Ramses the Great and the Battle of Kadesh (Podcast)

Описание: The Early Life of Ramses the Great



Ramses II was born around 1303 BCE and became one of the most famous pharaohs in history. He grew up in a royal family during the Nineteenth Dynasty of the New Kingdom in Egypt. His father was Pharaoh Seti I and his mother was Queen Tuya. From a very young age Ramses received military training because his father wanted him to be a strong leader. He was appointed as a prince regent when he was only fourteen years old to learn how to rule the land.



The Succession to the Throne



Ramses became the sole ruler of Egypt after his father Seti I passed away in 1279 BCE. He was crowned as the third pharaoh of his dynasty during a grand ceremony in the capital city. The young king took on the royal name Usermaatre Setepenre which means the justice of Ra is powerful. People expected him to maintain the strength and prosperity that his father had established before him. He spent the first years of his reign securing the borders of the kingdom and planning large construction projects.



Rising Tensions With the Hittites



The Hittite Empire was located in the north in what is now modern Turkey and was a major rival to Egypt. Both empires wanted to control the valuable trade routes and lands in the region of Syria. For many years the borders between the two powers were constantly shifting as they competed for dominance. Ramses felt that the Hittites were becoming too powerful and decided he needed to take military action. He gathered a massive army to march north and reclaim the city of Kadesh which was a strategic location.



The Military Organization of Egypt



The Egyptian army under Ramses was divided into four main divisions named after the gods Amun Re Ptah and Set. Each division consisted of approximately five thousand soldiers including infantrymen and chariot warriors. The pharaoh himself led the division of Amun at the front of the long marching column. They carried weapons made of bronze such as swords spears and powerful composite bows. Ramses believed that his organized forces and superior chariots would give him a decisive advantage on the battlefield.



The Movement Toward Kadesh



In the fifth year of his reign Ramses led his troops across the desert toward the Orontes River. He moved quickly because he wanted to surprise the Hittite king Muwatalli II before reinforcements could arrive. Along the way his scouts captured two local men who claimed that the Hittites were still far to the north. However these men were actually spies sent by the Hittites to trick the Egyptian king into a trap. Ramses believed the false information and hurried forward with only a portion of his total army.



The Ambush Near the City



While the Egyptian division of Amun was setting up camp the Hittite army launched a sudden and violent attack. Thousands of Hittite chariots crossed the river and struck the division of Re which was still marching behind the king. The Egyptian soldiers were caught completely off guard and many began to flee in total panic. Ramses found himself surrounded by enemies while his other three divisions were still miles away. The situation looked desperate for the pharaoh as the Hittites closed in on his personal camp.