Hatshepsut (Hat-shep-soot), the first important female ruler known to history, lived a thousand years after the pyramids were built and seventeen centuries after the Egyptians had begun writing their language in hieroglyphs. [1] In comparison with other female pharaohs, Hatshepsut's reign was long and prosperous. [2] Although less familiar to modern audiences than her much later successor, the notorious Cleopatra (51–30 B.C.), Hatshepsut's achievements were far more significant. [3]

Tuthmose III was in line for the throne, but due to his age Hatshepsut was allowed to reign as queen dowager. [4] Hatshepsut was not one to sit back and wait for her nephew to age enough to take her place. As a favorite daughter of a popular pharaoh, and as a charismatic and beautiful lady in her own right, she was able to command enough of a following to actually take control as pharaoh. [5] Hatshepsut misled her subjects and the uneducated public by indicating that Amon-Ra had visited her pregnant mother at the temple in Deir el-Bahri in the Valley of the Kings. [6] In order to make Hatshepsut’s proclamation to king more official and more accepting to the Egyptian citizens, she invented a co-regency with her father Tuthmosis I. She even went as far as incorporating this fabricated co-regency into texts and representations. [7]

Using propaganda and keen political skills, she deftly jumped each hurdle she faced. [8] Monuments of Hatshepsut frequently portray her in kingly costume and the famous royal "false beard", often referring to her as though she were male. [9] It may be that if she had ruled strictly with a more feminine-looking disposition she may not have been so readily accepted by the masses. [10] Hatshepsut surrounded herself with strong and loyal advisors, many of whom are still known today: Hapuseneb, the High Priest of Amun, and her closest advisor, the royal steward Senemut. [11] Although there were no wars during her reign, she proved her sovereignty by ordering expeditions to the land of Punt, in present-day Somalia, in search of the ivory, animals, spices, gold and aromatic trees that Egyptians coveted. [12] Hatshepsut's name was also omitted from subsequent king lists, indicating that her reign was perhaps considered by some to have been inappropriate and contrary to tradition. [13]

[1]  "Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh." Special Exhibitions, Metropolitan Museum of Art. <http://www.metmuseum.org/special/hatshepsut/pharaoh_more.asp> (Accessed on February 10, 2009.)

[2]  “Hatshepsut." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatshepsut> (Accessed on February 10, 2009.)

[3]  “Hathshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh.”

[4]  Bediz, David. "The Story of Hatshepsut." The Queen Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut, 2000. <http://www.bediz.com/hatshep/story.html>

[5]  Ibid.

[6]  "Hatshepsut." King TutOne.com <http://www.kingtutone.com/queens/hatshepsut/> (Accessed on February 10, 2009.)

[7]  Ibid.

[8]  “The Story of Hatshepsut.”

[9]  "Hatshepsut – The Female Pharaoh." Egyptology Online. <http://www.egyptologyonline.com/hatshepsut.htm> (Accessed on February 10, 2009.)

[10]  “Hatshepsut.” King TutOne.com.

[11]  “Hatshepsut – The Female Pharaoh.”

[12]  “The Story of Hatshepsut.”

[13]  ““Hatshepsut: The Female Pharaoh”.