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Ramesses II - The Battle of KadeshRamesses II
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[Biographies (Tutankhamun)]
[Inventions] [Readers' Feedback (Religion)]
[Language]
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Ramesses II - The Battle of KadeshRamesses II
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This major Egyptian pharaoh was born around 1302 BCE. He was the second son of Seti I and his queen Tuya. His father appointed him Prince Regent when he was 14 years old. In his early 20s he became king, ruling Egypt from 31 May 1279 BCE to July 1213 BCE, a total of over 66 years. In all, he lived for around 90 years and was the longest-reigning of all the pharoahs.
His many wives included Isisnofret and Maathorneferure (a Hittite princess). His principal wife was Nefertari (c 1300 BCE - c 1250 BCE), one of the best known Egyptian queens, along with Cleopatra, Nefertiti and Hatshepsut. Her tomb is the largest and most spectacularly decorated in the Valley of the Queens in Luxor. She was deified even before she died.
Ramesses' children include Bintanath and Meritamen (both princesses who married their father), Sethnakhte, the Pharaoh Merneptah (who succeeded him), and a prince, Khaemweset.
Ramesses II fought several battles in the Eastern Mediterranean (modern Israel, Lebanon and Syria). The most famous battle was at a place called Kadesh (close to the River Orontes in modern day Syria) in 1274 BCE. The Egyptians fought the Hittites under king Muwatallis. The Egyptians struggled but eventually won the battle but they effectively lost the war. This limited Egyptian control of the region to Palestine; Syria fell under Hittite rule. The story of this battle is told from an Egyptian point of view on the walls of the many temples built by Ramesses II. The Hittite accounts can be found at their capital, Boghazkoy (modern day Turkey).
The two empires battled over the Eastern Mediterranean but neither could defeat the other. In 1258 BCE Ramesses II signed what turned out to be the world's first peace treaty with Hattusili III, the next Hittite king, at Kadesh. Later, Ramesses II married a Hittite princess, Manefrure.
Ramesses II gained territory in Nubia and constructed many monuments, including some of the most famous in Egypt: The Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, a mortuary complex at Abydos, The Ramesseum and The temple at Abu Simbel. The latter was built in 1270 BCE. It later became lost, hidden by sand and was re-descovered in 1813. In 1964 the whole structure was moved to save it from flooding caused by the building of the Aswan High Dam.
There are more statues of Ramesses II in existence than of any other Egyptian pharaoh.
The mummy of Ramesses II was originally buried in the Valley of the Kings (Luxor) but was later removed for safe-keeping. It was found in 1881 and is one of the best preserved in Egypt.
Ramesses II
Biography and links for Ramesses II.