Some
Egyptologists believe that females rather
than males passed on royal blood in Ancient
Egyptian society, therefore Thutmose II
was forced to marry Hatshepsut in order
to become pharaoh. Others believe that
Thutmose II, already the designated heir
but still very young and of only half-royal
blood himself, needed to shore up his
claim to the throne by marrying his half-sister--whose
lineage was of unassailable purity being
the daughter of a mighty warrior pharaoh
and a fully royal queen. Thutmose II ruled
for thirteen years, during which it is
believed Hatshepsut exerted much influence
over him. Thutmose II had two daughters
with Hatshepsut, Nefrure and Meritre.
Hatshepsut groomed the elder one, Nefrure,
as crown prince, commissioning official
portraits of her wearing the false beard
and side lock of youth, but she also passed
the female title of God's Wife of Amun
on to Nefrure when she ascended to the
throne.
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