Breaking with a tradition followed by his predecessors since the time of Userkaf, Djedkare did not build a temple to the sun god Ra, possibly reflecting the rise of Osiris in the Egyptian pantheon.

Djedkare commissioned expeditions to the Sinai Peninsula to procure copper and turquoise, to Nubia for its gold and diorite and to the fabled Land of Punt for its incense.

A clue to the identity of the remains came from skeletal and blood type comparisons with those of two females thought to be Djedkare's daughters buried in the nearby Southern Cemetery as Abusir.

Radio carbon dating carried out on the effects of the three individuals revealed a common range of 2886–2507 BC, some 160–390 years older than the accepted chronology of the 5th Dynasty.

The reforms implemented by Djedkare are generally assessed negatively in modern Egyptology as his policy of decentralization created a virtual feudal system that transferred much power to the high and provincial administrations.

These are administrative documents, covering a period of 24 years[29] during Djedkare's reign; they were discovered in the mortuary temples of kings Neferirkare Kakai, Neferefre and queen Khentkaus II.

[30] In addition to these texts, the earliest letters on papyrus preserved to the present day also date to Djedkare's reign, dealing with administrative or private matters.

[note 7] The locations of Raemka's and Kaemtjenent's tombs have led some Egyptologists to believe that both princes are sons[58] of queen Meresankh IV buried nearby, who would thus be one of Djedkare's wives.

[77][78] The relative chronological position of Djedkare as the eighth and penultimate ruler of the Fifth Dynasty, succeeding Menkauhor Kaiu and preceding Unas on the throne, is well established by historical sources and confirmed by archaeological evidence.

Djedkare's time on the throne is well documented by the Abusir papyri, numerous royal seals and contemporary inscriptions; taken together, they indicate a fairly long rule for this king.

For example, the tomb of one of Djedkare's viziers, Senedjemib Inti, relates construction works undertaken during the year of the 16th cattle count in preparation for the festival ceremonies.

An alabaster vase now on display at the Louvre museum[note 15] bears an inscription celebrating Djedkare's first sed festival, indicating in all likelihood that he reigned beyond his 30th year on the throne.

[note 20][106] Lower ranking officials lost power during the late Fifth Dynasty and were frequently limited to holding only one high title,[114] a departure from the preceding period.

[103][117] Djedkare also undertook building activities in relation with his "sed" festival as indicated by a decree that he sent to his vizier Senedjemib Inti on the year of the 16th cattle count,[118] praising him for his work.

[129] Djedkare may have left some of his monuments unfinished at his death, as suggested by several relief-bearing blocks inscribed with his name and which were found reused in the pyramid of king Unas.

[131] Three or four[note 23] rock inscriptions dating to Djedkare's reign have been found in the Wadi Maghareh in Sinai, where mines of copper and semi-precious stones were exploited throughout the Old Kingdom, from the Fourth until the Sixth Dynasty.

[135][136] This sentence could indicate the earliest known record of an oracular divination undertaken in order to ensure the success of the expedition prior to its departure, Nekhenre being the sun temple of Userkaf.

[140][141] These expeditions departed Egypt from the port of Ain Sukhna, on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez, as revealed by papyri and seals bearing Djedkare's name found on the site.

[note 27][146] The seal, whose gold may originate from the Pactolus river valley in western Anatolia,[151] could attest to wide-ranging trade-contacts during the later Fifth Dynasty,[2][152] but its provenance remains unverifiable.

[note 28][155] Trade contacts with Byblos, on the coast of modern-day Lebanon, are suggested by a fragmentary stone vessel unearthed in the city and bearing the inscription "King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Djedkare [living] forever".

[156][157] A biographical inscription discovered in the tomb of Iny, a Sixth Dynasty official, provides further evidence for an Egyptian expedition to Byblos during Djedkare's reign.

[158] Iny's inscription relates his travels to procure lapis lazuli and lead or tin[159] for king Merenre, but starts by recounting what must have been similar events taking place under Djedkare.

[162] Djedkare's expedition to Punt is also mentioned in a contemporaneous graffito found in Tumas, a locality of Lower Nubia some 150 km (93 mi) south of Aswan,[31] where Isesi's cartouche was discovered.

In particular, one of the earliest known depictions of a battle or a city being besieged[165] is found in the tomb of Inti, an official from the 21st nome of Upper Egypt, who lived during the late Fifth Dynasty.

In the burial chamber, pieces of alabaster and a faience bead on a gold thread were discovered, as well as many fragments of what was originally a large sarcophagus of dark grey basalt.

[173] For Nigel Strudwick, the reforms of Djedkare were undertaken as a reaction to the rapid growth of the central administration in the first part of the Fifth Dynasty[112] which, Baer adds, had amassed too much political or economic power[174] in the eyes of the king.

[175] Joyce Tyldesley sees the reign of Djedkare as the very beginning of a decline in the importance of the king, in conjunction with the gradual rise of the power wielded by the high and provincial administration.

[176] Since offices and the vizierate in particular could be inherited,[2] the reforms of Djedkare created a "virtual feudal system" as Nicolas Grimal writes,[148][177] with much power in the hands of a few puissant officials.

For some Egyptologists, such as Naguib Kanawati, this failure contributed in no small part to the fall of the Old Kingdom,[178] but others, including Strudwick, believe the reasons of the collapse must be sought elsewhere as the power of an administration official never approached that of the king.

[184] In addition, the South Saqqara Stone, a royal annal dating to the reign of Merenre or of his successor Pepi II,[185] records rich offerings being made to Djedkare on behalf of the king.