Hatshepsut was the eldest daughter of the pharaoh, Thutmose I and Queen Aahmes, the Royal Wife. Thutmose I was the successor of the childless pharaoh, Amenhotep I. Thutmose I was a successful general in the army and married the previous pharaoh's sister Aahmes.
Hatshepsut was born around 1502 BC. Her two eldest brothers died in accidents before their father's death, so she was married to her younger half brother Thutmose II, a son of a secondary wife name Moutnofrit. In Ancient Egypt it was the custom for a male to be the pharaoh and often a pharaoh was married to his sister or a half-sister.
This practice is referred to as the "Heiress Theory" by modern scholars. This theory states that a male no matter his station in life or bloodline must marry a daughter of the old pharaoh to succeed to the throne. The common practice was for the pharaoh to marry his favorite son to his eldest daughter.
Thutmose III smiting enemies on the seventh pylon ...
Photograph of a portion of a painted relief showin...
English: Djeser-Djeseru, Hatshepsut's mortuary tem...Brother sister marriages and even father daughter marriages were accepted in ancient Egypt. It is thought Hatshepsut was about fifteen years old when her father died. Thutmose II ruled about three years before "he went up to heaven and was united with the gods". Thutmose II had one daughter with his royal wife Hatshepsut, her name was Nofrure, he also had one other child a son, Thutmose III, by his mistress Isis.
Thutmose III was about three years old when his father died around 1479 BC. Hatshepsut took over the control of the government on behalf of her young nephew as Queen Regent, she continued to use the title of "God's Wife", however, within a few years Hatshepsut was crowned a pharaoh and she adopted the full five great names and her name was placed in...