FEMALE PHARAOHS - Ruling Queens of Ancient Egypt: Usually when we think about Egyptian queens, names like Hatshepsut and Cleopatra are most likely the first to spring to mind. But Egypt has been ruled by other women: Merneith,Nitocris, Sobekneferu, Hatshepsut and Twosret. Merneith possibly was the first Queen ever to rule Egypt but is too much disputed to be considered a ruling Queen without a doubt. Still she is mentioned here because she can't be ruled out. Although there are several types of queens in the history of ancient Egypt.The royal wifes usually were corregents,for example, Jentkhaus, Tetisheri, Ahhotep, Nefertiti (possibly she was Smenkhkare Ankheperure),Etc.But there were authentic female pharaoh who ruled in ancient Egypt. MERNEITH:(or MeritNit) was possibly the first female ruler of Egypt and she lived during the first dynasty of Egypt. Although the period of her reign is not exactly known it must have been around the 30th century BC. Her name means "beloved by Neith". Merneith was the Great Royal Wife of King Djet and the mother of King Den. MerNeith became Queen of Egypt because when King Djet died, her son Den was still thought to be too young to rule over Egypt. NITOCRIS, (or Nitiqret ) has been claimed to have been the last ruler of the sixth dynasty at the end of the Old Kingdom period and the start of the First Intermediate period. Little is known about the first female to rule over ancient Egypt, there not even clear proof she ever existed. But she is mentioned in the Histories of Herodotus, the ancient Greek historian, and writings of Manetho, who was an Egyptian historian. The Histories of Herodotus tells us the story of Neithikret who in revenge of her brother's death kills all the people she holds responsible for this murder. SOBEKNEFERU (or Neferusobek) was a ruling queen during the 12th dynasty. Sobekneferu became queen of Egypt after the death of her husband and brother Amenemhat IV. Her name often appears with the addition Shedty which means "with Shedet", indicating she was involved in a religious movement in this town in Faiyum. There are very few records of her short reign that only lasted four years but some damaged (headless) statues of her have been found in the Delta. It is also known she extended the funerary complex of Amenemhat III at Hawara but she also build structures at Herakleopolis Magna. HATSHEPSUT: was the ruling queen with the longest reign in Egypt's history.She was the daughter of Thutmose I and Ahmose. Hatshepsut married her half-brother Thutmose II who became king of Egypt when his father died (1492 BC). Thutmose II was a son of Thutmose I and his minor wife lady Mutnofret. Since three of his older brothers died prematurely and Thutmose II was only a lesser son he had to marry his fully royal half sister to secure his claim of the throne and to secure his kingship. Because of the similarities in domestic and foreign policies that were pursued under her reign Hatshepsut is believed to be the real power behind the throne during the (short) time Thutmose II ruled over Egypt. Hatshepsut only gave birth to a daughter named Neferure.When Thutmose II died Thutmose III, son of Thutmose II and his lesser wife Iset (named after goddess Isis), was still an infant and too young to rule over Egypt so Hatshepsut acted as regent on his behalf.Hatshepsut become queen of Egypt Never claiming to have ruled with or for her husband Thutmose II, Hatshepsut used her bloodline and fabricated a co-regency with her father Thutmose I to legitimize her accession to the throne. Even before Hatshepsut had taken on the throne name Maatkare there was an inscription left at Aswan by the royal steward Senemut, naming her as "king's daughter, king's sister, god's wife, great royal wife. NEFERTITI Ruled Egypt during 2 years after Akhenaten died, She changed her name for Smenkhkare-Ankhkheperure,(i've included her in my video of XVIII dynasty) TWOSRET (or Tausret) was the last ruler of the 19th Dynasty When Seti II died after a reign of almost 6 years his son Saptah (Siptah) succeeded him. Saptah was not a child of queen Twosret, who is not known of having any children, but a child of Seti II and a Syrian concubine named Sutaila. CLEOPATRA VII Philopator was the last ruler of ancient Egypt. Cleopatra was born 69 BC and had two older sisters, Cleopatra VI Tryphaena and Bernice IV. During the reign of Ptolemy XII Cleopatra VI becomes very powerful and takes over the throne from her father who, together with Cleopatra VII, flees to Rome to seek help with regaining the rule over Egypt. While they are in Rome Cleopatra VI dies mysteriously, possibly poisoned by Berenice IV who seizes power  and becomes the Queen of Egypt. The reign of Berenice IV was a short one, lasting only two years. In 55 BC, with the help of the Romans led by Aulus Gabinius, Ptolemy XII regains power and has Berenice IV beheaded.

• published: 26 Aug 2013
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