Egypt’s Twenty-second dynasty, which rises from long-settled Libyan mercenaries, begins in 945 with Hedjkheperre Setepenre Shoshenq, or Sheshonk, or Sheshonq, identified as Shishak in the Hebrew scriptures.

The king is based in the north and his sons rule key centers elsewhere.

Prior to his reign, Shoshenq had been the Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Army, and chief advisor to his predecessor Psusennes II, as well as the father-in-law of Psusennes' daughter Maatkare.

He also held his father's title of Great Chief of the Ma or Meshwesh.

His ancestors were Libyans who had settled in Egypt during the late New Kingdom, probably at Herakleopolis Magna, though Manetho claims Shoshenq himself came from Bubastis, a claim for which no supporting physical evidence has yet been discovered.

Significantly, his Libyan uncle Osorkon the Elder had already served on the throne for at least six years in the preceding Twenty-first Dynasty; hence, Shoshenq I's rise to power is not wholly unexpected.