Kadesh

The battle of Kadesh is the first battle in history that can be vaguely reconstructed using records from the battle itself. Of course, Rameses II’s account of the battle various widely from Hattusili, the king of the Hittite empire. Rameses said that it was a crushing victory for the Egyptians whereas Hattusili said that Egypt was too weak to defend it boarders and take Kadesh. This treaty also happens to be the very first, that we know of, signed in history. The treaty is important because it establishes balance as the Hittites and Egyptians were the “superpowers” of the Ancient Near East of the time. This treaty changed Western Thought and provides a stunning look at international relations of that time.

The battle [and the subsequent treaty] represent the first time in that region’s history that the Haberu peoples and their surrounding tribes finally get some independence. Outside forces such as the Hittites, the Egyptians, or the Phoenicians would not control them now. Before Kadesh, Palestine was nothing more then a buffer state for the Egyptians and Hittites. The region of Palestine held cedar trees that both Egypt and the Empire of the Hittites needed for the wealth and survival of either country. Neither civilization could keep a strong hold here. Because the area was so volatile and no one power could establish dominance, Egypt and the Hittites needed to rule through vassal kings, rather than through direct administration.

For two-hundred years, the two powerful nations jockeyed for control of the region now known as Palestine. By this time, the Egyptians were a militaristic nation. Her boarders were naturally protected by deserts on her west and south, the Sinai Peninsula to her east, and the Mediterranean Sea to her north. The armies that were drafted were done so for a short time, usually during the spring, and then sent home. Engagements never required more than two corps of troops…Kadesh was different.

Rameses needed to prove his reign had legitimacy and that he could defend Egypt’s boarders. Rameses set out to show that he could take Kadesh, as his Father Seti I did. Rameses II was an extremely narcissistic man, by our standards. He made his plans for the re-capture of Kadesh known. In fact, Rameses’ plans for Kadesh were the subject of open discussion in the Egyptian court. If he would have had satellite TV, he would have gotten on it and proclaimed his plan for the city. He led about 20,000 soldiers, in 4 corps of about 5,000 men each, on a month’s march to the city of Kadesh. This battle is important because it is the first battle that modern historians can actually re-constructed using reenactments and accounts from the battle itself. Also, interestingly enough, Egyptian kings would always lead military campaigns in the spring as to ensure that there would be enough grain to go around for his or her troops. In spring of 1274 B.C.E. ¼ of his force set up camp outside of Kadesh.