by Keri Withington

Created on: October 17, 2008

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.

Although Tuthmose III, as the only son of the previous pharaoh, was next in line to succeed, he was still too young to reign. Hatshepsut assumed power as the queen dowager, and later had herself declared king and pharaoh of Egypt. She was no longer just a co-regent or queen. She was crowned as pharaoh and ultimate ruler of the world's most powerful nation. After she assumed the throne, her daughter Neferure (who seems to have married her half-brother Tuthmose III at some point) took over the duties of the queen (presiding at certain religious ceremonies, etc.).

To legitimise herself as a woman pharaoh, Hatshepsut launched massive campaigns. She created an account of her birth claiming that she was of divine birth

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