Born: Unknown (3000s BCE), Egypt (assumed)
Died: Unknown (3000s BCE)
Country most active: Egypt
Also known as: Neith-hotep
Rulers: The first female pharaoh transcript
Neithhotep may have been the first recorded female monarch in world history, circa 3,000 to 3200 BC. She is believed to have been married to either the first or second pharaoh of unified Egypt, and when her large tomb was discovered, with royal hieroglyphs surrounding her name, she was originally assumed to have been a male ruler. The nature of her tomb and evidence that she exercised powers a mere consort would not have had indicate that she was a co-ruler, and may also have acted as a regent for her son before he came of age.
However, because the evidence is inconclusive about her possible regency, it can be argued that Neithhotep may have only been a co-ruler, instead of reigning a sole pharaoh. If that’s the case, the next candidate is Merneith, who ruled circa 2950. She may also have been a regent for her son after the death of her husband, and, like Neithhotep, the supporting evidence largely comes from her tomb, as well as that of her son.
The following is excerpted from Infinite Women creator Allison Tyra’s book Uncredited: Women’s Overlooked, Misattributed, and Stolen Work.
Because of the size and nature of her tomb, Neithhotep—possibly the first known female monarch in world history—was assumed to be male. She is believed to have been married to either the first or second pharaoh of the unified ancient Egypt; both her tomb and evidence that she exercised powers a mere consort would not have had, indicate that she was a co-ruler, and may also have acted as a regent for her son before he came of age.