Hatshepsut: The First Female Pharaoh Of Ancient Egypt

262 Words2 Pages
Hatshepsut was the first female pharaoh of ancient Egypt. Born around 1503 BCE in Thebes to Ahmen and Tuthmosis I, Hatshepsut was her mother’s only child and the king’s only legitimate child. When she was twelve, she married her half brother, Tuthmosis II, and served the traditional role of queen, mother and wife. However, Tuthmosis II was weak, sickly and suffered from poor health. In around 1479, after a 15 year reign, Tuthmosis II finally died, leaving behind his wife, daughter and his heir: Tuthmosis III, an illegitimate child who was still an infant. As Tuthmosis III was too young to assume the role of pharaoh, Hatshepsut served as queen regent for six years before declaring herself pharaoh, or a “female king”. Under her reign, Egypt prospered.