Necho II
Who was Necho II?
2nd Egyptian pharaoh of the 26th dynasty
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Necho II (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Necho II was the second pharaoh of Egypt's 26th Dynasty, ruling from 610 to 595 BC from the capital at Sais in the Nile Delta. Also known as Nekau, Neku, Nechoh, and Nikuu, he was married to Khedebneithirbinet I and succeeded by his son Psammetichus II. His reign featured ambitious military campaigns, extensive construction projects, and impressive maritime expeditions, showing both his vision and the reach of Egyptian power at that time.
Necho II is probably most famous for commissioning a remarkable naval expedition. According to Greek historian Herodotus, he sent a crew of Phoenicians who successfully sailed around Africa, starting from the Red Sea, going around the continent's southern tip, and returning to Egypt via the Strait of Gibraltar after three years at sea. If true, this feat wouldn’t be matched until the Portuguese expeditions in the late 15th century.
Militarily, Necho II followed an aggressive foreign policy to expand Egyptian influence in the Levant and check the growing power of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. His campaigns brought him into contact with major ancient Near Eastern powers, including the declining Neo-Assyrian Empire and the Kingdom of Judah. He is likely the same Necho mentioned in biblical texts like 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Jeremiah, appearing as a key political figure during the Kingdom of Judah's final years.
Despite his ambitions and some early successes, Necho's military ventures were ultimately unsuccessful. His efforts to dominate Syria and block Babylonian trade routes across the Euphrates ended in defeat when Babylonian forces launched an unexpected counterattack. Eventually, the Egyptians were driven out of Syria, marking a major setback for Egyptian imperial ambitions in the area. Egyptologist Donald B. Redford described Necho II as 'a man of action from the start, and endowed with an imagination perhaps beyond that of his contemporaries, [who] had the misfortune to foster the impression of being a failure.' This view highlights the contradiction between Necho's grand vision and the mixed results of his rule.
Before Fame
Necho II became ruler during the Saite period, a time when Egypt was enjoying a cultural and political revival under the 26th Dynasty. His predecessors had established this dynasty by driving out the Assyrian forces and reuniting Egypt under native rule for the first time in centuries.
During Necho's youth, the power of the Assyrians was waning, and new regional powers like the Neo-Babylonian Empire were emerging. This changing balance of power in the ancient Near East created both opportunities and challenges for Egypt, leading to the ambitious foreign policy that characterized Necho's reign.
Key Achievements
- Commissioned the first recorded circumnavigation of Africa by Phoenician sailors
- Conducted major military campaigns in the Levant and Syria
- Initiated extensive construction projects throughout Egypt including canal construction
- Established Egyptian influence over the Kingdom of Judah through military intervention
- Temporarily expanded Egyptian control into Syrian territories
Did You Know?
- 01.His son Psammetichus II may have deliberately removed Necho's name from monuments after ascending to the throne
- 02.The Phoenician expedition he commissioned reportedly planted and harvested crops during their three-year journey around Africa
- 03.He initiated construction of a canal connecting the Nile River to the Red Sea, a project that would later be completed under Persian rule
- 04.Necho reportedly killed King Josiah of Judah at the Battle of Megiddo in 609 BC
- 05.Greek sources credit him with commissioning the first successful circumnavigation of Africa, over 2,000 years before Vasco da Gama