Hatshesput

Hatshepsut's foreign policy instigated a military policy that can be described as one of unobtrusive control; active defence rather than deliberate offence, as “her pride was in the internal developments of Egypt” (Wilson) and not in the expansion of the empire. The only military missions was undertaken by Hatshepsut was to maintain the conquests of her predecessors in the regions of Nubia and Syria. The Graffito written by Tiy “I saw when he destroyed Nubia” and the inscription on the Deir el Bahri temple “her arrow is among the northerns”, enhances that “the reign of Hatshepsut had been barren of Any military enterprise except an unimportant raid into Nubia” (Gardiner) and the preservation of her father’s invasion of Syria. Hatshepsut did sustain the army in state of readiness in order to secure Egypt’s growing empire. The Speos Artemidos inscription refers to Hatshepsut saying “my troops which were formerly unequipped are now well paid since I appeared as king” (Breasted), concluding that Hatshepsut was prepared to fight to secure the borders of her country. As a result of the decisions in her foreign policy, Hatshepsut built a strong and prosperous foundation, for her successor, Thutmose 3, to use his military abilities to become the "greatest military leader of Ancient times" (breasted). Thutmose 3, conducted 17 campaigns in 20 years which wouldn’t have been successful unless Egypt was experiencing stability during Hatshepsut’s reign. Hatshepsut’s wasn’t being perceived as the traditional warrior pharaoh of the New Kingdom, through her desire not expand the empire. Hatshepsut reinvented her image to be “precisely what she would become” (Tyldesley) , a warrior pharaoh as it was the true symbol of the divine upholder of ma’at, whilst providing validity to her Kingship. Hatshepsut erected a Red Granite Sphinx in Deir el Bahri, as it was the traditional symbol of the New Kingdom of a warrior pharaoh who trampled the enemies of Egypt, displaying her as both the conquer and protector of the New Kingdom. To further legitimize her kingship, she instigated the use of propaganda on the Punt trade expedition reliefs to portray it as a military conquest by a warrior pharaoh of which “never was the like done before” (redford). The reliefs described the expedition to bring a “heart full of fear” to the Punties who fearfully uplift their hands in supplication, giving superiority to Egypt. This propaganda, manipulated the true nature of the Punt expedition, displays how Hatshepsut reinvented her image to be seen as a warrior pharaoh, as her original military tactic proved a threat to her upholding ma’at and questions about her unconstitutional accession to the throne. Hatshepsut’s foreign policy demonstrated her focus on the future prosperity of Egypt, through the re-establishing trade routes that were abolished during the ma’at less Hyksos period. The inscriptions found in Wadi Maghera and in the Tomb of Thutiy demonstrate Hatshepsut’s trading expeditions to Nubia, where she obtained gold, copper and ebony, and the exploitation of the copper mines in Siani. Therefore this proves that Hatshepsut was “not blind to the need of bolstering Egypt’s Economy” (Breasted). The expedition to Punt is considered by Hatshepsut the most successful because it was a source of unique exotic goods, in great demand of New Kingdom Egypt. Hatshepsut’s Mortuary temple displays the trade negotiations for the "marvels of Punt", of which "fresh myrrh trees, ebony and pure ivory” were traded for the Egyptian daggers and jewellery, which Neville suggests, was made of a metal unknown to the Punties. Furthermore, the reliefs show “heaps of Myrrh in great quantities” (breasted) having their weights recorded symbolic of the New Kingdom economic exchange system. The reliefs of the Expedition allowed Hatshepsut to further validate her reign as the economic, religious and political benefits upheld the ideals of Ma’at. Through the economic gains of Punt, Hatshesput provided Egypt with the goods that were in the greatest demand such as: incense and fragrant woods, Ebony, animals skins and gold which was used to make “the finest electrum” (breasted) for the pyramidations of the Obelisks. Hatshepsut’s building program was enhanced as the ‘divine land’ provided raw materials and wealth . On the façade of Beni Hasion, it is recorded that Hatshepsut “restored that which is in ruins” , thus instilling confidence in her kingship through employment. Hatshepsut claimed that in sending this expedition, she was responding to “an oracle of the god himself” which instructed her to go to punt and collect Myrrh trees to “establish him a Punt in this House” (breasted). It is through such tributes as planting the trees“beside his temple and in his garden” (breasted) which gave Hatshepsut religious benefits and the support of the priesthood, thus strengthening her perception of divinity and allowing Egypt to Flourish. Overall, the expedition politically, benefited Hatshepsut through her portray as a traditional 18th Dynasty pharaoh, supported by a strong government, who created stability for the people of Egypt through trade. Tyldesley states that “it is not surprising to find… pharaohs exploiting Ma’at to their own… advantage, using it to reinforce their right to rule”. This conclusion can be drawn from Hatshepsut’s foreign policy propaganda which was of a self serving nature, but ironically also benefitted the people of Egypt, through the establishment of a stable and prosperous Empire.