Tanutamanis

Tanutamanis was an ancient Nubian pharaoh of the Kushite dynasty, reigning during the 25th Dynasty of Egypt. He succeeded his brother Taharqa and ruled from approximately 664 to 653 BC. Tanutamanis inherited a kingdom facing significant challenges, most notably the encroaching power of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

His reign marked a period of attempted reunification and a final push to assert Nubian control over Egypt. Tanutamanis initially succeeded in driving out the Assyrians and reclaiming Memphis, a significant symbolic victory. He also attempted to restore traditional Egyptian religious practices and architectural projects. However, his successes were short-lived.

The Assyrians, under Esarhaddon and later Ashurbanipal, launched further campaigns into Egypt. Tanutamanis was eventually forced to retreat south to his Nubian homeland. His departure marked the effective end of Kushite rule over Egypt, though the Kushite kingdom itself continued to thrive for centuries in Nubia. Tanutamanis is primarily known through inscriptions and archaeological evidence, offering a glimpse into a critical transitional period in ancient northeastern African history.