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Athaliah, referred to as the Queen Mother Regent in the context of ancient Judah, is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the Books of Kings. Her story is mainly found in 2 Kings 11 and 2 Chronicles 22-23. Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel, making her of royal blood from the northern kingdom of Israel. She married Jehoram, also known as Joram, who was the king of Judah, thereby linking her to the Davidic line in the southern kingdom of Judah.

Athaliah is notably the only woman in the Hebrew Bible to have reigned as a monarch in either of the Israelite kingdoms. After the death of her son, Ahaziah, who was king of Judah and had been killed during a coup against the house of Ahab led by Jehu, Athaliah took power in Judah and reigned for approximately six years.
Her reign is marked by controversy, especially her actions to secure her position on the throne. The biblical account states that Athaliah, upon hearing of her son's death, proceeded to eliminate all potential royal heirs from the House of David. This was seen as an attempt to extinguish the Davidic line, which was integral to Judean identity and theology.
However, one infant, Joash (Jehoash), was hidden from Athaliah by Jehosheba, the sister of Ahaziah, and the wife of Jehoiada the priest. Athaliah's rule came to an end when Jehoiada orchestrated a revolt against her. She was captured and executed at the Horse Gate of the king's palace, and Joash was installed as the king of Judah.

And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.
- 2 Kings 11:1-3

Athaliah's reign is often cited as a period of apostasy, primarily due to her parental lineage to Ahab and Jezebel, who were notorious for their promotion of the worship of Baal in Israel. Her actions, including the purported murder of royal family members and possible introduction of Baal worship into Judah, have led to her negative portrayal in the biblical narrative.