So as I have started to look into the life of Nefertiti a little bit more and have began to read the book I have noticed some very striking similarities to the Tudor Court of Henry VIII. It's amazing how these similar circumstances play out in different places and times.
First, there is a distinct love triangle/battle for power. In Egypt this is Pharaoh Akhenaten, his Great Royal Wife Nefertiti, and his Second Wife Kiya. In England there is King Henry VIII, his Queen Katherine of Aragon, and his Great Love Anne Boleyn (before she became Queen). The battle for power came not only from the women themselves but also their families - Nefertiti's family and Kiya's family are constantly fighting for power, as are the Norfolk's/Boleyn's.
Second, there is the power that Anne Boleyn and Nefertiti held. Historically, mistresses and even queens tended to have relatively little power over their husbands in issues regarding policies, but these two women were at the forefront of both. It also appears that, for awhile at least, their Kings were happy to share some of this power with them.
Third, both Anne and Nefertiti were known to make a lot of noise when their men would return to the bed of their wife. Anne, before she became Queen, would get upset when Henry would still occasionally visit Katherine's bed (being his wife) and Nefertiti would also get upset when Ahkenaten would visit the bed of Kiya (his lesser wife).
Fourth, Anne and Nefertiti constantly tried to get pregnant, and hopefully have a son, to put their child in the front of the line of succession. Having a son would also get rid of the issue of the King's other children. For Nefertiti: Kiya had already had a son and she only had daughters. For Anne: there was the Princess Mary in the way and she also only had a daughter, Princess Elizabeth.
Fifth, there is the issue of a change of religion and the role that the women had in this venture. Akhenaten wanted to change the religion from many gods led by Amun to one god, Aten. Nefertiti was instrumental in convincing the people to follow with this radical change and appeared to wholly embrace this change. Henry wanted to break from the Catholic Church in order to obtain his divorce, and Anne encouraged him to create the Church of England.
Finally, if you look at the book Nefertiti and The Other Boleyn Girl, the stories are told from the viewpoint of the sister (Mary Boleyn and Mutnedjmet).
My how themes stay the same over time!
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I noticed the similarities when I was reading Nefertiti as well. I enjoyed both the books.
ReplyDeleteThat's so interesting! I never realised that there were so many similarities between Nefertiti and Anne Boleyn. I will have to research Nefertiti next.
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