After the death of her husband, Thutmose II, she began acting as regent for her stepson (born to a secondary wife), the infant Thutmose III. When Thutmose III was about eight years old, she took the throne herself and officially became his coruler around 1473 B.C. Hatshepsut also took a new name, Ma’at kare, sometimes translated as Truth (ma’at) is the Soul (ka) of the Sun God (Re). The key word here is ma’at—the ancient Egyptian expression for order and justice as established by the deities.
She sought to reinvent her image, and in statues and paintings of that time, she ordered that she be portrayed as a male pharaoh, with a beard and large muscles.
Upon taking control, at only twenty-two years of age, Hatshepsut followed the example of her 18th dynasty predecessors and solidified her power with a short and successful military campaign to the south against the Kingdom of Kush.
Hatshepsut renewed trade with western Asia to the east, the far-off land of Punt to the south, and the Aegean Islands to the north. The resulting economic prosperity was reflected in the art of the time, which is characterized by remarkable innovations in sculpture and decorative arts.
Toward the end of her reign, Hatshepsut allowed Thutmose to play an increasingly prominent role in state affairs; following her death, Thutmose III ruled Egypt alone for 33 years.
Hatshepsut (1504 – 1458 BC) - the first female pharaoh to rule Egypt
