Dynasty XIX
Records of the Hittites date back to 19th century BCE, but it is by 14th century BCE when they started emerging into an empire. The Hittites were solidified into a territorial state with a supreme monarchy. The Hittites developed into an empire seen centuries before in Mesopotamia, such as the Akkad, Assyrian, and Babylonian Empires. However, the Hittites also had to deal with foreign threats that ancient Sumerian Empires were not aware of, Egypt.
Much like Mesopotamia, Egypt also started as one of the cradles of the world. It went through countless conflicts and power struggles, each giving birth to different kingdoms and empires, although they are all called the Dynasty Egypt. Since the unification of lower and upper Egypt under Narmer and the establishment of Dynasty Egypt I (First Dynasty of Egypt), all other kingdoms that ruled Egypt were named Dynasty II, III, etc. The Dynasty that conflicted with the Hittite Empire is Dynasty Egypt XIX, also called the Egyptian Empire (New Kingdom of Egypt). Egypt of the New Kingdom Era not only conquered Egypt but campaigned up north, conquering Canaan, Syria, and other parts of Mesopotamia, which resulted in conflicts with other Mesopotamian states. Mitanni was at the frontier of fighting Egypt at first; however, the emergence of the Hittite empire and the fall of Mitanni forced the Hittites into an inevitable conflict against Egypt for the dominance of Mesopotamia.
The Battle of Kadesh
The Battle of Kadesh is also known for the world’s first peace treaty. The battle ended in significant casualties for both sides. Egypt records how Ramses II ascended into a god, defeating all the Hittites and bringing victory to Egypt. Egyptian poems and inscriptions talk of Ramses II’s great victory and heroism. However, the Hittite tablets contradict Egyptian records and claim themselves the victor. Ambiguity and contradiction between the records hindered scholars from distinguishing the exact result of the battle, ending it a “draw”. However, further observation on the aftermath clarifies the champion of the battle of Kadesh. The Hittites were the true victors of the battle of Kadesh for the following reasons:
- Egypt failed to achieve its initial goal of conquering Kadesh
- The Hittites annexed Egyptian territories in Asia
- Greater Egyptian casualties compared to the Hittites
Ramses II’s initial goal was to capture Kadesh and weaken Hittite influence in the Levant. However, the Hittites successfully withstood Egyptian assaults and annihilated much of their army. Winning the battle is when one achieves their initial goal of starting the battle, such as conquering territory or annihilating the opponent’s army. Egyptians failed to accomplish either – conquering Kadesh or slaying much of the Hittite army. The Hittites ambushed Egyptian soldiers heading to Kadesh, decimating the Amun and Ra division of Egyptian forces. Ramses II himself was also surrounded by the Hittite soldiers. Ramses II was able to escape the battlefield as he “ascended,” but he lost half of his army and even failed to set foot on Kadesh. Kadesh stayed under the Hittite Empire; it was obvious who won the Battle between Ramses II, who failed to conquer the city and escaped in the middle of the battlefield, or Muwatalli II of the Hittites, who successfully protected the city from Egyptian threat.
Besides the Egyptian failure to conquer Kadesh, the Hittites did not cease their campaign with Kadesh and marched towards the remaining Egyptian territories in the Levant. He further conquered Upu (Apu), an Egyptian province around Damascus. The Egyptians withdrew from the Levant, and they even lost their allies such as Amurru. Egypt was reduced only by controlling Canaan, which even Ramses had to send extra campaigns to maintain control. The battle of Kadesh was a conflict between two ancient superpowers to stop each other from expanding the territory, and as a result, the Hittites successfully drove Egypt out of the Levant and other vassalages. Egypt gained nothing from the war but a heroic poem to praise their pharaoh and his great escape from the battle.
Egypt failed to conquer Kadesh and lost its Levantine provinces. What’s more, they lost more than half of their entire army. Egyptian forces consisted of Amun, Re, Seth, and Ptah divisions, but only the Seth and Ptah division made it back to Egypt alive. Amun and Re were destroyed by the Hittites’ ambush. Ramses II had to retreat back to Egypt mainland with only the Seth and Ptah division alive. The Hittites, on the other hand, had preserved much of their troops, annexing further Egyptian territories in retaliation. After the defeat in the Battle of Kadesh, Ramses launched several different campaigns to take the Levant back, but the Hittites continued to hold their provinces until 1258 BCE when Ramses II and Hattusili III came to an agreement to end ongoing conflicts along the border, known as the Treaty of Kadesh.
The Treaty of Kadesh marked the end of the long war between Egypt and the Hittites. The Hittites invigorated their control over the Levant. The Battle of Kadesh and other conflicts continued for more than 15 years. Each side claimed the battle as their victory; however; the Hittites are the true victor as they successfully protected Kadesh against Egypt and campaigned further, annexing Egyptian boundaries beyond Kadesh, reducing Egyptian influence only to Canaan.