BC | Psamtik III (last) | ||||||||
| History | ||||||||||
| • | Established | 664 BC | ||||||||
| • | Disestablished | 525 BC | ||||||||
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The Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt (notated Dynasty XXVI, alternatively 26th Dynasty or Dynasty 26) was the last native dynasty to rule Egypt before the Persian conquest in 525 BC (although others followed). The dynasty's reign (664–525 BC) is also called the Saite Period after the city of Sais, where its pharaohs had their capital, and marks the beginning of the Late Period of ancient Egypt.
This dynasty traced its origins to the 24th Dynasty. Psamtik I was probably a descendant of Bakenrenef, and following the Assyrians' invasions during the reigns of Taharqa and Tantamani, he was recognized as sole king over all of Egypt. While the Assyrian Empire was preoccupied with revolts and civil war over control of the throne, Psammetichus threw off his ties to the Assyrians, and formed alliances with Gyges, king of Lydia, and recruited mercenaries from Caria and Greece to resist Assyrian attacks.
With the sack of Nineveh in 612 BC and the fall of the Assyrian Empire, both Psamtik and his successors attempted to reassert Egyptian power in the Near East, but were driven back by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II. With the help of Greek mercenaries, Apries was able to hold back Babylonian attempts to conquer Egypt, only for the Persians to eventually do so. Their king, Cambyses II, captured and later executed Psamtik III.
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