The period represents the transition between the Middle Kingdom (Middle Bronze) and New Kingdom (Late Bronze), a time of climate change and socio-economic problems leading to political turmoil with numerous claimants to the throne throughout the country.

Not much is known about this king besides some attestations found in the Karnak Temple, Thebes, Upper Egypt.

However, his name in the Karnak King List shows that he was not omitted and forgotten by people in the Thebaid region.

His prenomen mr-kꜣw-rꜥ can be transliterated as Merkawre (Mer-kaw-re) or Merkaure (Mer-kau-re), and translated as masc.

His nomen Sobekhotep (sbk-hotep) consist of the elements Sobek (deity) + hotep (peace).

[4] At Karnak, a granited seated statue dedicated to Amun with the royal name of mr-kꜣw-rꜥ sbk-ḥtp.

[5] Also mentioned (1) Bebi King's Son, Seb Official, Mouth of Hierakonpolis (sꜣ-nsw; sꜣb; rꜣ-nḫn bbj (PD 228 weak)) and (2) Sobekhotep King's Son, Seb Official, Mouth of Hierakonpolis (sꜣ-nsw; sꜣb; rꜣ-nḫn sbk-ḥtp).

After Merkawre Sobekhotep's kingship, the sequence of rulers of the 13th dynasty is highly uncertain due to a large lacuna affecting the Turin canon.