Hatshepsut

Queen of Egypt (c. 1472–58 BC). Daughter of Thutmose I and wife of Thutmose II, she first acted as regent for her stepson, Thutmose III, but soon ordered herself crowned as pharaoh. She attained unprecedented power, adopting the titles and regalia of a pharaoh, complete with a false beard. She devoted much of the profit from expanded trade and tribute to an extensive building program, most notably to a splendid temple at Dayr al-Bahri. Thutmose III, who had become head of the army, succeeded her; whether she died naturally or was deposed and killed is uncertain.

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