- History -

Kheops was succeeded by Djedefre, his oldest surviving son. The mother of Djedefre is unknown. He married his (half-) sister Hetepheres II, which may have been to legitimise his claims to the throne if his mother was one of Kheops’ lesser wives. He also had another wive, Khentet-en-ka with whom he had (at least) three sons, Setka, Baka and Hernet and one daughter, Neferhetepes.

The Turin King-list credits him with a rule of 8 years, but the highest known year referenced to during this reign was the year of the 11th cattle count. This would mean that Djedefre ruled for at least 11 years, if the cattle counts were anual, or 21 years if the cattle counts were biennal. He was the first king to use the title "Son of Re" as part of his titulary which is seen as an indication of the growing popularity of the cult of the solar god Re.

He continued the move north by building his unfinished pyramid at Abu Rawash, some 8 km to the North of Giza. With his pyramid in Abu Rawash and Huni’s in Meidum, the north- and south boundaries of the Memphite necropolis.

left: The entrance of what is left of Djedefre's pyramid in the mountainous region of Abu Rawash, some 8 kilometers to the North of Giza. right: The head of a statue of Djedefre, now one of the many lovely exhibits in the Louvre Museum in Paris, was found near his funerary monument at Abu Rawash

Titulary

• Horus-name

Hr xpr

Horus has become

• Nebti-name

xpr m nb.tj

The one who transformed into the Two Ladies

• Golden name

	bik.w nbw(.w)	The Golden Falcons
	bik.wj nbw(.wj)	The Two Golden Falcons

Note that the two falcons are wearing the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt respectively.

• Prenomen

	Dd=f ra	Djedefre ("This name means "Re is his support")
	Dd=f ra	Djedefre

• Kinglists

Dd=f ra

Djedefre

• Manetho

Africanus: Ratoîses

Eusebius: Eusebius doesn't mention this king.

• Alternative names in modern-day literature

Redjedef, Radjedef, Rededef, Radedef, Didoufre, Dedefre, Dedefra, Djedefra