Statue of King Senusret I 
Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty 
Reign: Senusret I, c. 1971–1926 B.C. 
Collection: Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Senusret I, the second ruler of Egypt’s 12th Dynasty, ascended the throne following the assassination of his father, Amenemhet I. The murder was reportedly the result of a harem conspiracy that took place while Senusret was away on a military campaign in Libya. Upon hearing the news, he either swiftly abandoned his campaign or was already returning home at the time of his father’s death.

Fortunately, this was not the first instance of such a plot, and Amenemhet I had taken precautions to ensure a smooth succession. In the 20th year of his reign, he appointed Senusret I as co-regent — the first known case of co-regency in Egyptian history.

As a result, by the time of his father’s assassination, Senusret I was already firmly established as the rightful heir and assumed the throne with little opposition despite the conspirators’ plans.