Thread by @SangeethZac

In around 800 BC, a conqueror named Piye led campaigns to conquer the southern border of the Egyptian empire. His successful campaigns would later lead to the establishment of a great empire known as the Kushite empire or the kingdom of Kush.

The Kushite Empire soon started to prosper. However, the Egyptian empire claimed that the Kushite empire was a part of Egypt since it was so close to Egypt’s southern border. This resulted in multiple battles between Kush and Egypt.

But though Egypt was a stronger force, the Kushite empire was able to dominate most of the later battles with Egypt in its history.

Though there are many theories on why Kush was able to win these battles, it is known that a reason behind this is because of the kingdom's tolerance of women.

The Kushite empire’s history of tolerance of women begins when a king named Ergamenes ascended the throne of the Kushite empire.

He brought forth many great changes to Kushite society, including that Kushite royals would be buried in the capital of Kush instead of its former capital which was taken over by Egypt.

Ergamenes believed that though the area was the former capital of Kush, it was not anymore a part of the Kushite culture after Egypt invaded it and changed its culture and politics.

But among all his changes, Ergamenes is known most for declaring that women would be equally respected in Kush to men. After his death, many great warrior queens rose in Kush and helped to defeat the Egyptian invaders.

Even when a man was on the throne of Kush, it was important that his wives, daughters and mother must bear the right to make important decisions. This caused a golden age for the Kushite empire.

However, it was when a warrior queen named Kandake Amanirenas skillfully defended the kingdom against invading Romans, that the potential of women was really understood in the Kushite empire.

Born in around 50 to 60 BC, Amanirenas was born as the second of eight Kandakes (great women). This was similar to the title of the queen mother. These eight Kandakes ruled together as the sole leaders of the Kushite empire.

At around a similar time when Amanirenas took the throne, the Roman empire was attempting to conquer Egypt in around 30 BC.

The Roman provincial governor of Egypt, Cornelius Gallus tried to impose unfair taxes on Kush controlled Nubia to try and weaken the empire before invading it.

The Kushites were able to stop this and were able to score many victories during the beginning of the conflict in Syene (modern-day Aswan). But during the conflict, the king of Kush, Teriteqas perished in battle.

Immediately Amanirenas and her son, Prince Akinidad were placed on the throne of Kush to take on the Roman forces. Amanirenas led her troops North from the ancient city of Meroe to engage the Romans.

In 24 BC in Syene, Amanirenas defended the kingdom of Kush from the founder of the Roman empire and most powerful emperor during the time, Augustus Caesar.

After this, a bronze head of Augustus was taken to the royal place where it was buried under the entrance to celebrate the Kushite victory and was also used as an insult to Augustus Caesar.

Though the Kushites would face many more battles with the Roman empire, Amanirenas is known for being one of the greatest warrior queens of Kush, and one of the first Kushites to defeat the Romans in a major battle.

Amanirenas would later make a great impact on woman empowerment in Kush.

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