The Rise of The Nobility
With the growing number of biographical inscriptions in non-royal tombs, our knowledge of the contemporary history broadens. For example, we hear of an unsuccessful plot against Pepy I. We also read a letter written by the young king Pepy II, excited that one of his expeditions will return with a dancing pygmy from the land of Yam, located to the south of Nubia.
These non-royal tomb inscriptions are but one example of the growing power of the nobility, which further weakened the absolute rule of the king. As a result, it is believed that on the death of the long-lived Pepy II his vassals were entrenched enough to resist the authority of his many successors, which may have contributed to the rapid decline of the Old Kingdom.
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Famous quotes containing the words rise and/or nobility:
“The best way to rise in society is to use all possible means of persuading people that one has already risen in society.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)
“Many things about our bodies would not seem to us so filthy and obscene if we did not have the idea of nobility in our heads.”
—G.C. (Georg Christoph)