| Shoshenq III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Shoshenq III, standing on the boat "msktt", the boat of the night, with the god Atum. From his tomb in Tanis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pharaoh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 837–798 BC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Osorkon II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Shoshenq IV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Consort | Tjesbastperu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Ankheseshoshenq, Bakennefi A, Pashedbast B, Pimay, Takelot D, Padehenebast | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 798 BC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Burial | NRT V, Tanis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dynasty | 22nd Dynasty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
King Usermaatre Setepenre Shoshenq III of the 22nd Dynasty ruled for 39 years according to contemporary historical records. Two Apis Bulls were buried in the fourth and 28th years of his reign and he celebrated his Heb Sed Jubilee in his regnal year 30. He was not a son of Osorkon II but instead a grandson through his dead father prince Takelot.[citation needed] As he was only a grandson, his cousin Takelot II contested his succession and Egypt was divided.[citation needed] He married his aunt Tjesbastperu to strengthen his claim.[citation needed] He outlived his first five sons and was thus succeeded by his 6th son Shoshenq IV, who later died childless as well and was succeeded by Shoshenq III's 7th son Pami.
From Shoshenq III's eighth regnal year, his reign was marked by the loss of Egypt's political unity, with the appearance of Pedubast I at Thebes. Henceforth, the kings of the 22nd Dynasty only controlled Lower Egypt. The Theban High Priest Osorkon B (the future Osorkon III) did date his activities at Thebes and (Upper Egypt) to Shoshenq III's reign, but this was solely for administrative reasons since Osorkon did not declare himself king after the death of his father, Takelot II. On the basis of Osorkon B's well known Chronicle, most Egyptologists today accept that Takelot II's 25th regnal year is equivalent to Shoshenq III's 22nd year.[1]