Page "Middle Kingdom of Egypt" Paragraph 23

When the Eleventh Dynasty reunified Egypt, it had to create a centralized administration such as had not existed in Egypt since the downfall of the Old Kingdom government.

To do this, it appointed people to positions which had fallen out of use in the decentralized First Intermediate Period.

Highest among these was the Vizier.

The vizier was the chief minister for the king, handling all the day to day business of government in the king's place.

This was a monumental task, therefore it would often be split into two positions, a vizier of the north, and a vizier of the south.

It is uncertain how often this occurred during the Middle Kingdom, but Senusret I clearly had two simultaneously functioning viziers.

Other positions were inherited from the provincial form of government at Thebes used by the Eleventh Dynasty before the reunification of Egypt.

The Overseer of Sealed Goods became the country's treasurer, and the Overseer of the Estate became the King's chief steward.

These three positions and the Scribe of the Royal Document, probably the king's personal scribe, appear to be the most important posts of the central government, judging by the monument count of those in these positions.