Hatshepsut

Queen - or, as she would prefer to be remembered, King Hatshepsut was an astonishing woman. Brilliantly defying tradition, she became the female embodiment of a male role, dressing in men’s clothes and even wearing a false beard. Hatshepsut was not one to sit back and wait for her nephew to age enough to take her place. As a favorite daughter of a popular pharaoh, and as a charismatic and beautiful lady in her own right, she was able to command enough of a following to actually take control as pharaoh. Hatshepsut, as a female, had many obstacles to overcome. There was always a threat of revolt, especially as her bitter nephew came of age. Using propaganda and keen political skills, she deftly jumped each hurdle she faced. To quell the fears of her people, she became a "king" in all images and relief’s during her reign.

On the death of her father Thutmosis I, the young Hatshepsut, possibly only twelve years old, emerged from t...