Pilgrimage, Book 6 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI
The Egyptian Chronologie, out of Manetho high Priest of the Egyptians, and others.
AFter this so long a Historie of Aegyptian affaires, I hauehave here added the order of times, wherein those things happened, that this our Relation might bee the more complete, although perhappes it may seeme to some more then taedious already. Varro diuided times into three sorts; the first he called Vncertaine: the second, Fabulous: the third, Historicall: Ioseph Sealiger, a man happily more studious in this Subiect of times, then all Times before hauehave yeelded vsus, reckoneth the two former for one, as not easily to be distinguished. He hath also published to the world not onelyonly his owne learned Obseruations on Eusebius Chronicle, but such fragments aExcerpta Barbaro-Lat. Manuse. Chron. Causab. Collectan… bist. &c.as out of Cedrenus, Syncellus, and others, he could finde both of Eusebius Chronicle in Greek, (for before we had onelyonly the Latine translation of Hierome, much whereof also is vtterly lost) as also of Africanus, from whose Store-house Eusebius tooke his Chronicle, both for matter and words, almost by whole sale, And whereas Annius had before cousened the world with countersets of Berosus, Manetho, Metasthenes, with other Fabulous tales, falsely fathered on the auncients: Hee hath helped vsus likewise to some Reliques of those Histories, which others hauehave inserted into their workes; the very bones of such carkasses being worthy of admiration, if not of veneration. The true Manetho therefore in three Tomes, wrote the Aegyptian Historie vntounto Ptolomaeus Philadelphus: his Greeke Epistle Dedicatorie, being but short, I hauehave thus translated.
To the Great King Ptolomaeus Philadelphus b… Venerable, appropriated after to Augustus, and his successors.Augustus, Manetho High Priest and Scribe of the sacred sanctuaries, throughout Egypt, of the Sebennite Family, a Heliopolitan, to my Lord Ptolomaeus, Greeting. It behoneth vsus (mighty King) to giuegive account of all those things which you counsell vsus to search out. The sacred Bookes, written by our forefather Trismegistus Hermes, which I hauehave learned (according as you, enquiring what things shall come to passe in the world, hauehave commanded me) shall bee declared: Farewell, my Lord King.
Hence appeareth the time of Manetho, and his Pontisicall dignitle, with the Originall of his Antiquities borrowed of Hermes, and the occasion of his vvriting in the Greeke, as to a Grecian King.
*Patricius out of a holy book setteth downe this Genealogie; Horus, the sonne of Osiris, he of Chus, and he of Cham or Chamephes.He first setteth downe the yeares of the raignes of their Gods. Vulcan, Sol. Agathodoemon, Saturne, Osiris and Isis, Typhon. Then of the demigods: Orus, who raigned fiue and twenty yeares: Mars, three and twenty: Anubis, seuenteene: Hercules, fourteene: Apollo, foure and twenty: Ammon, thirtie: Tithoes, seuen and twenty: Sosus, two and thirtie: Iupiter, twenty. Things both false in themselues and in the copie imperfect. After these he reckoneth in order two and thirtie cAegyptian Dynasties.Dynastiae, Lordships, or gouernments in Egypt.
1. The first of the Thinites; of eight Kings, whose names and yeares of raigne are, Menes, threescore and two: he was slaine of an Hyppopotamus, or Riuer-horse. Athothis his sonne, seuen and fiftie. Hee built a Palace in Memphis, and wrote of Anatomie. Cen…cenes, his sonne, one and thirtie. Enephes, his sonne, three and twenty. In his time was a great Famine. He built the Pyramides in Cochon. Saphoedus, his sonne, twenty: Semen…psis, his sonne, eighteene: Bieneches, his sonne, six and twenty. Sum. tot. two hundred threescore and three.
2. The second Dynastie of the Thinites; vnderunder nine Kings. Whose names and yeares of their raigne are in order as followeth, Boethus, eight and thirtie yeares. Catechos, nine and thirtie: in his time was ordained the worship of Apis, at Memphis, and Mueuis at Heliopolis. Binothris, seuen and fortie: Tlas, seuenteene: Sethenes, one and fortie: Chaeres, seuenteene: Nephercheres, fiue and twenty: in his time Nilus is said to hauehave had his waters mixed with honie. Sesochris, eight and fortie: Ceneres, thirtie. Summe three hundred and two.
3. The third of the Memphites. Echerophes, eight and twenty: Tosorthros, nine and twenty. He is supposed to be Aesculapius for his skill in Physicke; studious of painting and Architecture. Tyris, seuen: Mesochris, seuenteene: Zoyphis, sixteene: Tosertasis, nineteene: Aches, two and fortie: Siphuris, thirtie: Herpberes, six and twenty.
4. The fourth Dynastie of the Memphites. Soris, nine and twenty: Suphis, threescore and three: he made the greatest Pyramis. Suphes, threescore and six: Mencheres, three score and three: Ratoeses, fiue and twenty: Bicheres, two and twenty: Zebercheres, seuen. Tamphthis, nine: Sesochris, eight and fortie.
5. The fist of the Elephantines. Vsercheres, eight and twenty: Sephres, thirteene: Nephercheres, twenty: Sisiris, seuen: Echeres, twenty: Rathuris, one and fortie: Mercheres, nine: Tacheres, fortie and foure: Vnos, three and thirtie.
6. The sixt of the Memphites. Othoes, thirtie: Phios, three: Methusuphis, seuen, Phiops, a hundred: Menthesuphis, one: Nitochris, twelue: she built the third Pyramis.
7. The seuenth of seuentie Kings that raigned so many daies a peece
8. The eight offeuen and twenty Kings which raigned a hundred forty & eight yeares. Their names are not expressed.
9. The ninth Dynastie was of the Heracleopolitans: of which were nineteene Kings, that raigned foure hundred and nine yeares. The first of them was Achthoes a cruell Tyrant, deuoured by a Crocodile.
10. The tenth was of nineteene Kings: whose raigne endured a hundred fourescore and fiue yeares.
11. The eleuenth of the Diospolitans: whose sixteene Kings raigned three and fortie yeares. Here endeth the first Tome of Manetho: whose second Tome containeth the twelfth Dynastie of the Diospolitans; The first of which was Cosongoses, six and fortie: Ammamenes, eight and thirty: Sesostris the great Conquerour, eight and fortie: Lachares, eight Ammares, eight; Ammenenes, eight: Semiophris, foure.
12. The thirteenth, of threescore Kings which raigned foure hundred fiftie & three yeares.
14. The fourteenth of threescore and seuenteene Kings, contained a hundred fourescore and foure.
15. The fifteenth of Phaenicians, Shepheards, the first of which was Saites, nineteene: Anon, three and fortie: Pachnan, threescore and one: Staan, eight: Arcles, fortie nine: Aphobis, threescore and one: In all two hundred fortie and two. And the totall summe of the yeares of these fifteene Dynasties is three thousand three hundred and seuenteene.
16. The sixteenth Dynastie was of other shepheards whose thirtie two Kings raigned fiue hundred and eighteene yeares.
17. The seuenteenth was of other Shepheards vnderunder thirtie three Kings, and the Theban Diospolites, a hundred fiftie and one yeares.
18. The eighteenth of the Diospolites. Amos, fiue and twenty: Chebros, thirteene: Amenophthis, foure and twenty: Amersis, two and twenty: Misphris, thirteene: Misphragmnthosis, six and twenty: Thuthmosis, nine: Amenophthis, one and thirtie. This is supposed to be Memnon and the speaking Statue. Oros, seuen and thirtie: Acherres, two and thirtie: Rathos, six: Chebres, twelue: Acherres, twelue: Amerses, fiue: Rammeses, one: Ammenoph, nineteene: in all, two hundred fourescore and seuen.
19. The nineteenth Sethos, one and twenty: Rhapsaces, three score and one: Ammenephthes, twentie: Rameses, three score: Ammenemes, fiue: Thuoris, six.
20. In the third tome. The twentieth Dynastie lasted one hundred and fiue and twenty yeares. The Kings were twelue.
21. The one & twentith, of the Tanites: Smerdes, six and twenty: Psusennes, two and fortie: Nephelcherres, foure: Amenopbtis, nine: Opsochon, six: Psineches, nine: Susennes, foureteene: called Sesac in Scripture: in all, one hundred and ten.
22. The two & twentith, of the Bubashtes: Sesonchis, one and twenty: Vsorthon, fifteene. The third, fourth, and fift, are not named: to them are ascribed fiue and twentie yeares: In this space Zara the Ethiopian ouer-ranne these parts. Takellothis, thirteene: his successor, two and fortie: in all, one hundred and sixteene.
23. The three & twentith of the Tanites: Petubastes, forty: Osorchos, eight: Psammus, ten: Ze,—one and thirty: in all, foure score and nine.
24. The foure and twentith, of Boechoris the Saite, who reigned foure and forty yeares, was taken and burned of Sabbacon.
25. The fiue & twentith, of the Ethiopians: Sabbacon, eight: Senech, fourteene: Tarach, eighteene: in all, forty.
26. The six & twentith, of the Saites: Stephinates, seuen: Nechepsos, six. Thus farre out of Manetho: heere follow out of Herodotus; Psammeticus, forty foure: Nechao, seuenteene; he slew Iosias: Psammis, sixteene: Vaphres, fiue & twentith; with him Zedekiah entred league. Herodotus calleth him Apnes. The Masorites, by their Hebrew points (through ignorance of foreine Historie, as Scaliger saith) hauehave made it Hophra, of whom Ieremie dIere.44.30.prophecied that destruction which Amosis executed (as Herodotus reporteth) who reigned foure and forty yeares. The summe of the yeares of this Dynastie is one hundred fifty and nine.
27. Here followeth againe out of Manetho: The seuen and twentith Dynastie of the Persians: Cambyses, foure: Darius Hystaspes, six and thirtie: Xerxes, twenty: Artabanus, seuen moneths: Artaxerxes Longimanus, fortie: Xerxes, two moneths: Sogdianus, seuen: Darius Nothus, eleuen: in all, one hundreth and thirteene.
28. The eight and twentith, of the Mendesians; Amyrtaus Saites, six.
29. The nine & twentith, Nepherites, six: Achoris, twelue: Psammites, one: Nepherites, two moneths.
30. The thirtith, of the Sebennites; Nectanebis, eighteene: Teos, two: Nectanebos, eighteene.
31. The one & thirtith, of the Persians: Artaxerxes Ochos, ten: He recouered Egypt in the seuenteenth yere of his raigne: Arsos, foure: Darius Codomannus, six: subdued by Alexander. Hitherto Manetho. The whole summe of whose one and thirtie Dynasties amount to fiue thousand three hundred fiftie and fiue yeares.
32. The two and thirtith Dynastie, of the Macedonians: Alexander Mag. fiue. Ptelomoeus Lagi, fortie: Ptol Philadelphus, eight and thirtie: Ptol. Energetes, six and twentie: Ptol. Philopator, seuenteene: Ptol. Epiphanes, foure and twenty: Ptol. Philometor, fiue and thirtie: Ptol. Energetes 2. nine and twentie: Ptol. Physcon, seuenteene: Ptol. Alexander, ten: Ptol. Cleopatra, eight: Ptol. Dionysius, thirtie: Cleopatra, two and twenty: in all, three hundred and one.
If the former Catalogue doe not agree with therelations of Iosephus, eCont. Ap. Theoph.lib.3.Theophilus or others, who hauehave cited some parts of Manetho in their workes, it is not much maruell; the Graecians being alway audacious, ready to peruert Authors to their owne purposes; besides the ouersights of Writers, through negligence or ignorance in foreine names. Neither is Manetho's word an Oracle, who reckoneth so long times before any time was: but either it is to be ascribed to the arrogancie of the Egyptian Priests desirous to be accounted no lesse ancient then the Chaldaeans: for Berosus and Manetho (as if they had been agreed) deriue their Histories from like Antiquitie (saith Scaliger out of Syncellus) which would better appeare, if we had the entire bodies, and not a few scattered bones of their Histories: or else we may ascribe it to their confounding of Histories, applying to an order of Succession, the diuers reignes of seuerall Dynasties, which happily gouerned at the same time in seuerall partes of Egypt, as in so small a Region as Canaan, Ioshua destroyed one and thirty Kings. This Scaliger fCan. Isageg.l.3coniectureth, Lydyat gL.deemen. T. Some suppose the first of these Dynasties were soon after the Creation, & soone after the floud: see the History of the World.affirmeth. Neither yet is Scaliger to be blamed for acquainting the world with these fragments of Manetho, considering that the middle part thereof holdeth, not onelyonly likelihood in it selfe, but in great part correspondence with the Scriptures. If the Egyptians deuised otherwise to Herodotus and Diodorus, it was easie for them to deceiue strangers, or be deceiued themselues. The like historie of prodigious Antiquities Augustine hDe ciu. Dei lib.12.c.10.relateth of an Egyptian Priest that told Alexander of the continuance of the Macedonian kingdome eight thousand yeares, whereas the Graecians accounted but foure hundred and fourescore. Yea, the Scriptures themselues hauehave not escaped that mis-reckoning of Times; almost all Antiquitie being carried downe the streame of the Seuenty Interpreters, which adde many hundred yeares to the Hebrew Text, either of purpose, as some iBrou.Concent.suppose, or as Augustine kDe ciuit.h.15.ca.13.thinketh, by errour of him that first copied the Scriptures out of Ptolomeis Library.
That which we reade of the Dynasties of the Shepheards, Scaliger interpreteth of that baser seruile sort, which Moses lGenesis 46.34saith were abhominable to the Aegyptians, and seeme to hauehave beene strangers, that inhabited some Fenny places which Nature had fortified, if we beleeue Heliodorus mHist. Aeth.l.1, and thence made forrages into the Countrey (the custome of Borderers) and were called therefore Robbers. These (it seemeth) driuen to their shifts, by the hard and tyrannous vsage of the Egyptians, procured (as we reade of the Tartars) their owne freedome, and thraldome of their Lords. The Romans in their times were forced to maintaine a garrison against them, therefore called foreign. And Hierome mentioneth nIn vita Hilar.the Bucolia where no Christians dwelled, but onelyonly a fierce nation. Iosephus oIos. cont. Ap. Euseb, Chron.and Eusebius thinke them to be the Israelites, which is vnlikely, because, they liued in seruitude, and neuer reigned there. Lydyat supposeth the Philistims vnderunder Abimelech and Phicol to be the men.
Nothing is more obscure in this Egyptian Chronologie, then the time of the departure of the Israelites thence vnderunder Moses, whom Iu…lin pParaen…ad gen.Martyr affirmeth out of Diodorus to hauehave beene the first that wrote the Egyptian Lawes. Tatianus Affyrius qOrat. contra Groec.(who after became an heretike) saith (and alleadgeth Ptolomey Mendefius a Priest for his Author) that this departure was in the dayes of Amasis king of Egypt, who liued in the time of Inachus. Theophilus and Iosephus rTheopb. lib.3.out of Manetho, in the reigne of Tethmoses: Eusebius sEul. Nicoph. pat.in the reigne of Cenchres: Others tAdo Funct. Beroal.Perk. Bunt.odom.Mare. Pont. Pbrigio. Wol…h. tpis. Chron…gr. Dagli. Mu…st. &c.otherwise, according to the diuers interpretation of Manetho. The Scripture sheweth, it was after foure hundred and thirtie yeares, from the promise first made to Abraham, as all that I know both elder and later, Greeke and Latin Chronographers, except Genebrard and Adriehomius, reckon it. Lydyat thinketh that the drowning of the Egyptian Pharao was the cause of those tumults in Egypt, about succession, which are ascribed to Aegyptus and Danans. Of this Aegyptus some deriue the name of the Country: which hee supposeth rather to be compounded of Ai and Capti or Copti, that is, the Region of Copti the chiefe city, as of Ai & Thebets or Thebais, Aethiops. uScalig.de Em. Temp.lib.5.Ignatius the Patriarch of Antioch, in his Arabian Epistle to Scaliger, calleth Egypt the land of Copti, where he saith, by a cruell edict of Dioctesian, were slaine one hundred forty foure thousand, and other seuen hundred thousand were by the same Tyrant exiled. Orosius xOr. lib.1.c.10reporteth that the prints of the Charriot-wheeles of the Egyptians, then pursuing the Israelites through the Sea, doe yet remaine in the sands on the shore, and vnderunder-water, which no curiosity or casualty can so disorder; but that Diuine Prouidence doth re-imprint them in their wonted forme.
Hard it is to apply the yeares of the Egyptian Chronologie, to the true accompt of the worlds generation, by reason of the disagreement of Authors, touching the Egyptian Kings, vntill Sesacs time: which (after Lydyat) was in the yeere of the World 3029. although euen from hence we hauehave but slippery footing. Augustus (after the same Author) made Egypt a Prouince, in the yeare 3975. VnderUnder which Roman gouernement it continued vntill the Saracens conquered it, in the time of Omar the third Chalipha, who beganne his reigne, after Scaligers computation, in his Catalogue y… Scalig. … …ag. lib.2.of the Chalipha's, in the yeere of CHRIST 643. The names of the Caesars belong to another place, and were tedious heere to relate the yeares of their seuerall reignes. Otmen the fourth Chalipha beganne in the yeare of CHRIST 645: whom the rest succeeded in order, vntill the yeere 869. And then the Chalipha's were diuided. Mutemad reigning in Bagded zAmong all the 13. pro…ces subiect to the Chalipha of Bagdet. Egypt had the second place, as C…nstan… Porphyro… sheweth out of Theophanes. Constant. de admin. …mp ca. 25., and Tolon in Egypt, who died in the yeere of CHRIST 883. and of the Hegeira 270. whom succeeded Hamaria his sonne: and after him his sonne Aharum, whom Muchtaphi the Bagdet-Chalipha slew, about the yere 907. Afterwards, about the yeare 943. Achshid Muhammed sonne of Tangi reigned in Egypt, to whom a few yeares after succeeded his sonne Abigud, whom Meaz Ledin Illahi of the posteritie of Phetima, Mahumets daughter, depriued in the yeare of our Lord 971. to whom succeeded his sonne Aziz, 975. *Leo calleth him E…Elhacham, in the yeare 996. Etaher Laazizdin Illahi 1030. Musteratzor Billahi 1035. Musteale 1095. Elamir Babacam Illahi 1101. he was but fiue yeares olde: the Protectour of the kingdome was Aphtzala Wizir. Elhaphit Ladin illahi 1135. Ettaphar succeeded, and hee being slaine, Elphaiz, who died in the yeare 1160. and Etzar ledin Illahi his sonne was the last of the Phecimaean race. To him succeeded Asareddin Shirachoch of the familie of A…ub (which were Curdi) after his death Iusaph …z…lat eddin was constituted king by the Chalipha: & the Bagded Chalipha's were againe acknowledged in Egypt. This is that Saladine that tooke Ierusalem, in the yere of CHRIST 1190. Heg. 586. He conquered Mesopotamia, &c. he died in the yeare of our Lord 1193. Elaphtzal succeeded him in the kingdome of Damascus, Melich Elaziz in Egypt, Taher Giazi in Halep, or Aleppo; Melich Elazis exchanged Egypt for Damascus, with his vnckle Eladel. The Egyptians made Aphtzal their King, in the yeare of our Lord 1202. After Eladel succeeded Elchamel 1219, who died in the yeare of our Lord 1237. Hegeira 635. Essaloch followed: and after him Elmatam 1242. The Turkemen conspi…ed against him: hee fled into a Tower of wood, which they fired: and halfe burned, he leaped into a streame that passed by, and there perished. Turcoman Az…ddin Ibik was made king in his place, in the yeare of our Lord 1245. Here beganne the reigne of the Mamalukes or slaues. He being slaine an other slaue succeeded whom they called Melich Elmntaphar. This seemeth to be hee that Leo calleth Piperitis. Thus farre out of Scaliger, collected by him out of Abraham Zacuthi, which addeth much light to the Egyptian Historie of these times, wherein I could neuer before satisfie my selfe concerning the erection and alteration of the schismaticall Egyptian Chalipha's, which with much labour (little auailing) I had sought.
These Kings were not called Chalipha's (as the posteritie of Phetima or Fatima) but Sultans. A certaine catalogue of the names, times, and affaires of these Mamaluke-Sultans, I can not perfectly exhibite. Pencerus aPeuc. Chron. lbr.4.nameth in order these names … Turquemenius, Cothus, Bendocader, Melechsait, Elpis, Melech seraph, Melechnasar, Melechadel, and after many others, Caithbeius, a stout enemy of the Turkes bP.Mart. Leg. Bab. li.3.This Caithbeius was chosen Sultan, in the yeare of our Lord 1465. and reigned three and thirtie yeares. Two of his principall Mamalukes Acbardin and Campsous, full of emulation, were a principall cause of the ruine of that Dynastie. For whereas the Sultan was alway chosen out of the Mamalukes, by most voices amongst themselues, Campsous fearing left Acbardin should hauehave succeeded after Caithbeius, fained that his maister had taken order on his death-bed, that his sonne Mahomet should obtaine the roome: and vsed meanes to effect it, both by the voyces of those Mamalukes hee could suborne, and confirmation of their Chalipha, whose hornes these Soldans had shortned, abridging his power, (as before is said.) This Mahomet proued so cruell a tyrant, and those two Mamalukes so banded themselues in factions, that all became confused, and within six yeres after Caithbeius his death the Sultans throne was fiue times vacant. Tomumbeius kills Mahomet: Campsous Ciarchesius is chosen. Zanballat, President of Damascus, rebelleth, and by Tomumbeius meanes imprisoneth him, and vsurpeth the Scepter: but for his crueltie soone after is depriued and captiued by Tomumbeius, and after, strangled; He also succeeding in authoritie, tyrannie, and destinie.
After Tomumbeius, was elected Campson Ga…rus, whom Zelim the Turke ouerthrew, and slew in battell, in whose place an other Tomumbeius was chosen; but soone, together with his whole state, came into the Turkes power. Thus being diuided in many factions amongst themselues, and exercising all cruelties and pillages vponupon the people, eOf the Aegyptian misery in hese times, reade Vertoman. and Mart. eye witnesses.they made themselues a prey to their neighbour, who, like a Vulture, watched this opportunitie to seize on these Lions, hauing now bled out their strength in mutuall and ciuill conflicts, in the yeare of our Lord 1517. Soliman succeeded, in the yeare of our Lord 1519; or 1520 (… others say.) Selim the second 1566. Amurat the third 1574 and in the yeare 1595. Mahomet the third, to whom Achmet, who now is the Egyptian and Turkish Souldan. Of these you may bee more fully informed in Maister Knolles his Turkish Historie, as also in our former relations.