Queen Hatshepsut ruled Egypt from about 1503 to 1480 B.C. Pharaoh Maatkara Hatshepsut of Egypt was the first woman in recorded history to rule.
Her name means "most noble of noble women" and she is known as the Queen who dared to be King.

        She was the Pharaoh, the daughter of a pharaoh, and the wife of a pharaoh.
She went against the normal policy of her time when on the death of her husband she proclaimed herself Pharaoh, and denying the pharaoh's young son his rightful place as ruler of Egypt
for 20 years. Egypt flourished.

        Hatshepsut, daughter of Tuthmose I and Aahmes, both of royal lineage, was the favorite of their three children.
When her two brothers died, (A female pharaoh was unheard of. ) Technically Moutnofrit Tuthmose II, ascended the throne. For the few years of his reign, however, Hatshepsut held the reins.

        Hatshepsut was not given the power of Pharaoh, she took it. As a favorite daughter of the pharaoh. Hatshepsut was charismatic and beautiful. Hatshepsut was a master politician, and an elegant stateswoman. Hatshepsut was able to take command a and take control as pharaoh.

        In her 20 years she left more monuments and works of art than any Egyptian queen since including Cleoparta.
Hatshepsut, as a female, had many obstacles to overcome. For appearences sake, she became a "king" in all statues and reliefs. She dressed in the traditional garb of male rulers: the shendyt kilt, the nemes headdress with its uraeus and khat headcloth, and the false beard.
There was always a threat of revolt, Using propaganda and keen political skills, she deftly overcame each obstical she faced.

She devoted herself to administration and the encouragement of commerce. In 1493 B.C., she sent five ship, each with a crew of 30 across the Red Sea to establish trade woth the Land of Punt, for myrrh, frankincense, and fragrant ointments that the Egyptians used for religious purposes and cosmetics.

        She used two devices to ensure the legitimacy of her position. She claimed to have been handpicked by her father, above her two brothers and her half-brother.
She claimed to be picked by the Gods
In her temple are written the words of Khnum, the divine potter who sculpted the forms of the gods:
I will make you to be the first of all living creatures, you will rise as king of Upper and of Lower Egypt, as your father Amon, who loves you, did ordain.

        Hatshepsut lives in a beautiful terraced temple at Deir el-Bahri, near Luxor in the Valley of the Kings.