Tetisheri

Tetisheri was the matriarch of the Egyptian royal family of the late 17th Dynasty and early 18th Dynasty. She was the wife of Tao I Seqenenre, the mother of Tao II Seqenenre, and was the grandmother of Kamose and Ahmose I. Tetisheri was active in the ousting of the Hyksos from Egypt and established the precedent of powerful queens that set the stage for the accomplishments of Hatshepsut and Nefertiti.

Tetisheri was born to a common family and was selected by Tao I, unusually so, to be not only his wife but his Great Wife. Tao I granted Tetisheri many privileges not previously given to a queen. She became the first queen to wear the Vulture Crown, which signalled that the position of Great Wife had become integral to pharaonic power. When her son Tao II rebelled against the Hyksos, Tetisheri helped to rally and raise troops. Tao II was killed in battle and his successor Kamose suffered a similar fate.

Her grandson Ahmose, drove the Hyksos out of Egypt. Tetisheri had advised Tao II, Kamose, and Ahmose during the war. Ahmose issued a series of decrees honouring and acknowledging her service for the country. Ahmose had a pyramid and mortuary temple constructed for her and also placed cenotaph at Abydos in her honour. Ahmose was apparently very close with his grandmother and when she died at age 70 he commissioned many more projects in her honour.