The Queens of Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptian history may be swamped with tales of powerful men, yet queens have also played their imperious parts in the civilization’s past. Queens have ruled the empire outright, or made great strides as consorts to their pharaoh husbands. It was a woman who was third on the dynastic throne, and a woman who ruled Egypt when it succumbed to the Romans almost 3,000 years later – so there’s no doubting that women have made unique contributions to one of the world’s greatest empires.

Types of Queen

There were several types of queen in ancient Egypt. The first and, in the earlier years of the empire most important, was the Great Royal Wife – denoted by the name Hemet Nesw Weret. Sometimes these women took over their husband’s monarchical duties following his death, but usually it would be the king’s son with the Great Royal Wife who would assume his father’s title. Secondly there would be the Mwt Nesw, or Mother of the King. Then other, lesser wives assumed the queen’s title Hemw Nesw.

Being a woman wasn’t nearly as limiting in Egypt as it was in other contemporary civilizations such as Mesopotamia and Greece. Women in general held much more power, and were allowed to defend themselves in court, inherit wealth and hold official positions. However, all of the ruling Egyptian queens were of royal blood, and were at one time consorts to their pharaoh husbands. And though their path to the throne was always cleared by virtue of having no living sons, it is widely recognised that most women rulers were backed to the position by wealthy and powerful men.

Much of the time daughters of rulers would be married off with their brothers. This is the route to power taken by at most of Egypt’s ruling queens. In fact the ancient Egyptian dynasties were very keen to keep power within the family, enforcing incestuous marriages upon nearly all of their children.

Who was Queen?

Six women are believed to have ruled Egypt as female kings: Neithikret (ca 2148-44 BC); Sobeknefru (ca 1787-83 BC); Hatshepsut (ca 1473-58); Nefertiti (ca 1336 BC); Tawosret (1194 BC); and the famous Cleopatra VII, who ruled Egypt both jointly and solely between 51 BC and the demise of the Egyptian empire in 30 BC. Nefertari, the favoured wife of Ramses II (Ramses the Great) also deserves special mention as a consort, as she garnered much political power – usually appearing alongside her husband in reliefs and drawings from the time.

Though the mystique of Cleopatra’s controversial and glamorous reign still enthrals millions to this day, aided by myriad good (and not so good) theatrical adaptations of her life, Hatshepsut orchestrated a distinguished and eminent sovereignty. And there was much more to Nefertiti than a famous bust.

Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut sat on the throne of Egypt longer than any other female pharaoh. As the daughter of Thutmose I and Ahmose, she was the favoured of their three children, and when her brothers died she had a clear run to an unprecedented rule. However she was first made to endure a short reign by her half-brother Thutmose II – of which she is perceived to have pulled most of the strings. Hatshepsut would get her limelight when, in 1473, Thutmose II died from a skin disease, after only a three or four year reign. She had produced a son, Thutmose III, with a commoner – yet he was far too young to rule so Hatshepsut ascended the throne as co-regent, and later claimed the throne for herself.

Hatshepsut managed to control Egypt effectively for twenty years, cementing her claim to the throne by promoting her relationship with her father. She even strapped a fake beard to her chin and dressed as a man to hide her femininity. She expanded trade links, and built her famous temple in Deir el Bahri to show her people that she was of divine birth. She kept the peace and brought many exotic items from the east – yet her demoted brother grew angry at her success, and rumours suggest that Thutmose II killed Hatshepsut by poisoning her. Still, she remained a benchmark for all powerful women afterwards, and her magnificent temple is still marvelled at by the world.

Nefertiti

As many famous portrayals suggest, Nefertiti was known throughout the civilized world for her great beauty; a feature revered so much by her heretic husband king Amenhotep IV, or Akhenaten, that she guarded his mummy, a fate usually reserved for gods. She played an intricate part in the brief abandonment of the traditional Egyptian gods, in favour of one god; Aten. She was possibly better known to her people than her husband, appearing five times more in reliefs of the time. She was even depicted in the classical pose of a pharaoh smiting his enemy. Many believe Nefertiti was in fact a co-regent; and that she actually invented the cult of Aten which prospered during her lifetime.

However, as was the case with a huge number of royals during the empire, Nefertiti met an early end – and vanished from historical accounts in the fourteenth year of her husband’s reign, in 1336 BC. This may have been the result of foul play, the chances of which increase when one considers her controversial religious beliefs. There was also a plague at the time which may well have contributed to her death. Yet the location of her mummy remains a mystery, and despite several theories no-one truly knows Nefertiti’s final resting place. However she still captures public imaginations everywhere, and is frequently known as ‘the world’s most beautiful woman’.

Cleopatra

What cannot be said of Cleopatra? Her regency inspired love and war, and her sexuality instigated the death of her nation. Rather than a native Egyptian Cleopatra, born in 69 BC, was in fact from Macedon – yet was the only person from her lineage who could speak the Egyptian language. She was married off to her 12-year-old brother at 17 to maintain the family tradition; yet her spouse’s young age meant she was free to rule howsoever she pleased.

Yet just three years later a rebellion forced Cleopatra into exile in Syria, but she remained determined to return to Egypt – a determination which would come to famous fruition several years later. At this time Egypt, under the leadership of her brother Ptolemy, was fighting a bitter war with Julius Caesar’s Rome. Ptolemy, losing the battle, decided to kill Caesar’s old friend Pompey and side with the Roman ruler. This plan backfired when Caesar caught wind of Pompey’s demise and seized the Egyptian throne.

Cleopatra and Ptolemy were then forced to return to Egypt to meet Caesar, a journey legendary in that Cleopatra was smuggled over the border inside a rug. Upon seeing the prostrate former queen, Caesar promptly began a scandalous three year-long affair. However Caesar’s murder meant she had to flee once again to report to one of the triumvirs of Rome in 41 BC following her former lover’s death; Mark Antony.

Again Cleopatra worked her intelligence and sexuality to seduce Antony, and the couple relocated to Alexandria in 37 BC whereupon they would try to reconcile the two superpowers. However Rome was scandalised by their pairing and waged a terminal war upon Egypt which would end in Cleopatra’s death on the 12th August 30 BC. Her many portrayals in theatre, film and television has meant that Cleopatra is one of, if not the most revered leader in Egyptian history.

The Valley of the Queens

Many of Egypt’s most revered women from the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties (1550 – 1070 BC) were buried in a huge complex, nearby to the Valley of the Kings, in Thebes’ (Luxor’s) West Bank. The necropolis holds around 70 tombs, and some of the ancient empire’s most beautiful and decorative artwork has been discovered – Queen Nefertari’s polychrome reliefs are a particular highlight for the thousands of yearly visitors the area receives.

These painstaking pieces of art, as well as the intricate rock-cut tombs which house them, show how Egypt viewed their powerful women in stark contrast to the other major powers of the time. Women may not have stolen all the headlines of their male peers, but they stole millions of hearts and subjects; and continue to do so to this day.

Images of Queen Ahmose-Merytamun (top) and Hatshepsut's temple (middle) by Lenka Peacock. All rights reserved.

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About The Author

Sean Williams

Sean is an English Literature graduate, who currently works as a writer and journalist in London. He enjoys ancient history, theatre and sport. He does not enjoy Big Brother.

Last three pieces by this author: Celebrate St. Patrick's by Visiting Loughcrew for Spring Equinox, What can you Expect from Stonehenge Spring Equinox 2010?, AWiL Video Series: Illuminating Hadrian's Wall at the Edge of the Roman Empire

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