Kushite Rule of Egypt (25th Dynasty) – c. 750–656 BCE (jan 1, 750 BC – jan 1, 656 BC)

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Around 750 BCE, the Kingdom of Kush, based in Nubia (modern-day Sudan), began expanding northward into Egypt. This expansion was led by King Piye (also spelled Piankhi), a powerful Kushite ruler who saw himself as a restorer of traditional Egyptian values and religion. At the time, Egypt was politically fragmented, with several local rulers controlling different regions. Piye took advantage of this instability and launched a military campaign to reunify Egypt under his control.

Piye’s conquest was not just military—it was also religious and cultural. He portrayed himself as a devout follower of the Egyptian god Amun and used traditional Egyptian titles and rituals to legitimize his rule. After defeating rival rulers, Piye recorded his victory in a detailed inscription known as the "Victory Stela of Piye", written in Egyptian hieroglyphs. He did not stay in Egypt permanently but ruled from his capital in Napata, leaving local governors in place.

Piye’s successors, including Shabaka, Taharqa, and Tanutamani, continued to rule Egypt as the 25th Dynasty, often called the "Kushite Dynasty". They restored temples, promoted Egyptian culture, and resisted foreign threats like the Assyrians. However, by 656 BCE, the Assyrians invaded Egypt and pushed the Kushites back to Nubia, ending their rule over Egypt but not the Kingdom of Kush itself.

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