Hatshepsut: Wicked Stepmother or Guiding Hand?
By MacKenzie Hoff
The Sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty
Great Royal Wife, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Mistress of the Two Lands, King’s Daughter, and God’s Wife of Amun. These are among the many titles granted to Hatshepsut. Maatkare Hatshepsut was the sixth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, ruling from around 1472 BCE to 1458 BCE. The daughter of Thutmose I, Hatshepsut developed her own power and extensive knowledge of sacred religious practices as God’s Wife of Amun. Following the death of Thutmose I, Hatshepsut married her brother, Thutmose II, and ruled beside him as Great Royal Wife. Thutmose II was not a particularly remarkable pharaoh which allowed Hatshepsut to take a dominant role in royal duties. When Thutmose II died after only a few years as pharaoh, Hatshepsut was left without a male heir. This meant that the throne would pass to one of Thutmose II’s sons by a secondary wife, a boy named Thutmose III. Hatshepsut ruled as Thutmose III’s regent until seven years into his reign when she claimed to be chosen by her divine father, Amun, to rule as king. From this point forward, Hatshepsut and Thutmose III ruled side-by-side as pharaohs.
Hatshepsut was one of the most influential pharaohs of the New Kingdom. She constructed long-standing monuments, led military campaigns, and expanded trade networks. Her actions paved the way for the rest of the Eighteenth Dynasty and we see her legacy in their monuments and religious practices. 3500 years later, her impact on the Egyptian empire continues to be a point of discussion.
Visitors at the Temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari, April 2010 (almost 3500 years after her death)
Side-By-Side: Hatshepsut and Thutmose III
When his father died and the double crown was placed upon his head, Thutmose III was a toddler. We don’t know why this child was chosen for such an important position. Regardless, it was obvious that he would need help and there was no one better prepared for the task than Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut carved herself and Thutmose III into monuments, depicting them as equals in matching royal garb or with her in the forefront, showcasing her power. Thutmose III spent this time undergoing rigorous education and military training. Once he came of age, he solidified his military power, learned with the priesthood, and married Neferure, Hatshepsut’s daughter. In 1458 BCE, Hatshepsut died and left Thutmose III with absolute power. She was given a lavish burial worthy of the pharaoh and her stepson finished her building projects for himself. He ruled as she did, emphasizing his divine right and furthering Egypt’s military strength. Twenty years after her death, Hatshepsut’s name and likeness were systematically removed from all of the monuments she had erected and replaced with names of other rulers.
Upper part of a statue of Thutmose III. ca. 1479-1425 BCE, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.
Wicked Stepmother or Guiding Hand?
Initially, archaeologists thought that evidence pointed towards an overly ambitious woman who stole the throne from her stepson, and a boy who hated his stepmother. That perspective was a biased one. Thutmose III and Hatshepsut’s relationship has been clouded by the modern mythologized image of evil stepmothers. Hatshepsut was not the first woman to rule as regent for someone who wasn’t her child, nor was she the first to rule as pharaoh. There was a precedent for royal women to help ensure the transition of power. Moreover, Hatshepsut could not have taken the throne without the support of the Priests of Amun, elite families, and royal administrators. There is no evidence that she ever looked to use Thutmose III to support her claim. Hatshepsut used ideological propaganda to place herself alongside him on the throne. There is also no evidence that Thutmose III ever dissented with Hatshepsut during their co-rule. He actually seems to have emulated her actions, using monumental building and religious ideology to support his own power. Thutmose III did not order the erasure and destruction of Hatshepsut’s likeness until twenty years into his reign when he was choosing a successor, which suggests that it was for dynastic reasons rather than personal ones. Hatshepsut and Thutmose III were co-rulers who each left their own strong impression on Egypt. Hatshepsut stepped up when Thutmose III was not old enough to manage the weight of the crown. She furthered the throne’s wealth and influence while Thutmose III learned how to rule. Thutmose III followed in Hatshepsut’s footsteps, erecting monuments and expanding the country’s military prowess. The relationship between these two pharaohs was a complicated one, but it created two powerful kings who understood the importance of dynastic security and stability. Hatshepsut was not a wicked stepmother. She was one of the most influential Egyptian pharaohs and she laid the groundwork for the rest of the Eighteenth Dynasty.
Stele of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III. ca. 1473-1458, Gregorian Egyptian Museum, Rome, Italy.
Kenzie Hoff is a museum professional and aspiring public historian who studied classical humanities, art history, and archaeology at the University of Wisconsin. Her research has focused on classical archaeology, neoclassical art, female historical figures, and epic poetry. She has a particular interest in finding new ways to get younger generations excited about history.
