Editing Djedkare Isesi (section)

==Family==

===Parents===
[[File:Isesi-ankh_closeup.jpg|thumb|upright|Isesi-ankh as depicted on his [[false door]] stela{{sfn|Mariette|1885|p=191}}]]

Djedkare's parentage is unknown; in particular his relation with his predecessors [[Menkauhor Kaiu]] and [[Nyuserre Ini]] cannot be ascertained.{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=64}} Djedkare is generally thought to have been the son of Menkauhor Kaiu, but the two might instead have been brothers and sons of Nyuserre Ini.{{sfn|Tyldesley|2005|p=241}} Another hypothesis suggests that Djedkare and Menkauhor could have been cousins,{{sfn|Tyldesley|2005|p=241}} being sons of Nyuserre and Neferefre respectively.{{sfn|Verner|2002|p=324}}
The identity of Djedkare's mother is similarly unknown.{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=64}}

===Queens===
The name of Djedkare's principal wife was most likely [[Setibhor]]. This important queen consort whose name was lost but found in 2019 was the owner of a large pyramid complex located to the northeast of Djedkare's pyramid in Saqqara.<ref>[https://cegu.ff.cuni.cz/en/2019/04/02/discovery-of-a-unique-tomb-and-the-name-of-an-ancient-egyptian-queen-in-south-saqqara/ Discovery of a unique tomb and the name of an ancient Egyptian queen in south Saqqara (titles of queen on Fig. 14)]</ref> This could indicate that she was the mother of Djedkare's successor, [[Unas]],{{sfn|Altenmüller|2001|p=600}} or that Djedkare owed the throne to her.{{sfn|Maragioglio|Rinaldi|1963–1977|p=98}}{{sfn|Verner|Callender|Strouhal|2002|p=110}} The very high status of this queen is suggested by some features of her funerary complex that are otherwise reserved to kings:{{sfn|Stadelman|1987|pp=256–257}} her pyramid has its own satellite pyramid, has a causeway leading from a valley temple up to a mortuary temple devoted to the cult of the queen and had an entrance hall ''pr-wrw'', an open courtyard and a square antechamber.{{sfn|Verner|Callender|Strouhal|2002|p=110}}{{sfn|Jánosi|1989|p=187–202}} Furthermore, some reliefs showing the queen had been reworked with royal insignia and vultures added above her head.{{sfn|Moursi|1987|pp=185–194}} Since the construction of the queen's pyramid was apparently undertaken after the planning of Djedkare's pyramid and her relief had been reworked, the Egyptologist Klaus Baer suggests that this queen may have ruled after the death of Djedkare, playing an important role in his succession. This is rejected by other Egyptologists, such as [[Michel Baud]], owing to the lack of evidence for a regency or interregnum between Djedkare and Unas.{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=624}}

The Egyptologist Wilfried Seipel has proposed that this pyramid was initially intended for queen [[Meresankh IV]], whom he and Verner see as a wife of Djedkare. Seipel contends that Meresankh was finally buried in a smaller mastaba in Saqqara North after she fell into disgrace.{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=464}} Alternatively, Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton have proposed that she was a wife of the preceding king, Menkauhor Kaiu.{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=68}}
[[File:Abydos KL 05-07 n32.jpg|thumb|222x222px|Cartouche of king Djedkare Isest]]

===Sons===
[[File:Náprstek_Museum_-_NM_Prague_20.JPG|thumb|upright|Wooden statues of Kekheretnebti and in the background, of Neserkauhor, now in the [[Náprstek Museum]]]]

Only one son of Djedkare has been identified for certain, [[Neserkauhor]],{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=69}} who bore the title of "eldest beloved king's son of his body".{{efn|group=note|Neserkauhor was buried in mastaba C, south of Nyuserre's pyramid complex in the east of the Abusir necropolis.{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=505}}}}{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=505}}{{sfn|Verner|Callender|Strouhal|2002|p=55}} Neserkauhor also bore the title of [[Iry-pat]], showing that he was an important member of the royal court, as well as a priestly title "Greatest of the Five in the temple of [[Thoth]]", suggesting that he may have been a vizier{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=505}} or had similar occupations.{{sfn|Verner|Callender|Strouhal|2002|p=55}}

As well as Neserkauhor, there is indirect evidence that princes [[Raemka]]{{efn|group=note|Prince Raemka was buried in the [[mastaba]] tomb S80, also known as mastaba D3 and QS 903, in Saqqara, north of Djoser's pyramid.{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=69}} His tomb seems to have been usurped{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=510}} from a certain Neferiretnes.{{sfn|Met. Museum of Art|2016}} The chapel from Raemka's tomb is now on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.{{sfn|Met. Museum of Art|2016|loc=Tomb of Raemka}}}} and [[Kaemtjenent]]{{efn|group=note|Prince Kaemtjenent was buried in the mastaba tomb S84 in Saqqara.{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=69}}}}{{sfn|Brovarski|2001|p=15}} are sons of Djedkare{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|pp=68–69}}{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=591}}{{sfn|Hayes|1978|p=94}} based on the dating and general location of their tombs in Saqqara. For example, the tomb of Kaemtjenent mentions vizier Rashepses, who served during the reign of Djedkare.{{sfn|Schott|1977|pp=443–461}}{{sfn|Sethe|1903|pp=181–186}} Raemka also bore the title of "king's son of his body",{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=510}} almost exclusively reserved to true princes of royal blood.{{efn|group=note|As opposed to those bearing the title "king's son", which was used as an honorary title during the later Fifth Dynasty.}} The locations of Raemka's and Kaemtjenent's tombs have led some Egyptologists to believe that both princes are sons{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=591}} of queen Meresankh IV buried nearby, who would thus be one of Djedkare's wives. These conclusions are debated, in particular in the case of Kaemtjenent, whose title of "king's son" may have been purely honorific.{{sfn|Strudwick|1985|p=225}}

A high official named [[Isesi-ankh]] could have been yet another son of Djedkare, as suggested by his name meaning "Isesi lives".{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=68}} Yet, similarities in the titles and locations of the tombs{{efn|group=note|Isesi-ankh was buried in mastaba D8, north of the pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara.{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=421}}}} of Isesi-ankh and Kaemtjenent have led Egyptologists to propose that they could instead be brothers and sons of Meresankh IV,{{sfn|Stevenson Smith|1971|pp=187–188}} or that the former is a son of the latter.{{sfn|Strudwick|1985|pp=71–72}} Even though Isesi-ankh bore the title of "king's son", the Egyptologists Michel Baud and Bettina Schmitz argue that this filiation was fictitious, being only an honorary title.{{sfn|Schmitz|1976|p=88 & 90}}{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=422}}

Finally, the successor of Djedkare, Unas, is thought to have been his son{{sfn|Altenmüller|2001|p=600}} in spite of the complete lack of evidence bearing on the question.{{sfn|Grimal|1992|p=80}} The main argument in favor of this filiation is that the succession from Djedkare to Unas seems to have been smooth,{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=563}} as suggested indirectly, for example, by the Abusir papyri.{{sfn|Verner|2001a|p=411}} Indirect evidence also comes from the reliefs of Unas' causeway, which show many officials bearing names incorporating "Isesi", suggesting at the very least that Unas did not perceive Djedkare as an antagonist.{{sfn|Munro|1993|pp=17–19}}{{sfn|Altenmüller|1990|pp=1–2 & 5}}{{sfn|Baud|Dobrev|1995|pp=57–58}}

===Daughters===
Several daughters of Djedkare have been identified by the title of "king's daughter of his body" and the general date of their tomb. These include [[Kekheretnebti]],{{efn|group=note|Kekheretnebti is believed to have died in her early thirties, she was buried in mastaba B in east Abusir, south of the pyramid complex of Nyuserre.{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=561}} She had a daughter named [[Tisethor]], who was buried in an extension of her tomb.{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=68}}}}{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=68}} whose filiation is clearly indicated by her other title of "Beloved of Isesi",{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=561}} [[Meret-Isesi]],{{efn|group=note|Probably buried in Abusir.{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=68}}}}{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=68}} [[Hedjetnebu]],{{efn|group=note|Buried in the mastaba K, south of Nyuserre's complex in Abusir,{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=486}} likely prior to the building of Tisethor's tomb.}}{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=486}}{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=68}} and [[Nebtyemneferes]].{{efn|group=note|Buried in Abusir.{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=68}}}}{{sfn|Dodson|Hilton|2004|p=68}} Less certain is the filiation of Kentkhaus, wife of vizier [[Senedjemib Mehi]], who bore the title of "king's daughter of his body".{{sfn|Brovarski|2001|p=30}}{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=555}} It is debated whether this title indicates a true filiation or if it is only honorary.{{sfn|Baud|1999b|p=555}}{{sfn|Schmitz|1976|p=119 & 123}}