Battle of Kadesh
Online Resource: www.nkeamentoram.weebly.com
Previous Lesson:
• Source Analysis – E, F, G, H
• Written Response (homework)
• Documentary (History Channel)
Today’s Lesson:
• Consequences of Kadesh
• Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty
• Diplomatic Correspondence
REVISION: Battle of Kadesh
BC
BC
Phase One
BC
Phase Two
Phase Three
The End of the Battle of Kadesh
Phase Three: With the Ptah division nearing the
battlefield, the Hittite chariots retreated, many of
which abandoned their chariots and attempted to
swim across the Orontes river back to the Hittite
camp, with Ramesses II ‘charging at them’ – “I cast
them to the water, just as crocodiles fall in from the
bank” as inscribed in the Egyptian account (temples).
This marked the end of the Battle of Kadesh. Both
armies gathered their forces, returned home and
declared undisputed ‘victory’.
Consequences of Kadesh
KEY CONCEPTS:
‘Armistice’ - a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not
necessarily the end of a war, since it might be just a cessation of hostilities while
an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace.
‘Stalemate’ - a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or
competing parties seems impossible.
According to Egyptian accounts, the Hittites sued for peace: ‘Then the vile Chief
of Khatti … sent his envoy with a letter … As for the land of Egypt and the land of
Khatti, they are your servants, under your feet … Peace is better than fighting.
Give us breath!”
In response, Ramesses II returned to Egypt with his army and the Hittites
withdrew inside the walls of Kadesh.
Consequences of Kadesh
WHO WON?
Exhibit A – Ramesses II, extensively inscribed
his account of the battle, describing it a
victory and success, both in texts and reliefs
on the walls of several temples throughout
Egypt (Abu Simbel, Karnak, Luxor, the
Ramesseum and at Abydos).
Exhibit B – Hittites, cuneiform tablets found
in the remains at Hattusas (Hittite capital),
tell a different story; Ramesses II was
conquered at Kadesh and was forced to
retreat, according to Hattusilis, successor to
King Muwatallis.
WHAT WE
KNOW
Ramesses II and Egypt failed to
regain Kadesh and Amurru
(within 1294 BC, Amurru
revolted and returned to the
Hittite Empire). His attempt to
dominate the cities of Northern
Syria resulted in nothing due to
traditional ties with the Hittites
and their empire.
The Hittite Account
WHO WON?
The library in the ruins of Hattusa (the Hittite capital) uncovered the
peace treaty signed between the two great kings, which showed that
the Hittites had imposed their forces over the Egyptians pushing the
frontier of their empire hundreds of kilometres south into today's
Israel, thus becoming the greatest empire of the ancient world.
THE ISSUE: the Hittites disappeared from history for unexplained
reasons, until a new discovery was made by modern archaeologists in
their excavations at Hattusa. A series of indecipherable hieroglyphs were
discovered in an underground area. However, after much research, they
were finally translated telling how the winner of the Battle of Kadesh and
the great king launched themselves into a fratricidal and standstill war.
THE ISSUE = EVIDENCE/ SOURCES
The Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty
Year 21 of Ramesses II reign, Ramesses II and King Hattusili
(successor to Muwatallis) met in Kadesh for a summit
conference and a peace treaty was finalised which meant
peace and stability to both empires and the end to a longstanding hostility.
This treaty represented a significant diplomatic achievement
for Ramesses II. The provisions include:
- the end of all hostilities and the formation of a friendly alliance
- a promise of no further aggression
- a mutual defence agreement against attack by another power
- a guarantee of the succession in both countries
- the mutual extension and fair treatment of exchanged
prisoners
The Hittite version of the
peace treaty displayed at the
Istanbul Archaeology
Museums
Activity
1. Go the ‘The Battle of Kadesh’ (located on listed tab) page on
www.nkeamentoram.weebly.com
2. Scroll down to the ‘Consequences of the Battle of Kadesh’.
3. Download the Hittite version & the Egyptian version of the peace treaty.
4. Read each account and list the provisions set out in each treaty.
5. How do the Hittite and Egyptian accounts differ?
Egyptian version
of the peace
treaty located at
the Precinct of
Amun-Re in
Karnak.
Diplomatic Correspondence
Year 34 of Ramesses II’s reign marked diplomatic correspondence with the
Hittites through marriage. Ramesses II married Hittite princess, Maat-HorNeferu-Re, daughter of Hattusili III. The marriage was part of the consolidation of
the peace settlement concluded more than a decade earlier. Maat-Hor-NeferuRe became Ramses' seventh Great King's Wife, succeeding Henutmire, his sister.
It was part of the arrangement that she could receive Hittite emissaries freely.
Six years into her marriage she ceased being mentioned. The extent of her
influence on Egyptian policies is not known, however, the Egyptian-Hittite
relations remained close - it being in the interest of both countries to contain
Assyria.
In his 44th year Ramesses married a second Hittite princess. Later there was a
third marriage to another one of Hattusili's daughters, however, little evidence
and information is available to support this.
Diplomatic Correspondence
1. Go the ‘The Battle of Kadesh’ (located
on listed tab) page on
www.nkeamentoram.weebly.com
2. Scroll down to the ‘Diplomatic
Correspondence’.
3. Read the written texts from the
Marriage Stela of Ramesses II.
4. What was involved in this marriage?
5. What did this marriage represent?
Marriage Stela of Ramesses II: The Hittite
King Hattusili and his daughter are
submissively approaching the pharaoh.