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Hatshepsut Amenophis
is perfectly beautiful in face and limb with the grace of the Nile in her
steps. Her regality is even more evident today than after two thousand years
as a vampire. Since the loss of her great companion Amit, she has spent much
time at her home near the city of Aswan and the first cataract of Upper
Egypt.
Vampiric Abilities:
Hypnosis/Memory-Manipulation
Mind-Reading
Supernatural Strength and Speed
Cloud-Gift
Age:
2374 years
Date of Birth:
1595 BC
Date of Dark Birth:
1468 BC
***
In the early part of the 18th dynasty, the royal house of Amosis suffered
tragedies during three generations. The first generation came upon the two
sons of Amen-Hotep I who died young and left only a daughter, Ahmose. The
second generation affected Ahmose and her husband, Tuthmosis I when all 7 of
their sons died young. When Tuthmosis I finally died only one child was left,
a daughter called Hatshepsut. She eventually married Tuthmosis II but it was
only Hatshepsut who could claim the lineage of Ra. It was the third tragedy
to the House of Amosis that put Hatshepsut on the throne of Egypt.
Hatshepsut married her half brother at the age of 15 and absolutely not by
her own choice as the man was physically and mentally disabled. She endured
him long enough to child 2 daughters by his illegitimate blood until he died
after 13 years. During that time, however, Hatshepsut exerted much influence
over him as the King’s Great Wife. While her husband was on campaign to Asia
she ruled the land in all matters of state and gained authority and influence
over the priesthood. Early on Hatshepsut envisioned herself as more than
queen of Egypt but to be fully recognized as Pharaoh.
Her nephew became heir to the throne, but too young to make any claim, it was
Hatshepsut that ruled as co-regent. The young Tuthmosis III inherited more
than his father’s illegitimate blood but also his physical imperfections. The
queen viewed the boy to be weak and unfit for rule. She silently plotted his
downfall for 7 years. Then, she transferred her title of “King’s wife” to her
daughter, the wife and half-sister of the young boychild Tuthmosis III, in an
act of seeming compassion and grace. The gesture was a ruse, for along with
the title went the public trivialities. This left Hatshepsut free to rule
over the more important affairs of state while keeping the heart of the
people. She began to appear in the rites as the position of Pharaoh soon
after announced a holy declaration.
It was revealed to her by divine vision that she was the physical and
spiritual daughter of the creator god Amun-Ra. He wanted to create a girl child to
rule over Egypt to the dawning of a new golden age. He would give this
daughter the Two Lands to rule in peace as well as over Syria, Nubia, the
far-distant land of Punt, and eventually all the world. In the vision she saw
the figure of Tuthmosis II enter the bedchamber of her mother but shining
with a great light for his spirit and soul were both replaced by Amun. The
light and heavenly scent emanating from him awakened Ahmose into whom he
breathed life and whispered the words of knowledge. Then Hatshepsut saw Amun-Ra
holding an infant girl and proclaiming her
King of Egypt.
The Oracle of Amun reaffirmed her claim by stating it was Amun’s will that
Hatshepsut be Pharaoh. After that, she felt no resistance as she donned the
clothes, headdress, and false-beard and proclaimed herself King.
Her rule as Pharaoh was more than successful. She had a peaceful foreign
policy with expeditions early on to the lands of Syria and Nubia, but her
monuments and buildings are more numerous and grander than all her New
Kingdom predecessors. The greatest of these was a mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri
close to the entrance to the Valley of the Kings. Designed by her closest
advisor and lover, Senemut, the focal point of these buildings had a thousand
feet of colonnades built directly into a cliff face which rose above it.
She ruled a total of 22 years before her disappearance. Her nephew Tuthmosis
III meant to assassinate her and take the throne so long denied to him. He
found his way through the Pharaoh’s bedchamber and successfully plunged a
jewel-hilt dagger into the back of the one sleeping in the silk sheets while
holding the face into a pillow to muffle the screams. When the body finally
rested, he turned it over to see the face of his dead step-mother, but it was
not Hatshepsut, rather her lover, Senemut.
Several individuals knew of the attempted assassination beforehand but none
of those had the courage to inform the Pharaoh. Instead, only one onlooker
lured the King out of the arms of her love. It was Amit Amenophis that chose
Hatshepsut to be the next great ruler of Egypt and created the false vision
of Amun-Ra. It was him that inflicted the three tragedies upon the Ahmose
House. Amit Amenophis wanted a King of Egypt that would never be forgotten
for his legacy, intelligence, and political genius. That was why a woman
would best fit the criteria. Then, should she live up to his expectations,
she would join him for eternity when he decided the time was right.
Hatshepsut spent a thousand years in the company of her maker before he, like
she did to her people, disappeared from all trace. She does not know whether
he still lives but in the great tradition of her race has never encountered
one worthy of her blood.
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