Ramesses II

Ramesses II was a monumental figure in ancient Egyptian history.

He served as the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty. Most historians refer to him as Ramesses the Great. He ruled during the New Kingdom, which was Egypt's most powerful era. His reign lasted approximately 66 years. This makes it the longest recorded reign of any pharaoh.

He was also one of the few leaders worshipped as a deity during his own lifetime.

Ramesses II did not begin his life as a prince. His grandfather, Ramesses I, was a military officer and a vizier. The pharaoh Horemheb appointed Ramesses I as his successor. When Ramesses II was about eleven, his grandfather took power. Later, his father Seti I became king. Seti I then named Ramesses II as prince regent at age fourteen. Ramesses eventually ascended to the throne at age 25.

Egyptologists believe he became king on May 31, 1279 BC.

As a ruler, Ramesses focused heavily on massive building projects. He established a new capital city called Pi-Ramesses in the Nile Delta. This city served as a staging point for his Syrian campaigns. He also built many temples and monuments to show his power. In his capital, he created large factories for military supplies. These factories were incredibly efficient. They could produce 1,000 weapons in one week. They also produced 250 chariots in just two weeks.

Ramesses was also a highly active military leader. He led no fewer than 15 military campaigns. His army was estimated to have 100,000 men. In his second year, he fought the Sherden sea pirates. These pirates attacked cargo ships along the Mediterranean coast. Ramesses used ships and troops to ambush them in a naval battle. After this, many Sherden people even joined his personal bodyguard. He also led expeditions into Nubia and the Levant to secure Egyptian borders.

The most famous conflict of his reign was the Battle of Kadesh. This happened in his fifth regnal year against the Hittite Empire. Ramesses wanted to expand Egypt's frontiers into Syria. On May 1, 1274 BC, his troops arrived at Kadesh. They were caught in a Hittite ambush and were initially outnumbered. While the Egyptians eventually routed the Hittites, the campaign ended in a stalemate.

The Egyptians retreated, and the Hittites briefly occupied parts of Damascus.

Despite the stalemate, Ramesses continued to fight for influence in the region. In his seventh year, he launched a third Syrian campaign. He split his army into two separate forces. One force was led by his son, Amun-her-khepeshef. This group chased tribes across the Negev toward the Dead Sea. The other force, led by Ramesses, attacked Jerusalem and Jericho. He eventually recaptured the land around Damascus.

He even reached as far north as Dapur in his later years.

Eventually, the era of constant fighting led to a major diplomatic shift. Ramesses II entered into a peace treaty with the Hittites.

This treaty was a significant moment in ancient international relations. After a long life of war and building, Ramesses died around 1213 BC. He was likely 90 or 91 years old. He was buried in tomb KV7 in the Valley of the Kings.

His mummy was discovered by archaeologists in 1881 and is now in Cairo.