This is a list of known royal consorts of ancient Egypt from 3100 BC to 30 BC. Reign dates follow those included on the list of pharaohs page. Some information is debatable and interpretations of available evidence can vary between Egyptologists.
Background
The Pharaoh's wives played an important role both in public and private life, and would be a source of political and religious power. Pharaohs usually had many different wives, so that a successor could be guaranteed to succeed him. If a queen succeeded in producing an heir that inherited the throne, she would reach a position of great honour as King's Mother and may be able to rule Egypt on behalf of her son as regent if he was underage. While there are many known cases of kings marrying their sisters, there were also wives of non–royal birth, such as Tiye and Nefertiti. Kings such as Amenhotep III and Ramesses II are known to have married some of their daughters, though it is possible these marriages were symbolic and ceremonial rather than incestuous. Apart from the chief consort, the Pharaoh would have many wives in the harem, who could be foreign–born princesses or lower–ranking Egyptian women who had little impact on politics.
While women did occasionally rule as Pharaohs, they generally did not rule while married except during the Ptolemaic period. Thus, male consorts never existed during the time of the native Egyptian royal dynasties, and only Berenice IV and Cleopatra VII are listed as having male consorts who did not rule as Pharaohs.
List of female rulers and co–rulers Most Queens included on this page did not rule as Pharaohs. However, some did rule in their own right following the deaths of their husbands. Four Queens from the Native Egyptian dynasties are known for certain to have ruled as Female Pharaohs: Sobekneferu ( 1806–1802 BC), Possibly wife of Amenemhat IV Hatshepsut ( 1479–1458 BC), Wife of Thutmose II and co-pharaoh with Thutmose III Neferneferuaten ( 1334–1332 BC), Wife of either Akhenaten or Smenkhkare depending on her identity Tausret ( 1191–1189 BC), Wife of Seti II
There has also been some debate on whether certain Queen regents such as Neithhotep, Merneith, Khentkaus I and Khentkaus II did rule as Female Pharaohs or not. However, there is yet to be any concrete evidence that they did. The legendary Queen Nitocris was supposedly a Pharaoh at the end of the Sixth Dynasty, but no archeological evidence supports her existence.
The Ptolemaic dynasty implemented a policy of co–rule between spouses. Therefore, many Queens from this dynasty are not listed as consorts as they were co–rulers of Egypt while married to their husbands.
Women who were dating their regnal years in royal protocols (alongside their co–rulers or independently) and thus were unquestionable Pharaohs were:
Cleopatra II (170–164, 163–127, 124–116 BC), initially Queen consort, then Queen regnant alongside her brother–husband Ptolemy VI Philometor, her younger brother (later husband) Ptolemy VIII Physcon, her son Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator, her daughter Cleopatra III and briefly her grandson Ptolemy IX Soter. She was the sole ruler of Egypt from 131 to 127 BC, the first woman to do so since Tausret over a millennium before. She was also first known Ptolemaic queen included in dating protocols as ruler alongside her spouses, making her unquestionably queen in her own right. Cleopatra III (142–131, 127–101 BC), ruled alongside her uncle–husband Ptolemy VIII Physcon, her mother Cleopatra II, her eldest son Ptolemy IX Soter, her daughter Cleopatra IV and her second eldest son Ptolemy X Alexander I. Berenice III (101–88, 81–80 BC), ruled alongside her uncle–husband Ptolemy X Alexander I, her father Ptolemy IX Soter and her brother–husband Ptolemy XI Alexander II. She briefly ruled by herself from 81 BC to 80 BC before she was murdered on the orders of Ptolemy XI Alexander II. Cleopatra V (79–68 BC), ruled alongside her husband Ptolemy XII Auletes. Cleopatra VI (58–57 BC), ruled alongside her sister Berenice IV. However, some historians theorise she may actually be the same person as Cleopatra V. Berenice IV (58–55 BC), briefly ruled alongside her sister (or possibly mother) Cleopatra VI, but otherwise spent most of her reign as the sole ruler of Egypt. Cleopatra VII (51–30 BC), ruled alongside her brother–husband Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, her second brother–husband Ptolemy XIV Philopator and her son Caesarion.
Evidence of co–rulership in early dynasty is ambiguous. List of Ptolemaic queens who could be co–rulers with their husband includes: Arsinoe II ( 277–270 BC), possibly ruled alongside her brother–husband Ptolemy II Philadelphus. She is considered Pharaoh by Sally Ann Ashton. Berenice II ( 244–222 BC), possibly ruled alongside her husband Ptolemy III Euergetes. Arsinoe III (220–204 BC), possibly ruled alongside her brother–husband Ptolemy IV Philopator. Cleopatra I Syra (193–176 BC), possibly ruled alongside her husband Ptolemy V Epiphanes and as a regent on behalf of her son Ptolemy VI Philometor.
The claimant queen of Egypt Arsinoe IV (48–47 BC) declared herself Pharaoh in opposition to her sister Cleopatra VII.
List of regents Occasionally when the new Pharaoh was too young to rule, his mother or step–mother would rule temporarily as a regent on his behalf. Because they did not hold the title of 'King' during their time in power, they are generally not included on Lists of Pharaohs. The following Queens are likely to have ruled as regents: Neithhotep possibly ruled on behalf of her son Hor–Aha ( 3050 BC) Merneith ruled on behalf of her son Den ( 2970 BC) Nimaathap possibly ruled on behalf of her son Djoser ( 2670 BC) Khentkaus I likely ruled as a regent, but her son or sons are unknown. Khentkaus II possibly ruled as a regent for one of her sons (Neferefre or Nyuserre Ini). Iput possibly ruled as a regent for her son Pepi I Meryre ( 2332 BC) Ankhesenpepi II ruled as a regent for her son Pepi II Neferkare ( 2278 BC) Ahhotep I ruled as a regent for her son Ahmose I ( 1550 BC) Ahmose–Nefertari ruled as a regent for her son Amenhotep I ( 1541 BC) Hatshepsut initially ruled as a regent for her step–son Thutmose III ( 1479 BC) before becoming Pharaoh and co–ruler. Mutemwiya may have ruled as a regent for her son Amenhotep III ( 1388 BC) Tausret ruled as a regent for Siptah who could be her step–son ( 1197 BC)
Predynastic Period Dynasty "Zero" (Before c. 3100 BC) PictureNameSpouseFatherMotherSonsDaughtersBurial PlaceNotesKa–Neith – – – – – –An inscription of the queen's name was found at el–Beda.Cledat, op. cit. 1914 fig. 5; Kaiser-Dreyer, M.D.A.I.K. 38, 1982 marke 12.HaKaJürgen von Beckerath: Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen, Münchner ägyptologische Studien, Heft 49, Mainz : P. von Zabern, 1999, , available online see p. 36-37––––––
Early Dynastic Period First Dynasty (c. 3100–2890 BC) PictureNameSpouseFatherMotherSonsDaughtersBurial PlaceNotes Neithhotep Narmer Local Naqada Royalty(?) Hor–Aha – Tomb of Neithhotep, Naqada Possibly ruled as regent for her son Hor–Aha. BeneribHor–Aha – – – – Umm El Qa'ab Tomb B14 – Khenthap – – Djer – – Only known from the Palermo Stone, no known contemporary sources mention her. HerneithDjerWolfgang Helck: Untersuchungen zur Thinitenzeit (= Ägyptologische Abhandlungen. Bd. 45). Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1987, , p. 119 & 154. – – Djet (?) – Saqqara Tomb S3507(?) – Nakhtneith – – – – Umm El Qa'ab Tomb O Complex – Penebui – – – – – May have died due to decapitation but this is disputed. Merneith Djet Djer(?) – Den – Umm El Qa'ab Tomb Y Ruled as Regent for her son Den. SeshemetkaDen(?) – – – – – May have been a wife of Djer. Semat – – – – – – Serethor – – – – – – Betrest Anedjib(?) – – Semerkhet – – May have been a wife of Den.
Second Dynasty (c. 2890–2686 BC) PictureNameSpouseFatherMotherSonsDaughtersBurial PlaceNotesMenkaUnknown, Khasekhemwy (?) – – – – – Attested by a basalt relief fragment similar in appearance to one attributed to Khasekhemwy. However, a recent review of the evidence make it likely that Menka was not a queen. Nimaathap Khasekhemwy – – DjoserSekhemkhet (?)Sanakht (?) – Beit Khallaf (Tomb K1) (?) May have ruled as regent for her son Djoser.
Old Kingdom Third Dynasty (c. 2686–2613 BC) PictureNameSpouseFatherMotherSonsDaughtersBurial PlaceNotes Hetephernebti Djoser Khasekhemwy (?) – – Inetkaes Saqqara (?) – Djeseretnebti Sekhemkhet (?)Wolfgang Helck: Untersuchungen zur Thinitenzeit. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1987, , pp 108, 117. – – – – – Her status as queen is a matter of debate due to lack of royal titles found beside the name. DjefatnebtiHuni (?)Günter Dreyer: Drei archaisch-hieratische Gefässaufschriften mit Jahresnamen aus Elephantine. In: G. Dreyer, J. Osing (Hrsg.): Form und Maß - Beiträge zur Literatur, Sprache und Kunst des Alten Ägypten. (= Festschrift G. Fecht). Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1987, p. 98-109.Aidan Dodson, Monarchs of the Nile, American Univ in Cairo Press, 2000, p 26 Google Books Link – – – – – – Meresankh I – – Sneferu Hetepheres I (?) – –
Fourth Dynasty (c. 2613–2494 BC) PictureNameSpouseFatherMotherSonsDaughtersBurial PlaceNotes Hetepheres I Sneferu Huni Meresankh I (?) Khufu – Tomb G 7000X, Giza – Meritites IKhufu Sneferu – KawabDjedefre (?) Hetepheres II Pyramid G1–b – Henutsen Sneferu (?) – Khafre (?),Khufukhaf I,Minkhaf I – Pyramid G1–c – Khentetka Djedefre – – – – – – Meresankh II 1) Prince Horbaef2) Djedefre or Khafre Khufu (?) Meritites I (?) With Horbaef:DjatyNebty–tepites With Horbaef:Nefertkau III – – Hetepheres II 1) Prince Kawab2) Djedefre3) Khafre (?) Khufu Meritites I With Kawab:DuaenhorKaemsekhemMindjedef With Kawab: Meresankh IIIWith Djedefre:Neferhetepes Giza Tomb G7530–7540 – Meresankh III Khafre Kawab Hetepheres II NebemakhetDuaenreNiuserreKhenterka Shepsetkau – Khamerernebty I Khufu (?) – Menkaure Khamerernebty II – – Persenet – Nikaure – Giza Tomb LG88 – Hekenuhedjet – – Sekhemkare – – – Khamerernebty II Menkaure Khafre Khamerernebty I Khuenre – Giza Tomb G3a or Tomb G3b (?) – Rekhetre Menkaure (?) – – – Giza Tomb G8530gizapyramids.org page for G 8530 – Bunefer Shepseskaf (?) – – – – Giza Tomb G8408 Unclear whether she was a wife or daughter of Shepseskaf
Fifth Dynasty (c. 2494–2345 BC)