The fifth ruler of the
18th Dynasty, was the daughter of
Thutmose
I and Queen Ahmose. As was common in
royal families, she married her half-brother, Thutmose II, who had a
son, Thutmose III, by a minor wife. When Thutmose II died in 1479 B.C.
his son, Thutmose III, was appointed heir. However, Hatshepsut was
appointed regent due to the boy's young age. They ruled jointly until
1473 when she declared herself pharaoh.
Dressed in men’s attire, Hatshepsut administered affairs of the
nation, with the full support of the high priest of
Amun,
Hapuseneb and other officials. When she built her magnificent temple
at Deir el Bahari in Thebes she made reliefs of her divine birth as
the daughter of Amun. Hatshepsut disappeared in 1458 B.C. when
Thutmose III, wishing to reclaim the throne, led a revolt. Thutmose
had her shrines, statues and reliefs mutilated.
