The Double Crown: Secret Writings of the Female Pharaoh (20 page)

Finally I opened the casket full of pigeons and released them into the sky. After circling for a minute or two, an equal number set off in each of the four directions, flying straight and true. This clearly showed that I was indeed the ruler of the entire world, of which Egypt is the centre and over which we exercise dominion by divine right. The roar and ringing cheers that greeted the flight of the freed birds sounds in my ears to this day.

Ah yes, there was some manipulation there. My devoted Senenmut, may he live, had gone to a great deal of trouble some months before the ceremony to identify pigeon trainers who could train the requisite number of homing pigeons to fly home to four places in the appropriate directions, and they were well rewarded. One does not reign over Egypt by leaving things to chance. But it was merely done to communicate the truth that had been vouchsafed to me in the vision on the Day of the Dead. Once I knew without a doubt that I was of divine parentage, I moved forward; I did everything necessary to implement the will of the God, which was that I should reign. I was crowned with full ceremony; the God acknowledged me and I became divine. That is why those who desire my throne and seek my death, if such there be, shall not prevail.

Here endeth the tenth scroll.                      

I was there that day when Her Majesty was crowned with pomp and ceremony. In fact, it is one of my earliest memories, for I was only six years old, and my father carried me upon his shoulders so that I might see over the heads of the excited crowds. “Look well,” my father said, “you may never again see the coronation festival of a great Pharaoh. That is King Ma’atkare Hatshepsut, may she live for ever.”

A king who was a woman? Strange, I thought. Perhaps she has both beard and breasts, like Hapi. I strained my eyes, and indeed, she did have a beard firmly attached to her chin. Extraordinary! But whether she also had breasts I could not quite make out, since she wore a mantle and much jewellery. She certainly was the Pharaoh, though, since the Double Crown sat upon her head. I cheered lustily with the rest of the populace. Then I ate too many dates and was very sick.

I never could have imagined that one day I would serve that self-same Pharaoh in the manner that I do. Nor that I might almost lose my life in saving hers. If an oracle had predicted such a thing, I would have thought it a joke, even a few years ago. Yet now I am Her Majesty’s devoted servant. And if the truth were known, I hold her in my power, for if I were to make known everything that she writes in her secret journal, she would without a doubt be in a dangerous position.

But of course I will never do that. No, no, I would not betray her. Her Majesty trusts me. I must be worthy. And I will.

THE ELEVENTH SCROLL

The reign of Hatshepsut year 1

The first serious test of my leadership and resolve came very soon in the first year of my reign. It arrived in the form of a plea for help from the Commander of the forts at Semna that overlook the Nile below the Second Cataract and are a key element in our control over the Nubians. His message was urgent: Rebels had taken the furthest fort. The slaughter had been dreadful. The other forts feared a total uprising, and the Commander had brought the garrisons of Semna East and South into the protection of the main fort, Semna West. They were being besieged, and feared that they might be attacked and overrun.

At this time, the young Thutmose was with the priests at Heliopolis. Khani did not yet hold a high rank, and in any case, I could not expect him to lead an expedition against his own people. This was also true of Nehsi, an able general of Nubian origin. I had one seasoned officer to whom I could turn: the tough but aging old campaigner Ahmose pen-Nekhbet of el-Kab. He had served my husband and my father before him. I called him to a conference with Seni, my adviser on foreign affairs, and Hapuseneb, who as Vizier also serves as Minister of War.

I read out the message from the Fort Commander. All present were agreed that the Nubians were testing me, and that retribution should be swift and merciless. The question was, what would be required and how soon could we be ready?

“We have seen such uprisings before,” said Hapuseneb in a bored tone. “They rebel with the inevitability of the inundation, but they are always driven back to the wretched Kush and flee like the water receding after the flood. They seldom muster more than three to four thousand, and they do not possess war chariots such as ours.”

“Correct.” Pen-Nekhbet eased his hip, which had been stiff ever since his last campaign, when he was seriously wounded. “But they do have archers, although they tend to be a disorganised rabble. One well-trained Egyptian division plus one squadron of chariots should more than suffice to teach them a sharp lesson.”

I looked at Hapuseneb. “How soon can we muster a division who can depart at once? Which division is quartered here?” I knew that there is always one division in the capital, although the main body of the army resides in Memphis.

“The Division of Amen, Majesty,” he told me. “It will take several days to muster, organise provisioning and arm them all.”

I nodded. I knew I could depend on him to know exactly what was possible. That meant that five thousand foot soldiers and five hundred war chariots would soon be dispatched to the aid of the beleaguered soldiers at Semna. “How long will it take to reach the forts?”

“It is a ten days’ march,” responded Pen-Nekhbet.

“Will they be able to hold out so long?”

“They will not be overrun,” stated Pen-Nekhbet confidently. “The fort at Semna West is a sturdy construction with bastions and towers to the landward side. On the river side steep cliffs fall down to the water. They should be able to hold it until we arrive.”

Anger at the presumption of the rebels rose in me. Doubtless they thought that Egypt, ruled by a woman and a child, would be an easy target. That rather than fight, we would leave the soldiers holding our outposts at their mercy. That we would give up our southern dominion by default. They would discover that they were in error. I was the daughter of a great warrior Pharaoh, who had marked our northern and our southern boundaries with massive steles, one in Palestine and the other deep in Upper Nubia. Under my rule these boundaries would not shrink, not by one cubit. At the same time I was myself the divine son of Ra, and the care of this kingdom had been given into my hands. I would not fail my people. I would not.

I lifted my chin. “In no less than five days, I will expect to depart,” I told Hapuseneb. “You will govern in my absence and ensure that all the daily rituals take place.”

Hapuseneb was not a man who easily showed his emotions, but he looked totally astounded at my words. “Majesty!” he exclaimed. “You cannot intend to go yourself!”

“I am Supreme Commander of the army,” I pointed out. “Who better to lead the troops?”

“But General Pen-Nekhbet …”

“Yes. I trust, General, that you will command one last campaign. Well, in truth it will be a punitive expedition, not all-out war. Let us not exaggerate. Can we depend on you?”

The old soldier straightened his shoulders. “Indeed you can. But Majesty, there is no need for you … Truly, it is not … it is not appropriate …”

“It is entirely appropriate for the Pharaoh to protect the realm,” I stated. “Also our dominions must know that we will tolerate no rebellions. And the soldiers must be heartened and inspired by the sight of their Pharaoh at the head of the host.”

Seni was frowning disapprovingly. “Majesty, with all due respect, what do you know of a forced march through the desert? Of sleeping hard and going thirsty? Of hardships that wring the body, before even taking the field against the enemy?”

“What do you know of childbirth?” I asked him. He blinked. “I have been wrung too,” I said. “If the men can survive, I can survive.”

“Many will die,” said Hapuseneb, his high-pitched voice rising in agitation. “In combat. We cannot afford to lose our Pharaoh, so recently crowned, to a barbarian horde. Surely, Majesty, you do not intend to engage …”

“I shall lead the squadron of war chariots onto the field,” I stated, “and take part in the initial onslaught by the archers. I am well trained in archery as you all know.”

They did know, but they liked it not. Seni muttered something about a stationary target and an attacking warrior, but I ignored him. “Thereafter I shall take up a position towards the rear, from where I may still pick off some of the enemy. I am determined to do this, gentlemen. Pharaoh has spoken.”

They were silent. Then Hapuseneb sighed. “Very well. I shall order a litter for Your Majesty …”

“I have absolutely no intention of going to war in a litter,” I told him. “You will find me the Pharaoh’s war chariot to ride in and an able charioteer.”

“Yes, Majesty,” conceded Hapuseneb. He made an obeisance. But his back was stiff.

The next verbal battle I had was with Senenmut. He wanted desperately to accompany the expedition. Several scribes would of course be required, to help keep track of supplies, draw up dispatches and so forth. But I insisted that he remain in Thebes.

“I need someone to be here whom I can trust implicitly,” I said. “There will be no coups in my absence as long as that person acts as my eyes and ears.”

“But Majesty! Hapuseneb …”

“It is precisely the priesthood that I do not altogether trust,” I said. “Remember that they have the child.”

He nodded reluctantly. “That is true. But if you do not go at all – Majesty, you should not be doing this. It is not fitting for a woman.”

I stated angrily: “It is my duty as the Pharaoh.”

“Pharaoh can delegate the conduct of warfare to the generals. It has been done before, it will again. Your late husband …”

“My late husband, may he live, was not strong. It is time to show the vassal states that Egypt has become stronger now, not weaker still. I must demonstrate my absolute resolve. Surely you understand this?” I wanted him to agree. He always did understand my heart.

“You could be killed, and I … and … and Egypt would be bereft.”

I looked searchingly into his dark eyes. “And you? Is that what you said?”

“I spoke out of turn, Majesty. Please forgive your humble servant.” Yet though his words were humble, his regard remained intense. He stood erect, stiffly correct, but I sensed turmoil behind the discipline.

How I yearned in that moment to reach out to him, to feel his arms enfold me, to be held, to be kissed, to say farewell as one would to a lover! I knew in my bones that that was also his desire. I felt my own limbs tremble. But I was Pharaoh and I could not give in. Steadily, I said: “I hereby appoint you Chief of All Works and Chief Steward of Amen, with all the rights and privileges that those positions entail.”

That surprised him. “Majesty is good,” he said. A faint smile curled his lips. “Hapuseneb will not be pleased.”

“Hapuseneb cannot hold all the offices in the land,” I snapped. “These appointments will give you sufficient authority to keep a check on him.”

This appealed to Senenmut. A twinkle appeared in his eye and he relaxed somewhat. “Majesty is good,” he repeated.

Within less than a week the Division of Amen was ready to depart. I too had been making my preparations. Hapuseneb had had the war chariot of the King brought out of storage where it had been placed when my late husband, may he live, became too ill and weak to ride in it; sadly, this was soon into his short reign.

The small, light body of the chariot, slung between huge spoked wheels, was elegantly worked in gold and gleamed in the brilliant sunshine. The two hardy little horses that drew it tossed their heads and whinnied. Suddenly the expedition became a reality to me, and I was filled with equal parts of excitement and trepidation. Could I do this?