Simone Lawson
Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, was the third pharaoh of ancient Egypt's 19th dynasty, reigning for 66 years from 1279 to 1213 BCE. He is widely considered one of ancient Egypt's most powerful and influential pharaohs, renowned for his military campaigns, architectural projects, and diplomatic skills. Ramesses II's long reign provided stability and continuity to the empire, allowing him to pursue ambitious endeavours and establish a powerful and enduring legacy. One of his most notable diplomatic achievements was the conclusion of the Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty in 1258 BCE, which marked the end of hostilities and established a period of peace and cooperation between the two powers. This treaty, also known as the Treaty of Kadesh, is considered the first recorded peace treaty in history and set a precedent for future diplomatic relations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recognised the importance of diplomacy and public relations | N/A |
| Used diplomacy in his marriages | Married a Hittite princess |
| Used diplomacy to avoid defeat | Negotiated a peace treaty with the Hittites |
| Used diplomacy to expand Egypt's influence | Signed a peace treaty with the Hittites |
| Used military strategy | Posted troops and ships to defeat pirates |
| Used military strategy | Ordered the creation of murals to depict military triumphs |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage to Hittite princesses
Ramesses II's marriage to a Hittite princess was a significant diplomatic move that strengthened the political alliance between Egypt and the Hittite Empire. The marriage took place in the context of longstanding hostilities between the two empires, which culminated in the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BC. Following the battle, a peace treaty was signed between Ramesses II and the Hittite king, Hattusilis III, in 1258 BC, and the marriage was a result of this treaty.
The Hittite princess, Maathorneferure, was the daughter of King Hattusilis III and Queen Puduhepa. She was likely the firstborn daughter, as envoys from Ramesses II made it clear that he sought to marry only the eldest daughter of the Hittite king. The marriage negotiations were lengthy and complex, as evidenced by the clay tablets discovered in the archives of the Hittite capital, Hattusha. The tablets reveal the day-to-day diplomacy between the Egyptian and Hittite courts, with Ramesses II expressing concern over delays and the Hittite queen, Puduhepa, explaining the need to assemble a suitable dowry.
Maathorneferure's journey to Egypt was a grand affair, accompanied by her mother, Queen Puduhepa, and a vast escort, including troops and a dowry caravan laden with gold, silver, bronze, cattle, sheep, and slaves. The marriage was commemorated on the "Marriage Stela" at the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, where it was portrayed as a submission of the Hittite king to Ramesses II, with Hattusilis offering his daughter and goods as tribute. Maathorneferure lived at the court for some time and bore Ramesses II a daughter, but she eventually disappeared from royal records, possibly due to an early death.
The marriage to the Hittite princess was not Ramesses II's first encounter with the Hittite royalty. Before this union, Ramesses II had already corresponded with the Hittite court through his mother, Tuya, who played an influential role as the King's Mother and advisor during his foreign campaigns. This early correspondence may have laid the groundwork for the eventual peace treaty and marriage alliance between the two empires.
Following Maathorneferure's presumed death, Ramesses II married a second, unnamed daughter of the Hittite king, as reported on the "Coptos Stela" from around Year 40 (1240 BC) or Year 42 (1238 BC) of his reign. This second marriage further solidified the diplomatic relationship between Egypt and the Hittite Empire, demonstrating Ramesses II's skillful diplomacy in fostering political alliances through strategic marriages.
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The Treaty of Kadesh
Ramesses II, also known as Ramses, Rameses, and Ozymandias, ruled Egypt from 1279 to 1213 BCE. He was the first king from a non-royal family, his grandfather having elevated their family to royalty through his military prowess. Ramesses II was an admired pharaoh, both during and after his lifetime, due to a combination of the prosperity Egypt enjoyed under his reign and his skill as a propagandist.
One of the greatest moments of his reign was the signing of the first peace treaty in history, also known as the Treaty of Kadesh. The treaty was signed between Ramesses II of the Egyptian Empire and Hattusili III of the Hittite Empire around 1258 BCE, concluding a long war between the two empires. The conflict culminated in the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BCE, which resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, but neither could prevail decisively. The battle was fought to regain Egyptian territory in northern Syria that had been lost to the Hittites.
The treaty is also known as the Eternal Treaty or the Silver Treaty. It is the oldest known surviving peace treaty and the only one from the ancient Near East for which both parties' versions have survived. It is thought to have been negotiated by intermediaries without the two monarchs ever meeting in person. The treaty was signed by the Hittite queen Puduhepa and sealed with clay tablets in Hattusa, the Hittite capital. The Egyptian version of the treaty was engraved in hieroglyphics on the walls of two temples belonging to Ramesses II in Thebes: the Ramesseum and the Precinct of Amun-Re at the Temple of Karnak.
Despite the treaty, an atmosphere of enmity between the Hittites and Egypt lasted for many years. However, the Treaty of Kadesh remains a cornerstone of diplomacy and an example of successful negotiation.
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Longevity and stability
Ramesses II's reign lasted for 66 years, making it the longest in ancient Egyptian history. He ruled from 1279 BCE to 1213 BCE and died at the age of 90 or 96. This extended period of rule brought stability and continuity to the empire, allowing him to pursue grand endeavours and establish a powerful and enduring legacy.
Ramesses II's long reign meant that all of his subjects, when he died, had been born knowing only Ramesses as their pharaoh. There was widespread panic that the world would end with the death of their king. His name and accomplishments were inscribed across Egypt, and there is virtually no ancient site in Egypt that does not mention Ramesses the Great.
Ramesses II's longevity and stability were also due to his diplomatic skills and military victories, such as the Battle of Kadesh and the subsequent Treaty of Kadesh, which ensured Egypt's security and expanded its influence. He also fostered a cultural renaissance, supporting the arts, literature, and temple restorations.
The stability of his reign was further solidified by his family and dynastic legacy. Ramesses II had over 200 wives and concubines and over 100 children, many of whom he outlived. His first wife was Nefertari, to whom he dedicated one of the temples at Abu Simbel. He also married one, and possibly two, Hittite princesses as a sign of diplomatic good faith following the drafting of the Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty in 1258 BCE.
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Self-promotion and propaganda
Ramesses II, also known as Ramses the Great, was a master of self-promotion and propaganda. He was the third pharaoh of ancient Egypt's 19th dynasty, reigning from 1279 to 1213 BCE, and his long life gave him ample opportunity to marry and sire children. He had over 200 wives and concubines and over 100 children, and his first and perhaps favourite wife was Nefertari, to whom he dedicated one of the temples at Abu Simbel.
Ramses II was an admired pharaoh, both during and after his lifetime, and his popularity may have been due to a combination of the prosperity that Egypt enjoyed under his reign, as well as his skill as a propagandist. He recorded his victory against the Hittites as a massacre to create a sense of awe around his military prowess, and he also understood the importance of portraying himself as a just and benevolent ruler. He built his success through peaceful means whenever possible, as well as through the heavy use of propaganda.
Ramses II used art as a means of propaganda, depicting his victories over foreigners on numerous temple reliefs and in carvings. He also used building projects as a form of self-promotion, constructing massive temples and monuments, including the mountain temple of Abu Simbel, where he portrayed himself as the living embodiment of the Sun God. He erected more monuments and statues than any other pharaoh, and his building projects reflected his vision of a great nation and of himself as the "ruler of rulers".
In addition to his building projects, Ramses II also used strategic marriages as a form of self-promotion and propaganda. He married one, and possibly two, Hittite princesses following the drafting of the Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty in 1258 BCE. This not only served as a sign of diplomatic good faith but also helped to solidify his image as a successful and admired ruler.
Ramses II was also a skilled negotiator, using his diplomacy to build alliances and avoid costly military campaigns. He was able to create a sense of awe and respect around his military prowess, even in cases where the reality may have been less impressive. For example, in the Battle of Kadesh, both the Egyptians and the Hittites claimed victory for propaganda reasons, despite the Hittites possibly having the upper hand. Ramses II's ability to spin his military endeavours into propaganda testifies to his skill as a self-promoter and diplomat.
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Military campaigns
Ramesses II's military career began early in his life, as his family had a history of military prowess. His grandfather, Ramesses I, and his great-grandfather, Seti, were both field commanders, and his father, Seti I, had secured the nation's wealth by opening mines and quarries and fortifying the northern frontier against the Hittites. As a teenager, Ramesses II accompanied his father on military campaigns, including a Libyan campaign, and was made a captain of the army at the young age of 10.
As pharaoh, Ramesses II sought to protect and consolidate Egypt's borders. He had previously defeated pirates who plagued the Delta region, and he bolstered the north-western frontier with a defensive line of forts to discourage incursions from Libya. He also conducted a Nubian campaign, accompanied by two of his sons when he was 22 years old.
The most important campaign of Ramesses II's reign culminated in the famous Battle of Kadesh. In his fourth year as king, Ramesses II set out to reestablish Egypt's imperial holdings in Asia, much of which had been lost to the Hittites. With an army of around 20,000 men, comprising infantry and charioteers, Ramesses II advanced on Kadesh, a Hittite stronghold in Syria. However, due to faulty intelligence, the Egyptians were attacked by a large detachment of 2,500 Hittite chariots, and the battle initially looked like a rout of Egyptian forces. But Ramesses II proved his worth as a leader by leaping into his war chariot and personally driving back the Hittite advance. Egyptian reinforcements arrived just in time, and the battle resulted in a stalemate.
After the battle, Ramesses II ordered the creation of murals across Egypt, depicting himself as single-handedly defeating the Hittites. In reality, the Egyptians did not gain any territory from the battle, and the two empires continued to fight for the next 16 years. Finally, in 1258 BCE, Ramesses II signed the first peace treaty in recorded history with the Hittites, agreeing to a peaceful and mutually beneficial co-existence. As part of the treaty, Ramesses II married one, and possibly two, Hittite princesses.
In addition to his campaigns against the Hittites and Libyans, Ramesses II also went to war in the Mediterranean and Palestine regions. He advanced on Palestine, which had been encouraged to revolt, and pushed the Egyptian domain to Beirut, modern-day Lebanon.
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Frequently asked questions
Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, was an influential pharaoh who ruled ancient Egypt for 66 years. He ascended to the throne in 1279 BCE as the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty. He is considered to be a great king because of his military victories, diplomatic skills, and ambitious projects. He also fostered a cultural renaissance, supporting the arts, literature, and temple restorations.
Ramesses II's diplomatic skills were exemplified by the Battle of Kadesh and the subsequent Treaty of Kadesh. He skillfully managed to avoid defeat and negotiated a peace treaty with the Hittites, which is considered the first recorded peace treaty in history. He also married the eldest daughter of the Hittite king as a sign of diplomatic good faith.
The Treaty of Kadesh ensured stability and secured Egypt's northern borders, allowing Ramesses II to focus on other aspects of his reign. It marked the end of hostilities between Egypt and the Hittite Empire and established a period of peace and cooperation between the two powers.
