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FOREIGN war and domestic tumult finally reduced Egypt to a state of anarchy, wherein dozens of petty lords ruled, each over his own little district, and fought against his neighbors. Hence there was no united resistance against a new foreign foe, the Ethiopians. These half-negro conquerors gradually pushed their way northward from the upper Nile until, in 727 B.C., their king Piankhi was appealed to by several of the princes of the lower Nile to restore order in the country and especially to protect them from one of their own number, the energetic prince Tafnakhti. Piankhi eagerly accepted the opportunity, and with his Ethiopian troops marched from end to end of Egypt, bringing peace where he could and fighting where he must. Tafnakhti was defeated again and again and at last hid himself among the marshes of the delta. The priests gladly welcomed Piankhi as the one strong man who could protect them and he was crowned as Pharaoh. The lesser princes crowded to make submission to him. A nominal Pharaoh, Osorkon, had previously reigned at Bubastis, but had no power whatever beyond his own province. Osorkon was one of the first to wait upon the new Pharaoh, and give him cordial welcome. Apparently the feeble Osorkon was glad to be able to transfer his authority to a monarch with power to enforce it. So the Ethiopians ruled over Egypt. |
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