Descended from the Twenty-fourth dynasty rulers whom Piye and later Shabaqo encountered during their northward expansion, the Twenty-sixth dynasty rulers are designated Saite after their city of origin: Sais, in the western delta. From the outset, the Saite rulers were “trying desperately to shore up their position, both at home and abroad.”157 This they achieved through a series of alliances. The dynasty did not officially commence until Psametik I (664—610 Bc), aided and supported by the Assyrians, was crowned King of Egypt. Psametik seems to have succeeded his father Necho as ruler of Sais.158 And just like his father, he ruled as a vassal-king, loyal to the Assyrians. Indeed, Psametik’s alliance with the Assyrian king Assurbanipal, which probably lasted for the duration of his (Psametik’s) reign, seems to have set the tone for his successors who continued to form alliances both internally and abroad.
Psametik was able to extend Egypt’s influence into the Levant — and while he may not have resurrected the imperialistic glories of the New Kingdom, he maintained a form of an Egyptian “commercial monopoly” over Lebanon.159 Psametik also installed a garrison on Elephantine, an island opposite Aswan at Egypt’s southern border at Aswan and sent military expeditions into Nubia. Much like Old Kingdom rulers, Psametik I had to call on his district leaders (nomarchs) to gather troops for his expeditions, both against the Nubians to the South, and also against the recurring Libyan incursions from the West.160 Increasingly, Psametik began to rely on foreign mercenaries, particularly Carian and Ionian troops, to shore up his power — a policy that was faithfully followed by his successors. Although the unreliability of mercenary soldiers became evident early on, a strong belief that their military prowess was much superior to what was available locally, kept them employed. These foreign contingents, however, were never integrated into the Egyptian army: Egyptian and Greek soldiers served under different commanders.161
While initially Psametik I tolerated officials who had served under the Nubians (such as Mentuemhat, the powerful Mayor of Thebes and Fourth Prophet of Amun), he gradually began appointing his own “Delta men” in key positions in Upper Egypt. For instance, one Nesaiu became mayor of two important southern cities: Edfu and el-Kab. In Middle Egypt, shipmasters who had been politically powerful under the Nubians were marginalized.162 But perhaps Psametik’s most significant appointment was that of his daughter, Nitocris, as God’s Wife of Amun.
World History
