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Amenemhet I[A´´menem´het, A´´–] Pronunciation Key, d. 1970 B.C., king of ancient Egypt, founder of the XII dynasty. The son of a powerful Theban family, he seized the kingship c.2000 B.C. The XII dynasty ushered in the Middle Kingdom of Egypt. Amenemhet centralized the government and subjected the long-powerful nobles to a virtually feudal state. His son and successor, Sesostris I was coregent from 1980 B.C. Amenemhet II, d. 1903 B.C., son and successor of Sesostris I, was coregent with his father (1938–1935 B.C.), then sole ruler (1935–1906 B.C.), finally coregent with his son and successor, Sesostris II (see under Sesostris I). He reopened the mines of Sinai. Amenemhet III, d. 1801 B.C., was the son and successor of Sesostris III (see under Sesostris I), with whom he had been coregent. He extended the irrigation system. Thousands of acres in the FaiyUm were reclaimed. Under his successor, Amenemhet IV, d. 1792 B.C., the power of the dynasty declined, and his successor, a woman, Sebenekfrure, was last of her family. The dynasty of pharaohs named Amenemhet or Sesostris maintained peace throughout their hegemony, thus enabling the arts and sciences to flourish as they never would again in Egypt.
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