Hatshepsut: Forgotten Female Pharaoh of Egypt

Although royal lineage descended through the woman's line in ancient Egypt (it is easier to prove than paternity), it was the men that reigned as pharaoh. They legitimised their claim by marrying women of royal lineage. There were occasional cases in early Egypt of women who ruled as co-regents, or temporarily exercised power when the pharaoh was very young, but they never ruled in their own right, and only held power for limited amounts of time. Hatshepsut, woman pharaoh and accomplished leader, was the exception.

Her parents, Tuthmose I (the pharaoh) and Aahmes (also of royal lineage) had several children. They had two sons (some scholars claim that these sons were Tuthmose's with a lesser wife or lover, but most agree that they were legitimate royal children) who traditionally would have been prepared to rule. However, evidence suggests that they always favoured their daughter, Hatshepsut. She is depicted at a young age as learning the role of pharaoh. Tuthmose also had a son, Tuthmose II, with Moutnofrit (a commoner).

When both of Tuthmose and Aahmes's sons died young, the pharaoh officially named Hatshepsut as his heir. However, when he died, tradition asserted that his illegitimate son, Tuthmose II, should assume the throne. Hatshepsut promptly married him (marriages among half-siblings and first cousins were common among the royalty). Tuthmose II seems to have always had poor health, and surviving records indicate that it was Hatshepsut who actually held the power during his reign. During this time she had a daughter, Neferure. Scholars debate whether Neverure was fathered by Hatshepsut's husband, or (more likely) her lover, Senmut. Tuthmose II also had one child: a son (Tuthmose III) with Isis (a commoner). Tuthmose II died after only a few years.