Sobekneferu

Sobekneferu ascended the throne after the death of her brother Amenemhat IV, becoming the first confirmed female pharaoh of Egypt. She adopted full royal titulary, including the throne name Sobekkare, and was depicted in male regalia, legitimizing her rule in a traditionally male role.

Sobekneferu began construction of a pyramid complex at Mazghuna, south of Dahshur. The pyramid was never completed, and only its mudbrick core and some granite elements remain. It represents her attempt to establish a royal burial place, though her actual tomb location remains uncertain.

Sobekneferu's death without a clear heir marked the end of the 12th Dynasty. Her reign was brief, lasting about 4 years, and her passing led to a period of political fragmentation and the rise of the 13th Dynasty, which was weaker and more unstable, contributing to the decline of the Middle Kingdom.