Battle of Kadesh

The Battle of Kadesh (Battle of Khadesh) took place around in the fifth year of the reign of Ramses II between Egypt and the Hittites. The exact date is unknown, although it has frequently been dated to 1285 BC or around 1299 BC. This battle marked a stalement between Hittite power and the power of 20th Dynasty Egypt, where the two met face to face along their outermost marches, in what is now Syria.

The battle was fought on the Orontes River, between the Hittite forces of Hattusili III and Ramses II (1304 - 1237 BCE). This first campaign against the Hittites (1300-1299 BC) ended in an Egyptian retreat after the violent battle at Kadesh in Syria, during which Ramses narrowly escaped capture, mainly thanks to the intervention of a troop contingent from Amurru. The consequent loss of prestige sparked revolts within the Egyptian empire, and Ramses could not resume direct hostilities against the Hittites until 1294.

The Hittites, based at Carchemish, were angry over the defection of Amurru to Egypt. Muwatallis, the Hittite king, gathered his allies against Ramses' army. The Hittites positioned themselves behind the hill at Kadesh, but Ramses thought they were at Aleppo and learned the truth only after capturing two Hittites. The Egyptian army was divided into four divisions: Ptah, Suteh, Amon, and Ra, but before Ramses could gather them all together, 2500 of The battle was fought on the Orontes River, between the Hittite forces of Hattusili III and Ramses II (1304 - 1237 BCE). This first campaign against the Hittites (1300-1299 BC) ended in an Egyptian retreat after the violent battle at Kadesh in Syria, during which Ramses narrowly escaped capture, mainly thanks to the intervention of a troop contingent from Amurru. The consequent loss of prestige sparked revolts within the Egyptian empire, and Ramses could not resume direct hostilities against the Hittites until 1294.Muwatillis' chariots attacked the Ra and Amon divisions and plundered the Egyptian camp. However, an army from Amurru suddenly arrived to assist Ramses, and drove the Hittites back.

The Egyptians regrouped and almost surrounded the Hittites, but the Hittite chariots retreated back across the Orontes to join their infantry. Muwatallis called for a truce with Ramses. Despite the victory for Ramses, his troops had suffered many casualties and he was unable to capture any more territory. Kadesh and Amurru were later recaptured by the Hittites.

The conflicts were finally concluded by a peace treaty in 1283, in the 21st year of the reign of Ramses II.

The treaty bond that was established was inscribed on a silver tablet, of which we have a copy of clay. An enlargement of the clay tablet hangs on a wall at the headquarters of the United Nations, as one of the earliest international peace treaties. Its text, in the Hittite version, is at one of the links below. An Egyptian version survives in a papyrus.

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