Userkare

Userkare ("The Soul of Re is Strong") was the second king of the Sixth Dynasty.

Userkare may have been a surviving claimant of the throne from the Fifth dynasty and a rival to Teti for accessing the kingship. Since Manetho claims that Teti was killed by his bodyguards, theories of conspiracy have been put forward that Userkare was the leader of this conspiracy, but after a short reign was put out of office by the murdered king's son Pepi, the next king to be. In the Turin King List, there is a lacuna between Teti and Pepi I Meryre, large enough to have fitted an entry about Userkare. The fact that he is mentioned in several king-lists leads to assume that Userkare was not considered an usurper or an illegitimate king, though.

There is also the possibility that he became pharaoh because the crown prince was too young to rule, and left office when the legitimate heir had reached the proper age. In that case Userkare should not have called himself king, but he did.

He at least started or undertook some larger building projects, as shown by an inscription mentioning a workforce. There has been no pyramid-complex that has been identified as his.

It is not known how Userkare's reign ended.

Preceded by: Teti

Pharaoh of Egypt Sixth Dynasty

Succeeded by: Pepi I Meryre