She Killed 300 People to Become Pharaoh (Then Erased Herself from History)

Hatshepsut declared herself Pharaoh of Egypt in 1473 BC—one of only a handful of women to ever rule as pharaoh. She wore the false beard, dressed as a man, and forced Egypt to accept a female king. For 22 years she ruled successfully, building monuments, establishing trade, and bringing prosperity. Then she died mysteriously, and her stepson spent decades systematically erasing her from history.
👑 Her Story:

Married her half-brother Pharaoh Thutmose II (Egyptian royal tradition)
When he died, became regent for young stepson Thutmose III
Year 7: Declared herself pharaoh (not regent, full pharaoh)
Dressed in masculine regalia with false beard to legitimize rule
Possibly killed 300+ nobles who opposed her claim (records destroyed)
Ruled 22 years of peace and prosperity
Built Deir el-Bahari (one of Egypt's most beautiful temples)
Re-established trade with land of Punt
Died ~1458 BC of illness (cancer/infection)

⚠️ The Erasure:

Stepson Thutmose III waited 20 years after her death
Then ordered systematic destruction of everything with her name
Statues smashed, inscriptions chiseled out, name removed from king lists
"Damnatio memoriae" - condemnation of memory
For 3,000 years, it worked—she was forgotten

🔍 Modern Discovery:

1800s: Archaeologists found her temple but couldn't identify builder
1900s: Pieced together her story from hidden inscriptions
2007: Her mummy identified through DNA and a single tooth
Now recognized as one of Egypt's greatest pharaohs

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - The Pharaoh Who Was Erased
0:48 - She Declares Herself King
2:08 - The Dark Side: 300 Deaths
3:12 - Egypt's Golden Age Under Her Rule
4:32 - Systematic Destruction of Her Legacy
6:24 - Finding Her Mummy 3,500 Years Later
7:28 - Why Gender Made Her Unacceptable
📚 SOURCES:

"The Woman Who Would Be King" by Kara Cooney
Dr. Zahi Hawass - 2007 mummy identification
Metropolitan Museum of Art - Hatshepsut exhibition research
UCLA Digital Karnak Project

#Hatshepsut #AncientEgypt #FemalePharaoh #ForgottenQueens #Egyptology #ValleyOfTheKings #HistoricalErasure #WomenInHistory