Biography: Queen Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut was a female Egyptian ruler who is well known. Hatshepsut is believed to have been born in 1508 B.C.E. Thebes is the Egyptian city where King Thutmose was born. His wife Ahmose was his queen and principal spouse. Hatshepsut was often cited as Egypt’s first woman leader, but research has shown that there were women who reigned before her, including “Merneith (c. 3000 BCE) in the Early Dynastic Period, and Sobeknefru (c. 1807-1802 BCE) in the Middle Kingdom. Twosret (1189-1190 BCE), after her, towards the end of the 19th Dynasty. Hatshepsut’s role as Egypt’s first woman leader is often misunderstood. In fact, women reigned long before her.
Hatshepsut’s father, King Thutmose 1, and her principal wife, queen Ahmose, were both born in the year 1508 B.C.E. Hatshepsut inherited the throne of her father, King Thutmose II. Hatshepsut became queen after her half-brother King Thutmose died. Hatshepsut’s half-brother Thutmose had a child with Hatshepsut, Neferure. Thutmose inherited the throne of his father in around 1492 b.c.e. Thutmose, the son of Thutmose, died in a very young age (around 1479 B.C.E.). His infant son then inherited his father’s throne.
Accede to Leadership
After serving for 15 years as King Thutmose, Hatshepsut died at the young age of 30, leaving her a widow. Neferure’s only son was to inherit the throne, as Thutmose III had been born by a secondary wife called Isis. Thutmose 3 was too small to rule alone. Hatshepsut was his regent and handled all state affairs. Hatshepsut became the co-ruler and ruler of Egypt after less than 7 years. Hatshepsut’s success in transitioning from queen to pharaoh is partly attributed to her “ability of recruiting influential supporters.” Many of these men were Thutmose II’s favorites.
Hatshepsut’s reign
Scholars praise Hatshepsut’s pharaonic rule. Hatshepsut devoted more time to ensuring Egypt’s economic prosperity and building, restoring and maintaining monuments in Nubia and Egypt than conquering lands. One of her most notable achievements is the monumental memorial temple in Deir el-Bahri. This temple was considered an architectural marvel of ancient Egypt. It was called djeser djeseru in ancient times, meaning “the most sacred place.” The temple had three terraces with colonnaded walls that led to a sanctuary. Hatshepsut’s reign is also notable for the trading expeditions she authorized, which brought vast wealth to Egypt, including ivory and ebony as well gold, leopards skins, incense, and other precious materials from Punt.
Death and legacy
Hatshepsut probably died around the age of forty in 1458 B.C.E. Scientists believe that in recent years the cause of Hatshepsut’s death may have been an ointment/salve used for a chronic skin condition – a treatment containing a toxic substance. She was buried near Deir el-Bahri in the Valley of the Kings. Thutmose IIII, during his reign, was determined to wipe out Hatshepsut’s name and legacy. He may have done this to erase Hatshepsut’s reputation as a female leader or to fill the gap left by the male succession. Thutmose 3 destroyed or defaced all of Hatshepsut’s monuments. He also erased a number of her writings and built walls around her Obelisks. Hatshepsut ruled for a short time, and scholars were unaware of her existence until 1822.
